Just under an hour before President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon, CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield applauded Obama's anticipated comments, addressing the controversy of the Catholic institution awarding an honorary degree to a politician who does not uphold pro-life policies, as “very courageous.” She then fretted over if Obama had “a lot of angst” before the speech given the controversy, specifically “whether there was angst on his part about whether he wanted to make his commencement speech one that would use the words abortion, that would use the words embryonic stem cell research?”
Whitfield's assessment and worry came after Suzanne Malveaux, from Sound Bend, previewed Obama's embargoed speech by reporting the prepared text revealed “he will address this controversy, that he is not going to shy away from it. That he will talk about the need for people to be open minded, to be fair minded in the way that they approach the debate over abortion and stem cell research.” To which, an impressed Whitfield, at the anchor desk in Atlanta, enthused:
And it sound like, Suzanne, this is a very courageous move. And I wonder if the President or if the White House in any way conveyed to you whether there was a lot of angst that the President had leading up to this commencement speech knowing about how much had been said leading up to this day and whether there was angst on his part about whether he wanted to make his commencement speech one that would use the words abortion, that would use the words embryonic stem cell research as opposed to focusing primarily on a challenge for the future because so often that's what commencement speeches do?
From CNN, at 2 PM EDT:
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, IN SOUTH BEND: We have gotten an advanced copy, Fred, of the text, the speech. It's obviously embargoed until he delivers it. But broadly speaking, we can say that he will address this controversy, that he is not going to shy away from it. That he will talk about the need for people to be open minded, to be fair minded in the way that they approach the debate over abortion and stem cell research, that he will talk about an example of perhaps a gay activist as well as a priest. Both of them feeling that they want to combat and tackle HIV/AIDS but have a different way of looking at that point of view, whether it's expanding stem cell research or if it is opposing that. He'll also take on the issue of abortion. Talking about -- that, in some ways, there's a need to emphasize the commonality of both sides, but that in some ways these two camps are irreconcilable when it comes to ultimately what they think about a woman's right to choose. So this is something, Fred, that he is going to tackle as part of the commencement speech and he'll obviously talk about the challenges that these students have at this preeminent Catholic university.FREDRICKA WHITFIELD: And it sound like, Suzanne, this is a very courageous move. And I wonder if the President or if the White House in any way conveyed to you whether there was a lot of angst that the President had leading up to this commencement speech knowing about how much had been said leading up to this day and whether there was angst on his part about whether he wanted to make his commencement speech one that would use the words abortion, that would use the words embryonic stem cell research as opposed to focusing primarily on a challenge for the future because so often that's what commencement speeches do?
MALVEAUX: Sure, well, this was -- the President, obviously in a position that he had to address the issue. This has become such a hot button issue, obviously, on this campus the last couple of weeks....
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Oh give me a
May 17, 2009 - 15:55 ET by bigtimerOh give me a break...courageous move...don't make me laugh.
This whole thing has been a disgrace in my opinion.
I saw good ol' Fredricka interviewing some gentleman who is angry about this whole thing too....she must have interrupted him every other word he tried to express, and inserting her own opinion....it was maddening...I clicked it back to Fox, where Wallace wasn't making me very happy right before that...sooo...on and on they go, the talking heads do not know when to just shut-up and listen.
...and by the way, O did NOT use the word "Embryonic" before he said "Those of you against stem cell research" blah blah blah..it was insulting, let alone he left out this is being forced to be paid for by us, the tax-payers, whether we like it or not.
Also just so lovely how he used his experience with the Catholic Church when he moved to Chicago...that gave him a sense of service to others, this getting him involved in his developing Community Networking...meaning ACORN....(I'm paraphrasing here)...
...anyway, the whole thing disgusted me.
Plus the Father or whoever that was who gave the long, loving, can't we all put aside our differences and get along BS...
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
OBAMA: SAME OLE LIB BALONEY SPEECH
May 17, 2009 - 19:42 ET by reelman46Obama calls for understanding in Notre Dame speech
May 17, 4:29 PM (ET) By JULIE PACE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - President Barack Obama strode head-on Sunday
into the stormy abortion debate and told graduates at America’s leading
Roman Catholic university that both sides must stop demonizing one
another.
Obama acknowledged that “no matter how much we want to fudge it …
the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are
irreconcilable.” But he still implored the University of Notre Dame’s
graduating class and all in the U.S. to stop “reducing those with
differing views to caricature. Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded
words. It’s a way of life that always has been the Notre Dame
tradition.”
CRAWFISH NOTE: Its the same stale “open minded-we-should-talk even though I got a 100% Planned Parenthood kooks rating speech.
How many times are the heart stoppers going to pretend they will ever give an inch?
How many times are they going to pretend there is some
constitutional “choice” after a woman has made three already (to have
sex, to have sex when fertile and to have unprotected sex)?
How many times are the secularists going to pretend that stopping millions of heartbeats is somehow mainstream morality now?
This year after year lying about their real positions that PROMOTE unrestricted abortion are really really stale.
