Obama's Demeaning Commencement Address

American Thinker ^ | 05/10/2013 | Janice Shaw Crouse

[SeekAndFind]

As a presidential speech writer for the first Bush White House, I am always very interested in what presidents say in their formal speeches. They know, of course, that their remarks will be widely covered by the press, studied by analysts, and influential in contemporary political debates.

For that reason, presidents rarely speak off-the-cuff, and their every word is carefully chosen for exactly the message the White House wants to convey to the public.

Their graduation speeches, like all presidential addresses, go through many drafts and are reviewed by high-level administration officials to ensure that they accurately reflect the administration's policies and priorities.

That's why President Barack Obama's speech at Ohio State University's 2013 Commencement should trouble all Americans. The speech was permeated with his distorted sense of America; he baldly stated -- as though it were the essence of this country -- that we need to "reject a country in which only a lucky few prosper."

A typical commencement address is focused on lofty ideals and challenges graduating students to live up to their potential as they enter the workforce and assume adult responsibilities. But not this one! The Ohio State speech was billed as a defense of democracy and a challenge to students about the importance of citizenship. Mr. Obama, however, chose to be, once again, very political; he delivered a speech that stands out as uniquely partisan with the "us-against- them" rhetoric that has become all too predictable.

[US Navy Vet]

What did you expect from Ohio State?!

[Obadiah]

It is who Obama is. Why is anyone surprised by this? He is a small, spiteful and bitterly partisan. This is who Obama is to his core. It is simply covered up or camouflaged by the corrupt MSM, the 60’s radicals who now control the media.

[WVKayaker]

... Mr. Obama, however, chose to be, once again, very political; he delivered a speech that stands out as uniquely partisan with the "us-against- them" rhetoric that has become all too predictable.

Surptise, surprise...

[rktman]

What’s even sadder is that the speech wasn’t boycotted or that no one walked out. I’m sure at least a dozen graduates got it and understood the attack on the US. Most of the others will be obie lovers no matter what. Enjoy flippin’ them burgers (if you can get hired) there mr. PhD. But not to worry. The big government non-tyrannicals will take care of everything. Don’t listen to folks like the tea partiers.

[nascarnation]

The life of Julia.

Now the goal of most college grads.

Embracing the fedgov from near miss abortion to death panel termination.

[Buckeye McFrog]

If you ask me it was simply his most TRUTHFUL speech in a LOOOOOOONG time.

[Pride in the USA]

ping

[CottShop]

[[It is who Obama is. Why is anyone surprised by this? He is a small, spiteful and bitterly partisan]]

The presidents before him all had class- somehtign he severely lacks- Any president that goes to gradeschools, highschools and tells the kids to do his dirty work for him has no class- nor does his wife- poledancing in front of reporters and thrusting her unmentionables in their faces as they all giggled and teee-hee’d abotu iot- Yep- What a classy family we have runnign htis coutnry

[tet68]

the “deteriorating climate that threatens everything we plan to leave for our kids and our grandkids.”

Here we see the global warming keywords slipped
in as an innocuous reference, but very effective
to young minds who are programmed to respond to it.

This guy is a menace to every thing we hold dear.
A dispensor of class warfare and envy, he paints
our history as filth, and our way of life as
something that must MUST be changed for the “better”.

Certainly fits my defination of a demogogue.

[yldstrk]

despicable speech, completely depraved without grace

[CGASMIA68]

when I 1st saw this speech it reminded me of Hitler

[freeangel]

Ya have to hand it to this buffoon in chief-—he can always oneupmaneship himself in the stupid department.

[mardi59]

I expect nothing less from the kenyan usurper. He didn’t take this JOB to do great things for this nation, he took it so he can do great things for himself.

[mountainlion]

Is the ministry of information creating a red herring, a crisis to take attention away form Barrys other failures?

[kevkrom]

The presidents before him all had class- somehtign he severely lacks

I think you've inspired a new tagline.

[Mr. K]

I was thinking that same thing- wasn’t there even ONE student who stood up and asked “what the hell is so bad about this country already?”

[Mashood]

Puleeeze... its “The Ohio State University”. Thanks...

[Neoliberalnot]

The speech was the classic undermining of his betters. Anyone with a record of high achievement is to be ridiculed and belittled—hey, it makes the obamas, maos, stalins, chavezs, and Idi Amins of the world look better.

[rktman]

The almight king hussein would respond: “Everything. That’s why we must fundamentally change it.”