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Obama Defends Priorities, Makes Plea for Civility ["Direct Rebuttal To 'Tea-Party' Activists"]
Peter Slevin ^ | May 01st 2010

Posted on 05/01/2010 7:24:46 PM PDT by Steelfish

Obama Defends Priorities, Makes Plea for Civility

By Peter Slevin May 2, 2010 ANN ARBOR, MICH. -- Reflecting on 15 months as the leader of a polarized nation, President Obama delivered a spirited defense of government Saturday and issued a call for civility in a direct rebuttal to Republicans and "tea party" activists who have attacked his politics and priorities.

Obama called for greater tolerance in a "poisonous political climate." He criticized both ends of the political spectrum for using words such as "socialist," "fascist" and "Soviet-style takeover" and lamented that such thinking has begun "to creep into the center of our discourse."

"This kind of vilification and over-the-top rhetoric closes the door to the possibility of compromise," Obama told an audience of 92,000 at the University of Michigan commencement. "It prevents learning -- since after all, why should we listen to a 'fascist' or a 'socialist' or a 'right-wing nut' or a 'left-wing nut?' "

Obama's strong words appeared to reflect his frustration with politics in Washington and his desire to redefine the national debate in time to help Democrats avoid a widely forecast pummeling in November's midterm elections.

The White House has watched, despairingly at times, as tea party activists and top Republicans have stirred a pot of anti-tax, anti-government anger. They have labeled Obama a spendthrift who practices the partisanship he says he abhors and whose policies intrude on individual liberty. At rallies across the country, protesters routinely question his patriotism and say they want to "take back" their country.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: obamacivility
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1 posted on 05/01/2010 7:24:46 PM PDT by Steelfish
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To: Steelfish

The tea parties HAVE been civil.

The regime’s puppets call them a nickname for a perversion.

The regime threatens them with SWAT teams.

The regime has repeatedly attempted to marginalize them using intimidation, and their huge media lapdogs.

But people are begining to understand that reality is not necessarily what is presented on the big tube.


2 posted on 05/01/2010 7:27:40 PM PDT by Chickensoup ("A corrupt society has many laws" - Tacitus)
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To: Steelfish

No thanks. I’d sooner keep my freedom. Obama is an America-hating Marxist pig. We have barely begun to fight.


3 posted on 05/01/2010 7:27:47 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (JUST VOTE THEM OUT! teapartyexpress.org)
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To: Steelfish


4 posted on 05/01/2010 7:29:55 PM PDT by NoLibZone (Liberals are right. The AZ situation is like Nazi Germany. Mexico is Germany and Arizona is Poland)
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To: Steelfish
Obama uses his hatred of opposition to attack free speech.
5 posted on 05/01/2010 7:30:32 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (It Matters Not What You Fight But What You Fight For.)
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To: Steelfish

The loon couldn’t rebut a 4 year old.

Sorry WaPo, you really should look into hiring reporters who have actually received an education. E.G., something besides journalism school.

Be prepared for what’s coming.

You will not like it.


6 posted on 05/01/2010 7:30:52 PM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: Steelfish
Tea Party = Civility

Pro-immigration rally = Full scale riot

7 posted on 05/01/2010 7:31:07 PM PDT by dancusa (Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. W. Churchill)
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To: Steelfish

How very sad and sick.

A POTUS who hates his country and the people.


8 posted on 05/01/2010 7:32:57 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: NoLibZone

Those pictures are what demented looks like.


9 posted on 05/01/2010 7:33:47 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: Steelfish

“Obama called for greater tolerance in a “poisonous political climate.” He criticized both ends of the political spectrum for using words such as “socialist,” “fascist” and “Soviet-style takeover” and lamented that such thinking has begun “to creep into the center of our discourse.”

“This kind of vilification and over-the-top rhetoric closes the door to the possibility of compromise,” Obama told an audience “

So that is why he sent the riot squad to control the tea party protest in Quincy Il. last week?

We call him a socialist and Marxist, exactly what he is. Obama is uncompromising that his agenda is exactly what we are calling him out ACCURATELY!.


10 posted on 05/01/2010 7:34:26 PM PDT by o_zarkman44 (Obama is the ultimate LIE!)
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To: NoLibZone

Bump


11 posted on 05/01/2010 7:35:01 PM PDT by LucyJo
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To: Steelfish
Obama Defends Priorities, Makes Plea for Civility



The 0bama White House's take on "civility".

12 posted on 05/01/2010 7:36:21 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
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To: Steelfish

Other terms the President called into question include “Marxist”, “Manchurian candidate”, “post turtle”, and “Kenyan jackass”.


13 posted on 05/01/2010 7:37:11 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: Steelfish

FUBO! How is that for civility you commie d**ckweed?.


14 posted on 05/01/2010 7:37:35 PM PDT by HerrBlucher (END THE WAR ON LIBERTY!)
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To: Steelfish
and lamented that such thinking has begun "to creep into the center of our discourse."

The creep is not in the discourse; it's in the White House...

15 posted on 05/01/2010 7:40:11 PM PDT by LRS (Just contracts; just laws; just a constitution...)
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To: Steelfish
"This kind of vilification and over-the-top rhetoric closes the door to the possibility of compromise,"

Obamacare has already passed against the will of the people. There can be no compromise.

16 posted on 05/01/2010 7:43:19 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: Chickensoup

Where was Obama’s plea for civility when Tea Party activists were referred to as “Tea-Baggers”?


17 posted on 05/01/2010 7:46:08 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: Steelfish
They have labeled Obama a spendthrift

If the shoe fits....

18 posted on 05/01/2010 7:47:57 PM PDT by neodad (USS Vincennes (CG 49) "Freedom's Fortress")
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To: Steelfish

That’s it, Obummer, keep poking people in the eye just because they disagree with you.


19 posted on 05/01/2010 7:49:32 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Steelfish
and lamented that such thinking has begun “to creep into the center of our discourse.”

Got news for ya, 0bozo. Such thinking/discourse has been in the "center of our discourse" for years...during the entire 8 years of the Bush administration..and 0bama, Pelosi and Reid were right at the center of it.


Senate Leader Calls Bush ‘A Loser’ - CBS News
May 7, 2005 ... (AP) Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid called President Bush “a loser” during a civics discussion with a group of teenagers
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/07/politics/main693713.shtml

Reid called Bush “liar,” stood by comment UPDATE - Glenn Thrush ...
http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0909/Reid_called_Bush_liar_stood_by_comment.html

20 posted on 05/01/2010 7:56:17 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
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