What is that saying? Oh yeah, ‘Ignore what is said, watch what is done”. Their voting records and appointments do not lie.
Notre Dame has lost a lot of cred as has the Pope…both chose
prestige over principle or pandering to be left alone from Obama’s crew
of secular radicals…pick one. Both are losing positions…as you will see.
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
he will talk about the need
May 17, 2009 - 16:06 ET by motherbelthe will talk about the need for people to be open minded, to be fair
minded in the way that they approach the debate over abortion and stem
cell research.”
Whenever a liberal calls on people to either come together, put bipartisanship aside, or be open-minded, that means only one thing:
Agree with our side!
And as for Whitfield worrying about him wondering if he agonized over whether he wanted to make his commencement speech one that would use
the words abortion, that would use the words embryonic stem cell
research as opposed to focusing primarily on a challenge for the future
because so often that's what commencement speeches do?
and Malveaux asserting that this was right:
MALVEAUX: Sure, well, this was -- the President, obviously in a
position that he had to address the issue. This has become such a hot
button issue, obviously, on this campus the last couple of weeks....
What a pile of B as in B, S as in S.
He certainly did not HAVE TO address the issue. He should have given a graduation speech, period! What he does by addressing that issue in that way, is to LECTURE, as he is wont to do, those who disagree with him! Just like at ASU, where he took a jab at them for not giving him an honorary degree.
Arrogance squared.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Exactly, motherbelt.
May 17, 2009 - 18:40 ET by QueenMumExactly, motherbelt. There's no room for "agreement". Either you believe that human life begins at conception or you don't. There's no middle ground to be reached simply because "it's a hard decision" or an unexpected pregnancy may be inconvenient. Sometimes life is hard. And often doing the right thing is difficult. But it's still the right thing.
I'm sad today that a great Catholic University has sold its soul to the Devil. (Spiritually speaking.)
GO CAVS!!!!!
mb... ...arrogance
May 17, 2009 - 16:35 ET by bigtimermb...
...arrogance squared is right!
I tell you, another pet peeve of mine with him is how his nose head is tilted in the air when others are speaking, etc...he exudes arrogance, all the time.
I just wanted to add that in here, it drove me nuts this afternoon.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
bigtimer, I noticed that
May 17, 2009 - 16:54 ET by kangaroobigtimer, I noticed that also and it drives me nuts, I had a bad vibe about the O and his old lady first time I saw them, and my vibes aren't far from wrong,
bt: Ha! You're right about
May 17, 2009 - 16:57 ET by QueenMumbt: Ha! You're right about the nose in the air - and usually looking over the crowd. It's like he's not paying attention. Or maybe he's not confident about his Secret Service protection. You know how dangerous those baby-loving right wingers can be. ;)
GO CAVS!!!!!
Motherbelt...
May 17, 2009 - 16:54 ET by JerWhat jab at ASU...
The only reference I am aware of was a light-hearted joke about them now being subjected to an IRS audit, which I thought was a very funny, thoroughly disarming and entirely appropriate manner of addressing the "controversy". And in no way exhibited arrogance.
Was there another reference which I missed?
Jer
That's the one! Arrogant!
May 17, 2009 - 16:55 ET by balboaThat's the one! Arrogant! Mean-spirited! How dare Obama do...make light of a funny situation?
Here you go...
May 17, 2009 - 17:29 ET by motherbeltWashington Times
At Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., Obama talked directly about
Arizona State University's decision to deny him an honorary degree. A
university spokesman's comment that he did not have "a body of work" to
justify the degree became the theme of his speech.
"That's what building a body of work is all about," he told 60,000
people at the stadium. "It's about the daily labor, the many individual
acts, the choices large and small that add up over time, over a
lifetime, to a lasting legacy. That's what you want on your tombstone. It's about not being satisfied with the latest achievement,
the latest gold star -- because the one thing I know about a body of
work is that it's never finished."
******
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Thanks, mb... Note to
May 17, 2009 - 17:41 ET by JerThanks, mb...
Note to Washington Times: The quoted words are not an example of talking "directly about ASU's decision to deny him an honorary degree". At most, it's an indirect reference.
That said, in my opinion, it hardly constitutes an "arrogant jab". But, for those who don't care for Obama and consider him to be exceedingly arrogant, I understand how the words might be construed as such.
Jer
Jer, I don't know if that's
May 17, 2009 - 18:02 ET by motherbeltJer, I don't know if that's all he said about "body of work." I'm assuming he led into it somehow, so I don't know what the "direct jab" was. He couldn't have just started talking about "a body of work" out of the blue.
But the point I was making was above; namely that there was no reason to even bring it up....he should have been talking about the graduates and their future, not his own imagined "slights." He could have made the point of life being one continuous body of work without that reference. Why bring up a controversy involving himself at eithe one of these occasions?
You're right, I don't like him and consider him arrogant. But that's my opinion because of things like this, not the other way around.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
mb... The media are much
May 17, 2009 - 18:31 ET by Jermb...
