Ten theses on Obama's iftar speech

Power Line ^ | 8-17-2010 | Scott Johnson

[no-llmd]

Here is what President Obama said Friday night at the White House iftar dinner in front of a room full of Muslims regarding the Ground Zero Megamosque (GZM):

(snip)

Obama carefully read his speech, including this statement. When he got to this passage, he spoke slowly, with some vehemence and condescension. Regarding these remarks, as the late, great William Buckley used to say, a few observations.

1. Obama's tone was not one calculated to persuade. He both hectored and belittled those who oppose the GZM. If you respectfully beg to differ with Obama, it is hard to like the persona Obama had on display Friday night.

2. Obama supported the GZM in his usual style, in which his position is juxtaposed with a straw man of his choosing. It is an unappealing rhetorical habit that is made even more unappealing when applied to an issue on which people of good faith obviously differ with him.

[no-llmd]

Bho: It is clear that he is not a real American but the first Anti-American president

[screaminsunshine]

What the heck is an Iftar and what is Obama doing celebrating it?

[GnuHere]

I noticed his tone, since that footage has now been played a million times. It was curt and hateful and defiant. (And applauded, as we know.)

[Walkingfeather]

Just curious, were there any women at that speech or were they separated from the men? I didnt notice any in the pictures. I may have missed it.

[GnuHere]

It was a really bad Warren Beatty movie.

[newheart]

We are still awaiting the the enterprising journalist who can ferret out the branch of Islam that comports with the tenets of the Democratic Party on the equality of women, abortion, gay rights and all the rest.

Bingo. Head of nail, meet hammer.

[Rummyfan]

Marking.

[Rummyfan]

6. It's good for Muslims to build the GZM in New York, but not for Jews to build apartments in Jerusalem. Go figure.

Indeed!

[ecomcon]

In the 2008 campaign Obama presented himself as a healing if not a redemptive figure. For reasons that are almost completely understandable, many voters chose to believe in Obama's self-presentation. Belief in Obama's persona conflicted with voluminous evidence to the contrary that was there for anyone with eyes to see.

[Senator_Blutarski]

Obama’s speech was somewhat “in your face”. He lectured America again. I for one don’t like lectures from a smarmy know-it-all.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

His words came from a hateful heart.

[ozark hilljilly]

Just curious, were there any women at that speech or were they separated from the men? I didnt notice any in the pictures. I may have missed it.

In the long shots I saw of the room, I could only detect 2 covered heads, that I assumed to be women. It was largely a room of Muslim men.

[Verginius Rufus]

Someone has pointed out that the speech was designed to be broadcast widely in the Muslim world--so Obama took the opportunity to attack non-Muslim Americans as religious bigots.

Not only does he always create straw men to attack, he never concedes that people who have a different point of view can hold their position in good faith. The opponents are always evil.

[no-llmd]

if you bend over and grab your private parts and yank real hard, the sound you will hear will be I-F-T-A-RRRRRRRRRRR!

I don’t know mysef but that’s what I heard.

[GnuHere]

I agree. I cannot see a shred of kindness in him. It’s all about revenge and reparations and social justice.

[rawcatslyentist]

>"What the heck is an Iftar and what is Obama doing celebrating it?"

What kinda Christian are you? Cerially?

Happy Iftar!!!! What? You didn't celebrate Iftar?