Chip ([info]ckillian) wrote,
@ 2009-05-18 00:20:00
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Obama's Address to Notre Dame Graduates
So I just spent 20 minutes reading Obama's planned remarks to the Notre Dame graduates (link), and I have to say, I wish I had been there. The speech looked excellent and dignified--respectful and on a tone of acceptance.

So, if you're trying to kill time, go read them. I enjoyed them. And I am disappointed that the Bishop of the Fort Wayne/South Bend Diocese skipped the graduation, that he apparently is among those who felt that only by not attending could he appropriately show his disagreement both with the President's position on one [albeit major] issue and the school's decision to honor this President in spite of that one issue.

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[info]greenpad
2009-05-18 06:07 pm UTC (link)
Wow. a million thoughts going through my head. In no particular order:

1) The president is speaking. I don't care if you disagree with every decision he's ever made (and I mostly do), he's the president. How's about a little respect? Yelling out "Abortion is murder" is inappropriate.

2) Why does it seem that most graduation speeches are given by politicians? I really hate that. Politicians give self-serving speeches that they hope will be reprinted and re-broadcast. Why not people who actually care more about the graduating class than they do about themselves?

3) His speech was mostly unprovocative, and that's quite an accomplishment. It was definitely a "know your audience" speech, and was targeted as such.

4) Every time I hear unity, compromise, etc. out of this man's mouth I roll my eyes. It's not compromise when you get everything you want. And since there's a single-party government right now, he gets everything he wants. He may be doing everything he thinks is right, but he shouldn't pretend that there's no opposition. Or that they actually consider the opposition.

5) I love it when politicians tell stories and end with "my heart and mind was touched by him." It's a win-win for the politician. They don't actually have to *do* anything differently. Don't have to change any policies, don't have to draft legislation. But somehow by mentioning it, they make people think they care, and that that's what counts. I wonder if this works better on a younger audience. Hillary Clinton used to use this one blatently: "I talked to a woman today who said blah blah blah. If I'm elected, I'm going to remember this woman!". What does that count for? Nada. Just makes people think she cares.

6) I would think Catholics would be upset by his proposal to tax charitable giving and using the money to fund government-based charities. Maybe they don't know about it. Or maybe he's not doing it anymore--haven't heard about it in a couple of months.

Okay, that's enough of a brain dump.

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