St. Edward’s declined to host Obama

The Austin American Statesman ^ | 8/11/2010 | Ralph K.M. Haurwitz

[LA Woman3]

The White House asked St. Edward’s University if it was interested in hosting President Barack Obama for his speech in Austin on Monday, but the university declined, a spokeswoman for the school said today.

“St. Edward’s University is honored to have been considered a potential venue for President Obama’s recent visit to Austin,” said a statement issued by spokeswoman Mischelle Diaz. “Regretfully, it was not a good time for us to consider this. With the short notice provided - only 3 to 4 days - a visit of this importance and magnitude would have been difficult for a campus of our size. A presidential visit requires and deserves more resources than we were able to provide at the time.”

Diaz acknowledged that parallels have been drawn between the decision by St. Edward’s and the president’s commencement speech last year at another Roman Catholic institution, the University of Notre Dame.

Some Catholics were upset that Obama, who supports abortion rights, was invited to speak and awarded an honorary degree. Notre Dame and St. Edward’s were established by the same Holy Cross priest.

But Diaz said the Austin school’s reasons were logistical.

“We are hard at work preparing for a new school year and it is not a good time for us to divert resources away from the needs of incoming students,” the statement said. “Staff members are preparing residence halls, completing maintenance projects and conducting orientation sessions.

“In addition, as part of our thoughtful consideration, we had to acknowledge that the vast majority of our student body, and many faculty members, would not be present to participate in a presidential visit.”

A White House spokesman declined to comment.

[Howie66]

Not from the Teasips pictured that he was lecturing to.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Rub-a-dub-dub, Obama’s had the snub.

HE SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED GOV PERRY’S LETTER!

[Zansman]

How can anyone question or criticize the St. Edward’s U decision when it was obviously just following the lead of Democratic candidate for Governor, Bill White? White refused any opportunity to meet and/or campaign with Obama so why would anyone care that Austin’s other University chose to do the same?

The author chose to make the comparison to Notre Dame yet neglected to mention White, arguably the State's most high-profile Democrat at the moment, wanted no part of Obama either? Seems to me Mr. Haurwitz might have a bit of an anti-Catholic bias.

[Wuli]

I used to think we would never see a bigger ego or bigger narcissist (person so in-love with their self) in the White House after slick Willie left office. Yet the current occupant seems to think that the country is just dieing to hear another major speech from him, where ever he goes, on what must almost be a weekly basis since he took office. I don't know which is bigger, his narcissism or his arrogance about his narcissism.

[OrangeHoof]

It should be noted that St Edwards University has hosted training camp for the Dallas Cowboys in past years so it isn’t so tiny that a presidential visit is out of the question.

[Titus-Maximus]

Right on - and the weak apostates at Georgetown agreed to it.

[abortionisalwaysmurder]

“St. Edward’s University is honored to have been considered a potential venue for President Obama’s recent visit to Austin,” said a statement issued by spokeswoman Mischelle Diaz. “Regretfully, it was not a good time for us to consider this. With the short notice provided - only 3 to 4 days - a visit of this importance and magnitude would have been difficult for a campus of our size. A presidential visit requires and deserves more resources than we were able to provide at the time.”

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Couldn't they have been honest and said. "No thanks send the baby killer elsewhere we have no use for him here."

[LA Woman3]

Did anyone notice this?

“Regretfully, it was not a good time for us to consider this. With the short notice provided - only 3 to 4 days - a visit of this importance and magnitude would have been difficult for a campus of our size. A presidential visit requires and deserves more resources than we were able to provide at the time.”

The announcement of Obama speaking at UT was on Thursday, August 5th.

Obama will headline a fundraiser in Austin for the Democratic National Committee, and he will travel to Dallas for a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee event. The Austin event is likely to be a high-dollar affair, possibly at the Four Seasons, according to an e-mail that has circulated among local Democrats. Link


Is it possible to organize elaborate fundraising on such short notice? I think he added the speech as a cover for his constant campaigning.

