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Cokie Roberts speaks at commencement
Marquette Tribune ^ | May 27, 2005 | Andrew Johnson

Posted on 05/27/2005 3:27:38 PM PDT by 11x62

Political news commentator Cokie Roberts stressed the importance of incorporating social justice values into public service at Marquette's 124th commencement exercises.

Roberts, an analyst for ABC News who has won several journalism awards, said Sunday morning at the Bradley Center that the need for social justice values – which are the touchstones of a Jesuit education – and civility in government is great due to increasing political partisanship.

"Those values are so important to bring into public service today," she said.

Roberts addressed the declining popularity of politics as a profession, placing blame on the news media for too often focusing on the wrongdoings of politicians, politicians themselves for campaigning against the institutions they are trying to serve and voters for not allowing elected officials a fair chance to serve their constituencies.

There currently exists in the public a "dangerous atmosphere" that "denigrates the professional politician," she said. "To denigrate the professional is to denigrate the profession."

Government, Roberts said, is the one institution that can serve as a unifying tool in a time when the country lacks a common experience, language and history.

"Nothing binds us together except our government," she said.

The fact that governmental institutions are increasing their ethnic and gender diversity "is an even greater reason to have respect for them," she said.

Roberts' address also bordered on the light side, using the debate over the university's nickname for fodder.

"I promise you I won't do what last year's speaker did," Roberts said in reference to Marquette's board of trustees vice chair Wayne Sanders.

Sanders set the nickname debate into motion when at last year's graduation he announced in his commencement address that he and another board member were each prepared to donate $1 million to the university if it changed its name from Golden Eagles back to Warriors – its previous moniker.

Roberts said she empathized with university officials who were tired of the constant stream of media coverage on the issue.

Much of the coverage in the last three weeks has been negative, poking fun at board of trustees' temporary decision to change from the Golden Eagles to Marquette Gold, which triggered fierce criticism from both supporters and opponents of the Warriors name.

"I just had this conversation with Tom Delay the other day," she said jokingly, referring to the House Majority Leader who has come under fire in the media after allegations arose that he misused funds.

Aside from Roberts' comment, the ceremony was devoid of any other references to the nickname debate that has divided members of student body and alumni during the past year.

Two weeks ago the board of trustees announced it was temporarily reverting back to Golden Eagles and introduced a new process that will allow members of the Marquette community to vote on the school's nickname.

The university's recently created Nickname Advisory Committee – comprised of students, alumni, faculty and staff – on Monday released its first list of 10 names, which will be narrowed to two.

Roberts, who won the Edward R. Murrow Award for her work as a senior news analyst for National Public Radio and was the first broadcast journalist to win the Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for her work covering Congress, was one of five people receiving honorary degrees Sunday.

In addition to Roberts, Jerry Kleczka, former representative of the Wisconsin's 4th U.S. Congressional District, and Richard Teerlink, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Harley Davidson Motor Company, received honorary doctor of law degrees.

The Rev. George V. Coyne, director of the Vatican Observatory, and Isiah Warner, a leading analytical chemistry researcher, received honorary doctor of science degrees.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: catholicschools; cokieroberts; commencement; marquette; marquetteu
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"Nothing binds us together except our government," she said.

Really?

1 posted on 05/27/2005 3:27:38 PM PDT by 11x62
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To: 11x62
the need for social justice values "which are the touchstones of a Jesuit education" and civility in government is great due to increasing political partisanship.

Surely she's not suggesting mixing religious values with government work? Oh, say it isn't so!

2 posted on 05/27/2005 3:30:01 PM PDT by No Longer Free State (Standing in the way of progress is not a party platform)
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To: 11x62

"Nothing binds us together except our government," she said."

With chains, if she had her way.


3 posted on 05/27/2005 3:31:15 PM PDT by Spok
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To: 11x62

So she hasn't been reading the best political science writers. She is still the best, most balanced, and fair of the Leftist journalists.


4 posted on 05/27/2005 3:33:35 PM PDT by RightWhale (These problems would not exist if we had had a moon base all along)
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To: 11x62

"Social justice" = Euphemism for socialism.

"Professional politician": There should be no such thing as a professional politician. Term limits!


5 posted on 05/27/2005 3:33:49 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie (L'chaim!)
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To: 11x62
Kookie Roberts is another example of a TV made celebrity.

