As I listened to Barack Obama delivering his speech at the Memorial Service in Tucson last night I felt transfixed by his words. He was masterful in both formulation and delivery, capturing the mood of America and saying what needed saying. Who would not have been touched by “Gabby opened her eyes for the first time.” But as much as I would love to see his words come true, they will not. Here is an overview, the complete video and a link to the complete text of the speech, followed by my commentary on where it fell short.
President Barack Obama mourned victims of the Tucson shooting spree Wednesday and urged Americans not to let a political debate over the tragedy be used as "one more occasion to turn on one another."
In a speech at a service for those killed in a weekend massacre that left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords gravely wounded, the president appealed for national unity and soul-searching after the shootings. He urged Americans to "expand our moral imaginations" and "sharpen our instincts for empathy" — even with those who are political adversaries.
"I believe we can be better," Obama said to a capacity crowd at the University of Arizona basketball arena — and to countless others watching across America. "Those who died here, those who saved lives here — they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."…
Inserted from <MSNBC>
If you prefer, here is the text of the speech.
Here is the problem. I say with certainty that anything resembling civility from Republicans will be both superficial and temporary. The problem has never been lack of Democratic willingness to cooperate. They have bent over backwards to find common ground with Republicans. Worse yet, they have been over so far forwards that the poor and middle classes have suffered a torn sphincter. Republican unwillingness to consider the needs of Americans in favor of exclusively supporting the wants of millionaires, billionaires and criminal corporations has not changed and will not change. The lies that Republicans use to fool America will remain. Republican calls for violence to distract their base with blood lust from consideration of meaningful ideas will return as soon as the news cycle moves on. For all Obama’s lofty, heartfelt, excellent words, nothing meaningful has changed.
Now I’m not suggesting that Obama should have said what I am saying at the service. That was for the families and the people who loved them and not the proper venue. But the State of the Union address is approaching on January 25. That is the venue when Obama must raise the issue of how Republicans are sacrificing the well being of this nation in their quest to eliminate the middle class and establish one party rule.
27 Responses to “Obama in Tucson: Brilliant, but…”
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Perhaps the most telling thing was Obama’s invitation to Bonehead to join him on Air Force One and Bonehead’s decision to remain in DC to host a cocktail party.
Boner wouldn’t have been seen dead with Obama in Tucson, and THAT my friends is the HEART of the problem!
If I had to guess, Boner was scared off by a two drink limit on Obama’s plane. 😉
Perhaps we can make the Repubs say the name “Christina Taylor Greene” before any bill is past to remind them of what we lost on that terrible Saturday – or one of the other heros that dove in front of bullets to save their loved ones. Maybe that will soften there cold, cold, hearts (if they even have one). 🙄
Lisa, I fear that is one name Republicans want forgotton quickly.
Bravo TC!! I posted on this subject plus added some live tweets from Tammy Bruce during the memorial service especially for her hateful conservative followers! Please come by and read if your stomach can handle the hate. Hypocrite Republicans do not have it in themselves to be civil and unite, sad, very sad for our country.
Thanks Sue. I did stop by and left a comment thanking you and addressing the bogus claim of equivalence from one of your readers.
Great speech. The president hit all the right notes. Most amazing of all, I just heard MSNBC’s White House correspondent, Chuck Todd, state that Mr. Obama wrote the greater part of that speech.
Welcome Shaw! 🙂
I understand the same, as stated by Todd, Olbermann, and Maddow. I also understand that the segment about the visit to the hospital was off-script.
Good jobby. I haven’t written about the shooting yet because I’m still trying to absorb and learn. I heard the President and agree that this wasn’t the venue to call the right-wing on what they are. I’m not even sure the State of the Union is appropriate. He is the President of all the people and his job is to try to unite the country, not to split it even further. Having said that, I don’t see myself rising to the occasion.
