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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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To: expatpat

He was ripping her right along with them. “Lipstick on a pig”, calling her home “WasillY” instead of “Wasilla”...yeah, that’s class all right. >:-(


41 posted on 05/01/2010 11:52:07 PM PDT by pillut48 ("Stand now. Stand together. Stand for what is right."-Gov.Sarah Palin, "Going Rogue" ><>)
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To: Steelfish

Civility - like that shown President Bush for eight years and of which you were a part?

I see that you sir, in addition to being a liar, are a hypocrite. And I’m calling you out. Your choice of weapons for both of us. I choose the time and place.


42 posted on 05/02/2010 3:12:13 AM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
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To: Steelfish

Buck you Fobama!


43 posted on 05/02/2010 3:20:33 AM PDT by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon))
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To: DCPatriot

Buck you Farack.


44 posted on 05/02/2010 3:21:16 AM PDT by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon))
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To: Nachum

No friend of Bill Ayers has a moral leg to stand on regarding civility. Not just Rev. Wrong either. Here are two other spiritual leaders Obama hobnobs with:

Father Pfleger threatens to murder, “snuff out,” gun shop owner.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2500606/posts
[Obama’s longtime friend and campaign surrogate. Oh, cardinal rebuked him — ‘wow’.]

Thug-0-crat hit list on Al Sharpton [several murder victims]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2464640/posts?page=134#134
— details coming up —


45 posted on 05/02/2010 4:59:27 AM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March (Obama's CCX air selling scam: $100 trillion in 10 years. See profile.)
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Thug-0-crat hit list on Al Sharpton [several murder victims]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2464640/posts?page=134#134

1987: Sharpton spreads the incendiary Tawana Brawley hoax, insisting heatedly that a 15-year-old black girl was abducted, raped, and smeared with feces by a group of white men. He singles out Steve Pagones, a young prosecutor. Pagones is wholly innocent — the crime never occurred.

1991: A Hasidic Jewish driver in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights section accidentally kills Gavin Cato, a 7-year-old black child. Sharpton rails against the “diamond merchants” [aka Jews]. Hundreds riot and surround rabbinical student, Yankel Rosenbaum, stabbing him to death.

1995: Sharpton whips up mob over a rent increase [note that the Jewish owner was forced into raising rent]. Infamous “White Interloper” speech. Protesters burst in and shoot four employees point-blank and set store on fire. Seven employees die in fire.

[For the record, trimmed down and largely rephrased]


46 posted on 05/02/2010 5:00:18 AM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March (Obama's CCX air selling scam: $100 trillion in 10 years. See profile.)
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To: All

I also wonder, did President 0 flip anyone off or pick his nose during his speech?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2464035/posts


47 posted on 05/02/2010 5:06:34 AM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March (Obama's CCX air selling scam: $100 trillion in 10 years. See profile.)
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To: Steelfish

“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.”

Pretty much the same words said by Mussolini before he hightailed out from the fascist palace, just ahead of the partisan posse. And take your fascist teleprompter with you, Bamolini.


48 posted on 05/02/2010 5:54:06 AM PDT by sergeantdave
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