President Obama weighed in with a speech about personal responsibility to students yesterday and also with a speech to the US Congress about health care reform tonight. What he said in both speeches made a lot of sense to me. What do you think?
The heckling response of members of the opposition says more about them than about Obama (Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina, anyone?). I don't remember anything so obnoxious during a presidential address, even in opposition to the Iraq War, even when questioning of motives was legitimate.
Today's Rune: Movement. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza, 9/9/2009.
6 comments:
THIS IS ONE TIME I DISAGREE WITH WALKING MAN. THE PRESIDENT IS SHOWING COURAGE, FACING DOWN HIS CRITICS AND ASKING THEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO PROBLEM SOLVING RATHER THAN JUST MOUTHING OFF. AS I WRITE THIS THE PRESIDENT IS ACCEPTING JOE WILSON'S APOLOGY FOR HIS RUDENESS. THE ONES WHO NEED BALLS ARE THE MODERATE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE COWED BY RADICALS AND RADIO AND TV PUNDITS. KIP
Erik, I don't tolerate rudeness well at any time--it's unnessecary and unproductive. That said, I was a cheerleader and I felt that Prez didn't really say much other than RahRahRah!
I thought it was a very good speech. Obama attempted to find middle ground. He also re-established his credentials as someone with decent motives. In this way, it was important because it will have the same effect that his Rev. Wright speech had -- you may not agree with him but you are reassured that he wants what is best and fairest for everyone. He needed to get that back and I think he did. Cong. Wilson acted like a student govt reject. He is pathetic.
Erik -- This month's New Yorker has a great 1950s photo of a Detroit lunch counter.
Mark
I think that Obama is brilliant-- at once visionary and pragmatic.
An old friend of mine pointed out, that in 1856, it was a South Carolina congressman, Preston Brooks, who beat abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner nearly to death as another man stood by with a gun keeping anyone from coming to Sumner's aid. Seems like bad behavior in Congress is an old South Carolina tradition.
Thanks all for the comments, very appreciated. Thanks to Leslie for the link, too. Charles and Kip and Mark K, right on! Mark K, thanks also for the tip.
p.s. Johnny, also thanks (just saw your comment!). Another friend (from North Carolina) was equally appalled by the historicallly bad manners coming from *South* Carolina!
Sorry but the Democrats have been given control of the country after 8 years of the worst administration in modern history. Pandering to the right and the right center is not my idea of a change I can believe in.
I would much prefer that the president solidify the left and move forward despite of and without regard for the shrieking from the far right.
Although I know it will never happen because even this president wants to keep the health care industry in the mix ("they represent 1/6 of the economy") a single payer health care system like France, England Canada is what this nation needs.
It is simply that no president wants to upset a profit stream for the corporacracy that has fed off the American public for so long that is prohibiting single payer health care.
No balls.
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