Leslie, if the Republicans call a halt to their lies and start competing on issues between now and then I agree. I made that statement in the belief, which I still hold, that the Republicans will be back to business as usual by then.
“But the State of the Union address is approaching on January 25. That is the venue when Obama must raise the issue of how Republicans are sacrificing the well being of this nation in their quest to eliminate the middle class and establish one party rule.”
My, goodness, Tom — finally something you and I agree on. That was the wrong place for speechifying. I thought it was terribly opportunistic of Obama, and no one should stand up and cheer at a memorial service. It looked more like the State of the Union speech than a Memorial Service. Can you say upcoming election…?
Josie, I have to admit that I felt uncomfortable with the cheering at a Memorial Service. However I disagree with you blaming Obama for that. The crowd cheered for every speaker starting with the professor that gave the Native American invocation, including the vile Jan Brewer, before Obama ever took the podium. I felt less uncomfortable when I saw family members if the victims join in the cheering.
I’m going to have to respectfully disagree – at least to a degree. While it would satisfy me a great deal if Pres. Obama metaphorically “took the Teapublicans to the woodshed” in his SOTU speech, I don’t think that will advance our cause one bit – particularly at this time and under these circumstances. In fact if he did so, I fear it would make him appear Palin-like in his rhetoric.
While Pres. Obama’s speech was uplifting, Palin’s was accusatory; while Obama called for unity of the “American family – 300 million strong”, Palin blew her dog whistle with “blood libel”; while Obama called for civility, Palin called for “dueling pistols”.
The tone of Pres. Obama words are in stark contrast to Palin’s hate-mongering, and in the end will stand him a good chance to win over independents – who, whether we want it to be so or not, are the majority in our nation. So I’m going favor the slow and plodding method that seems to be the hallmark of Obama’s approach to getting things done – even though I know I’ll loudly rail against him at times for doing it that way.
Nameless, never let it be said that agreeing with me is required for participation here or my friendship. 🙂
As I stated in my reply to Leslie, I expect that Republicans will be back to the politics of lies, hate and violence before the SOTU.
Jo said: I thought it was terribly opportunistic of Obama, and no one should stand up and cheer at a memorial service.
Under normal circumstances, maybe not but this was not your usual memorial service – even if Obama hadn’t been the speaker. This was an audience of mostly college students. Frankly I was uplifted by their cheers of endorcement for Obama’s call for civility and less finger pointing, for his call for hope and tolerance. To me it was a celebration of life and what we can be.
SoINeedAName says it well, I think. I don’t think we should ever stop for one single moment calling out Palin and the right for their lies and stupidity but there’s a lot to be said for the eloquent insult.
Shaw posted this link on FB. It’s worth reading.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2011/01/absorbing-last-night.html
Well said, Leslie, and thanks for the link.
That’s probably what it will take (republicans establishing one party rule) to get Americans off their fat asses… Americans are great at working together for the common good when the chips are down, but until then… 🙄
I do hope you’re wrong, but I’m not taking bets on it.
@tnlib, I disagree. Obama took it as a golden opportunity to do what he does best — speechify. It was inappropriate. Of course, it was a good speech — his speeches always are. But it was a completely inappropriate time and place. It was gauche.
Josie, see my reply to you above.
Brilliant? 🙄
Are you kidding? How do you or anyone elce take anything that this Lying Hypocritical Fart-breath of a president serious! This only goes to show you what air heads you people over here are.
You, sir, are anything but brilliant or civil.
Thanks Leslie.
Galvin, I did not censor you, but for future reference, we have a civility rule here. You are welcome to comment with arguments on issues., but personal attacks against me or against anyone else who comments here, including you, are forbidden. Your next attack will be deleted and it will be your last. I would reply to your argument, but you offered none.
I love this take by Jon Stuart on the type of criticism coming from people like Jo and the right-wing:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-13-2011/veiled-criticism
Beautiful. Josie is really a great lady. She just has people feeding her garbage.