[abortionisalwaysmurder]

HE SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED GOV PERRY’S LETTER!

---

Why? he made Perry look like the litle woss he is. Perry should have shoved the letter in his face and said do something about this or count one less state, cause if you don't deal with it today, we are out of here!

But that would have taken balls something sorely lacking amongst republican men.

[GladesGuru]

Was their closing line “Tommorow doesn’t look good, either. Perhaps the day after the Twelfth of Never might be better for all?”

[McLynnan]

Good for them. You’ve got to wonder though why UT was second choice. It’s the sort of venue that guarantees an adoring audience and no “Choose Life” signs.

[LA Woman3]

St. Edward's says no to Obama - Twice

Proctor Anderson

St. Edward's University released a statement Wednesday explaining its decision to say no to a White House request to consider the campus as the venue for President Barack Obama's speech in Austin earlier this week.

The full statement, released by university spokeswoman Mischelle Diaz, reads:

"St. Edward’s University is honored to have been considered a potential venue for President Obama’s recent visit to Austin. Regretfully, it was not a good time for us to consider this. With the short notice provided – only three to four days – a visit of this importance and magnitude would have been difficult for a campus of our size. A presidential visit requires and deserves more resources than we were able to provide at the time.

We are hard at work preparing for a new school year and it is not a good time for us to divert resources away from the needs of incoming students. Staff members are preparing residence halls, completing maintenance projects and conducting orientation sessions.

In addition, as part of our thoughtful consideration, we had to acknowledge that the vast majority of our student body, and many faculty members, would not be present to participate in a presidential visit."

Classes start on August 23 at St. Edward's and on August 25 at the University of Texas.

Diaz said that the university received an offer from Obama's staff at the end of July to visit the St. Edward’s campus on August 4 and consider it as a potential speaking venue for a speech scheduled for August 9. The school declined, citing timing issues. Obama, instead, made his speech at the University of Texas Monday as part of a fundraising swing through Austin and Dallas.

In 2007, St. Edward's turned down a request from then-candiate Obama to speak on campus.

“As a university, we are not going to accept a request from any political figure during a campaign” Diaz said, citing what she called university policy.

Last year, when it was announced that Obama would deliver the commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame and receive an honorary doctor of laws degree, some Catholics were upset, citing Obama's views on abortion and stem cell research.

An online petition circulated by the Cardinal Newman Society at NotreDameScandal.com asked Notre Dame’s president to take back the invitation.

“It is an outrage and a scandal that 'Our Lady’s University,' one of the premier Catholic universities in the United States, would bestow such an honor on President Obama given his clear support for policies and laws that directly contradict fundamental Catholic teachings on life and marriage,” the petition said.

Notre Dame's invitation remained and Obama delivered a speech at the university's commencement.

Diaz said the Notre Dame controversy and concerns among some Catholics about Obama's position on abortion and stem cell research were not reasons for the university's latest decision to pass on hosting him.

“I think a lot of people are trying to draw parallels but, as the statement says, our reasons were logistical,” she said.

St. Edward's says no to Obama - Twice

[LA Woman3]

See the story I posted above. I bet he was ticked they said no twice!

[Howie66]

Don’t forget....Perry is a former RAT. Just how “former” is open to speculation.

[McLynnan]

He’s never been one to take a subtle hint.

[LA Woman3]

Apparently!

[cricket]

Is it possible to organize elaborate fundraising on such short notice? I think he added the speech as a cover for his constant campaigning.

Well, it would seem, traveling on our dime; that Obama needs at least one event that he can 'pin' the trip on. Sounds like a big basketball was dropped. . .

[Raider Sam]

Plus, didnt he have Georgetown remove IHS from the lecturn?

[traumer]

"not a good time for us to consider this. With the short notice provided - only 3 to 4 days - a visit of this importance and magnitude would have been difficult for a campus of our size..."

PLUS we are a Bush Country ! :o)