Posted on 05/06/2010 1:50:21 PM PDT by seanmerc
An Eloquent Defense Of American Democracy Obama Also Notes Harshness Of Public Discourse
Helen Thomas, Hearst White House columnist
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. is so divided that it seems to me that the nation has lost its compass.
Even in times of national crisis, including the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam War and a string of scandals such as Watergate, the political center has held together. But now I’m not quite so sure.
President Barack Obama has been most conciliatory as he seeks the middle ground on a host of issues, even to the point of caving to the political opposition. But when not one Republican in Congress could vote for the health care reform legislation, one has to ask: Who do these lawmakers really represent? Themselves?
Especially surprising to me is the fact that the Republican women in Congress voted with their male colleagues against the health legislation.
The Republicans have become the party of ”NO,” even to congressional efforts to rein in Wall Street, whose greedy excesses led to the Great Recession.
The federal government has become the target of intense hatred from conservatives, except of course those conservatives in states around the Gulf of Mexico who now are asking the federal government to help people and businesses devastated by the continuing oil spill. Suddenly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Interior Department, the Coast Guard and other federal entities don’t look so evil as they go about the job of cleaning up the mess and helping people in need.
In an under-noticed May Day address at the University of Michigan commencement, the president dealt head-on with the ignorance and destructive consequences of the current atmosphere of name calling and partisanship.
Speaking at the same campus where President John F. Kennedy announced the creation of the Peace Corps and President Lyndon B. Johnson unveiled his plans for a “Great Society,” Obama told the Michigan audience: “Before we get too depressed about the current state of politics, let’s remember our history.”
“What troubles me is when I hear people say that all of government is inherently bad,” the president said. “One of my favorite signs during the health care debate was somebody who said: ’Keep your government hands out of my Medicare’ -- which is essentially saying ‘Keep government out of my government-run health care plan.”
“When our government is spoken of as some menacing, threatening foreign entity, it ignores the fact that in democracy, government is us. We. The people. We the people hold in our hands the power to choose our leaders and change our laws and shape own destiny.”
Obama also took note of the harshness of public discourse.
“To keep our democracy healthy is to maintain a level of civility in our public debate,” he said. “It’s important for everyone to join in the debate. But you can’t solve all our problems if all we do is tear each other down.
“You can question someone’s views and their judgment without questioning their motives or their patriotism. . . Throwing around phases like ‘socialist’…and `Soviet-style takeover’ and `fascist’ and `right-wing nut’ may grab headlines, but it also has the effect of comparing our government, our political opponents, to authoritarian and even murderous regimes.”
`This democracy we have is a precious thing. For all the arguments and all the doubts and all the cynicism that’s out there today, we should never forget that as Americans we enjoy more freedoms and opportunities than citizens in any nation on Earth. We are free to speak our mind and worship as we please. We are free to choose our leaders, and free to criticize when they let us down.”
Not all political speeches are created equal. We should stop the music for a brief interlude and think about these remarks.
I believe historians will look back on that speech as one of Obama’s best. It’s a message of optimism and of fundamental truths that all too often seem to be ignored in these super-heated times.
“Middle ground” - HAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Obama has been most conciliatory as he seeks the middle ground”
Hello? This man mocks us publicly every chance he gets! There is always some snide remark.
“His highness has been most conciliatory. You should bow and kiss his ring. He is all things good for you, and most wise.”
What a maroon.
What does Hellen know about optimism and honesty?
About as much as she knows about styling her hair.
This woman is just too far gone round the bend for any serious discussion.
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