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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance and Clarity is 38. The grade is held to 30, 30 above Relevance. 30 / 100, held down by Relevance
Signal
24 / 100
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Relevance
0 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
89 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Positioning 40% Anecdote 31% Claims 25% Procedure 3% Aside 1%
Structure · 9 steps
Claims · 0
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Positioning · 63 words Members have a choice today. Whose side are you on? Do you want to advance Donald Trump’s deregulatory agenda to help out his wealthy friends on Wall Street, or are you on the side of working families, labor unions, consumers, and civil rights groups like those all over the country who just want equal and fair access to affordable financial products and services? Positioning Anecdote · 78 words For many of you who have been in this struggle with banks, where you have tried to get help with all kinds of issues, I want you to, again, go to your bank where you have a problem--don’t go because they are only available on the phone--and state your problem. See who you can get to talk to. See if you can get an appointment. See if you can get some answers to the questions that you have. Anecdote Claims · 85 words You can’t do this with these big mega banks. They don’t have time for you. They don’t have time to listen to you talking about how you only have $200,000 and you want to buy this House around the corner. They are not interested in that. They are interested in the big money. They are interested in not only providing the loans for those who are spending a half million or so on a bank that they are trying to use to get a house. Off point Procedure · 3 words It is clear: Procedure Unearned certainty Positioning · 73 words The Big Banks are sick and tired of the way that they are being treated. They know they have a lot of power and a lot of friends in the Congress of the United States of America. Unearned certainty They don’t know a new day is coming and a new way is coming. People are learning more and more why they have a right to be disturbed about the way that they are being treated. Positioning Off point Anecdote · 28 words I tell people: Don’t be afraid to confront those Big Banks. Call us. Get your legislator to help you out. That is what we are supposed to do. Anecdote Off point Aside · 5 words Sometimes they can’t find us. Aside Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 7 words I reserve the balance of my time. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×24 Anecdote ×10 Positioning ×9 Procedure ×2 Unearned certainty ×2 Aside Off topic None of this speech addressed the bill under debate and what it would change. Little substance Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 24
22 of 48 deductions are Signal
Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Members have a choice today.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Whose side are you on?” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Do you want to advance Donald Trump’s deregulatory agenda to help out his wealthy friends on Wall Street,” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “or are you on the side of working families, labor unions, consumers,” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “and civil rights groups like those all over the country who just want equal and fair access to affordable financial products and services?” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “For many of you who have been in this struggle with banks,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “where you have tried to get help with all kinds of issues, I want you to, again, go to your bank where you have a problem--don’t go because they are only available on the phone--and state your problem.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “See who you can get to talk to.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “See if you can get an appointment.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “See if you can get some answers to the questions that you have.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “It is clear:” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “The Big Banks are sick and tired of the way that they are being treated.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “They know they have a lot of power and a lot of friends in the Congress of the United States of America.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “They don’t know a new day is coming and a new way is coming.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “People are learning more and more why they have a right to be disturbed about the way that they are being treated.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I tell people:” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “Don’t be afraid to confront those Big Banks.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “Call us.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “Get your legislator to help you out.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “That is what we are supposed to do.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “Sometimes they can’t find us.” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I reserve the balance of my time.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 0
24 of 48 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Members have a choice today.” A rhetorical framing of the vote rather than anything about the bill’s contents.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Whose side are you on?” A side-taking question that substitutes for addressing the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Do you want to advance Donald Trump’s deregulatory agenda to help out his wealthy friends on Wall Street,” Frames the bill as part of a political agenda instead of addressing its provisions.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “or are you on the side of working families, labor unions, consumers,” A partisan side-taking contrast, not a point about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and civil rights groups like those all over the country who just want equal and fair access to affordable financial products and services?” Continues the side-taking framing rather than addressing the bill’s terms.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “For many of you who have been in this struggle with banks,” Pivots to consumers’ struggles with banks, not the bill’s provisions.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “where you have tried to get help with all kinds of issues, I want you to, again, go to your bank where you have a problem--don’t go because they are only available on the phone--and state your problem.” Advice to constituents about dealing with banks, unrelated to the bill’s terms.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “See who you can get to talk to.” Anecdotal advice about bank service, not the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “See if you can get an appointment.” Continues the constituent advice aside, not the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “See if you can get some answers to the questions that you have.” Continues the aside about bank service rather than the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “You can’t do this with these big mega banks.” A claim about big banks’ service, not the bill’s provisions.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They don’t have time for you.” A general attack on banks, not a point about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They don’t have time to listen to you talking about how you only have $200,000 and you want to buy this House around the corner.” An anecdote about banks ignoring small customers, unrelated to the bill’s terms.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They are not interested in that.” A general claim about banks’ interests, not the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They are interested in the big money.” A generalization about banks’ priorities, not the bill’s provisions.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They are interested in not only providing the loans for those who are spending a half million or so on a bank that they are trying to use to get a house.” Continues the aside about banks’ lending priorities rather than the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “The Big Banks are sick and tired of the way that they are being treated.” Speculation about banks’ feelings toward regulators, not the bill’s terms.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They know they have a lot of power and a lot of friends in the Congress of the United States of America.” An attack on banks’ influence in Congress, unrelated to the bill’s provisions.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They don’t know a new day is coming and a new way is coming.” A rhetorical warning to banks, not anything about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “People are learning more and more why they have a right to be disturbed about the way that they are being treated.” A general claim about public discontent, not the bill’s contents.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Don’t be afraid to confront those Big Banks.” Advice to confront banks rather than any point about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Call us.” Constituent advice, unrelated to the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Get your legislator to help you out.” Constituent advice about seeking legislative help, not the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “That is what we are supposed to do.” A remark about legislators’ role, unrelated to the bill’s provisions.
Respect · no score
Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.
Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.
Clarity · 89
2 of 48 deductions are Clarity
Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “It is clear:” The formula asserts certainty in place of a source for the claims that follow.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “They know they have a lot of power and a lot of friends in the Congress” The speaker asserts knowledge of the banks’ beliefs without any source or evidence.
Claims · 0
This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.
No checkable claims.
