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The President and the Politics of Civility
wsj.com ^ | 5/6/2010 | Karl Rove

Posted on 05/06/2010 9:09:15 AM PDT by PhxRising

Last Saturday, Americans were again instructed on their political manners by their Moralizer in Chief.

While delivering a commencement address to the University of Michigan's graduating students, President Barack Obama's comments were really meant for the nation's political class. His speech dealt with the importance of "a basic level of civility in our public debate."

"We cannot expect to solve our problems if all we do is tear each other down," Mr. Obama said. He spoke against "demonizing" political opponents or "questioning their motives or their patriotism."

It is "not the hurt feelings or the bruised egos" such rhetoric causes that's problematic, the president assured us. No, this "kind of vilification and over-the-top rhetoric" discourages "compromise . . . undermines democratic deliberation. . . robs us of a rational and serious debate." It can even "send signals" that "violence is a justifiable response." There is a need in politics, as the president said, to "treat others as you would like to be treated, with courtesy and respect."

A lot is right with those words. But there's a lot wrong with them coming from Mr. Obama, who is contributing to the "slash and burn politics" he preaches against.

If Mr. Obama is serious about his commitment to courtesy and respect, then he will need to demonstrate presidential leadership and rein in the verbal excesses of the leaders of his own party. He could start by having a conversation with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who condemned those with different views on health care as being "un-American." He might also share a word with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who recently accused Republicans of being "anti-American" and wanting to continue to "make love to Wall Street" by pressing for changes in a bill regulating the financial industry.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: jonathanalter; obama; thepromise
If the President was truthful in his speech, then he needs to lead by example and stop criticizing Republicans.
1 posted on 05/06/2010 9:09:15 AM PDT by PhxRising
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To: PhxRising

Zer0 needs to admit to being a socialist, a Marxist and a fascist.


2 posted on 05/06/2010 9:13:14 AM PDT by Paladin2 (to satisfy the social justice requirement)
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To: PhxRising
Agreed...case in point...

New Book Quotes Obama as Describing Tea Partiers as 'Tea-Baggers'

A new book about President Obama alleges he once used the vulgar term "tea-bagger" to refer to the Tea Party movement.

Newsweek columnist Jonathan Alter, in his book "The Promise: President Obama, Year One," to be released May 18, quotes the president as saying that Republican opposition to the economic stimulus package "helped create the tea-baggers and empowered that whole wing of the Republican Party where it now controls the agenda for the Republicans," according to a Washington Post report on the book.

"Tea-bagging" has been used as a derogatory term for the Tea Party movement because of its sexual connotations.

3 posted on 05/06/2010 9:15:15 AM PDT by ravingnutter
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To: PhxRising
What I hear from Obummer is if you lying, cheating, hypocritical, racist a-holes would just be civil, the country would be A-OK. What a piece of work he is.
4 posted on 05/06/2010 9:16:17 AM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: PhxRising

This coming from the guy that says “I’m calling you out”, “get in their faces”, etc. Sheese.


5 posted on 05/06/2010 9:18:20 AM PDT by RedMDer (Throw them all out in 2010... Forward with Confidence! Forward!)
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To: PhxRising

“When they bring a knife, we’ll bring a GUN”!! Bammy is the EPITOME of Civil. /sarc


6 posted on 05/06/2010 9:48:48 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion,,,,,,the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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