Like loudmouth "Yosemite" Sam Donaldson, some Exec at ABC decided she was worthy of being on TV 20 years ago. As a result, we now have to listen to her every opinion.

I can think 12 people in real life - who are not on TV - who are more intelligent and have more insight into National politics.

She's a creation of television, like Sally Jesse Raphael.
6 posted on 05/27/2005 3:38:13 PM PDT by rcocean (Copyright is theft and loved by Hollywood socialists)
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To: No Longer Free State
Government, Roberts said, is the one institution that can serve as a unifying tool in a time when the country lacks a common experience, language and history.

Cokie goes to a Jesuit University and says this?

"Nothing binds us together except our government," she said.

What an idiot. She really believes this drivel.

7 posted on 05/27/2005 3:38:29 PM PDT by Tallguy
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To: 11x62
What! no right wing protesters to interrupt this lying witch's sermon??
8 posted on 05/27/2005 3:38:35 PM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: rcocean

Maybe she doesn't have more insight into things, but she seems to have access to decisionmakers.


9 posted on 05/27/2005 3:41:55 PM PDT by RightWhale (These problems would not exist if we had had a moon base all along)
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To: RightWhale
She is still the best, most balanced, and fair of the Leftist journalists.

I agree with you. While I disagree with most of what she says, she usually offers up her incorrect thoughts in a civilized and genial fashion. She doesn't deny her biases, and she seldom resorts to name-calling.

10 posted on 05/27/2005 3:53:10 PM PDT by CaptainMorgantown
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To: 11x62

Was "Cokie" a nick-name from college??


11 posted on 05/27/2005 3:56:08 PM PDT by CO Gal (Liberals should be seen, but not heard..)
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To: RightWhale

It helps when you are:

1) Liberal
2) Married to a former NYT reporter
3) Daughter of a former Democrat Speaker of the House
4) Sister of a Democrat Activist.


12 posted on 05/27/2005 3:59:37 PM PDT by rcocean (Copyright is theft and loved by Hollywood socialists)
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To: 11x62
The fact that governmental institutions are increasing their ethnic and gender diversity "is an even greater reason to have respect for them," she said.

You would think these nitwits would come to realize that it's not race, gender, and diversity that bond people it's common beliefs, values, and most importantly morals. How many more multicultural experiments have to die a horrid death before the liberal progressives realize diversity along these lines causes hatred and intolerance not harmony. Nobody can be this stupid, so one can only assume it's a more calculated position for reasons of power.

13 posted on 05/27/2005 4:10:25 PM PDT by Archon of the East ("universal executive power of the law of nature")
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To: 11x62
Government, Roberts said, is the one institution that can serve as a unifying tool in a time when the country lacks a common experience, language and history.

Of course Kookie, after you leftists DESTROYED our common experience, language and rewrite history.

14 posted on 05/27/2005 4:14:37 PM PDT by Fledermaus (The New 7 RINO Dwarfs: Cowardly, Cranky, Dopey, Goofy, Mealy, Sorry and Wussy)
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To: Fledermaus

Oh...P.S. Cokie - our hatred for you leftist and your drivel bind us together pretty well!


15 posted on 05/27/2005 4:16:32 PM PDT by Fledermaus (The New 7 RINO Dwarfs: Cowardly, Cranky, Dopey, Goofy, Mealy, Sorry and Wussy)
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To: 11x62

At least she's pro-life.


16 posted on 05/27/2005 4:33:07 PM PDT by what's up
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To: rcocean

Granted, a lot of doors were open to her. We should all be so fortunate, but it is good that she made something of it, and with style.


17 posted on 05/27/2005 4:58:09 PM PDT by RightWhale (These problems would not exist if we had had a moon base all along)
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To: 11x62

I get the impression that she's so hysterical that, if her girdle snapped, she'd wipe up three states.


18 posted on 05/27/2005 4:59:56 PM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
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To: No Longer Free State

That's why she went to a Jesuit school to say it. Not much to do with religion there!


19 posted on 05/27/2005 5:22:02 PM PDT by MarcusTulliusCicero
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To: Fledermaus

Thank you for addressing that point.


20 posted on 05/27/2005 6:35:40 PM PDT by perfect stranger (I need new glasses.)
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