The media are much to blame for turning what should have been a minor spark into a small firestorm--one that Obama perhaps should have completely ignored, but can hardly be condemned for making some reference to during his address.
I believe the light-hearted quip and the "body of work" allusion were appropriate, but I do understand your view and trust we can just reasonably disagree on the issue.
Jer
I believe the light-hearted
May 18, 2009 - 00:01 ET by Dan The Man 2I believe the light-hearted quip and the "body of work" allusion were appropriate, but I do understand your view and trust we can just reasonably disagree on the issue.
Jer, I guess your being as reasonable as Duh One; he is not very reasonable. One day when you get before the maker you will see the truth.
The "truth" being exactly
May 18, 2009 - 06:31 ET by JerThe "truth" being exactly what, Dan?
Jer
The "truth" being exactly
May 18, 2009 - 06:41 ET by Dan The Man 2The "truth" being exactly what, Dan?
Exactly my point, you like Paloosi cannot see the truth.
Okay, so I fail to see the
May 18, 2009 - 07:06 ET by JerOkay, so I fail to see the truth. Maybe you are right, and I'm incapable of seeing it. Now, how about extending me the courtesy of answering my question. What is this "truth" which I cannot see?
Jer
Still waiting Dan and tater...
May 18, 2009 - 07:38 ET by JerStill waiting Dan and tater...How about an explanation for your questions?
It was just this type of theological gamesmanship that Matt Sheffield placed out of bounds last year. trracheostomy was banned for it.
Explain yourselves, or I'll ask Matt why you two are permitted to engage in these tactics and still remain at this site.
Jer
Explain yourselves, or I'll
May 18, 2009 - 08:36 ET by Dan The Man 2Explain yourselves, or I'll ask Matt why you two are permitted to engage in these tactics and still remain at this site.
Im shaking in my boots. My answer was simple so simple you did not understand it. This was very straightforward "One day when you get before the maker you will see the truth." and it implies you cannot see the truth because you do not have what it takes to see. Read your Bible about those who cannot understand scripture and it may make sense to you.
BTW do you know how to keep a Troll in suspense? Ill tell you later.
Dan the Man's Prayer For Obama's Death
May 18, 2009 - 17:08 ET by JerBTW do you know how to keep a Troll in suspense?
You bet I do. I cause the Troll to wonder wheher or not I will follow through on advising the site's Executive Editor of your continued theological bullying and arrogantly pious, judgmental pronouncements regarding the religious purity and potential salvation of fellow NB members--precisely the type of behavior that had been declared by the Executive Editor to be off limits.
For if I do bring this to his attention--and he adheres to his stated policy--your sanctimonious A$$ will be shown the door.
Jer
By the way, I'm sorry God failed to answer the prayer you publicly prayed on the threads of NewBusters to strike Obama dead [I believe your words were "bring him home"] before he was sworn into office. I guess you don't have a direct line to the Almighty after all.
→ Clue me in Jer
May 18, 2009 - 17:21 ET by Cool ArrowI've scrolled up and I can't find where Dan the Man called for anybody's death.
I'm ready to stand with you if that's what he said.
Is it true?
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
Cool,,,
May 18, 2009 - 17:24 ET by JerAs implied in my post, it was prior to Obama's inauguration. I'll try to locate it, unless Dan races to delete it before I can find it.
Jer
→ No biggy
May 18, 2009 - 17:28 ET by Cool ArrowI thought I was missing something in the here and now.
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
Cool...I don't quite understand.
May 18, 2009 - 17:38 ET by JerI don't quite understand. Are you saying it's the timing which is important and not the words?
Jer
→ No
May 18, 2009 - 17:46 ET by Cool ArrowI'm saying I'll jump in on a "here and now" comment, but "there and then" should have been dealt with at that time.
If you're bringing up a comment from way back, that may well help with your negative portrayal of another poster, but I'm not moved with the same sense of urgency.
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
Understood, Cool... The
May 18, 2009 - 17:58 ET by JerUnderstood, Cool...
The only thing which I thought unfortunate was that not a single conservative member of NB took issue with Dan's post back "then and there".
Jer
Jer no need to threaten or worry
May 18, 2009 - 21:32 ET by botgtrust me you don't have the ability to debate theology on a level to disrupt the board. I believe that to be Matt's concern. Now as to you using a threat of run to Matt, i believe that's something he may not like. Just my thoughts Jer.
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
Your opinion is duly noted botg.
May 19, 2009 - 01:01 ET by Jertrust me you don't have the ability to debate theology on a level to disrupt the board.
Your opinion is duly noted botg. By the way, as long as you're gracing us with your opinion tonight, who does comprise your personal list of those at NB possessing the abililty to debate theology to the level of thread disruption--aside from yourself of course.
Are you also implying that Dan's remarks about what will happen when I meet my maker are an appropriate comment on my response to mb. Frankly, I find the behavior arrogant and repellent, and an injection of religious pronouncements and judgment into an exchange which in no manner invited or justified it. I think it is precisely what Matt would be concerned with and frown upon.
So, your advice is basically of zero value. But thanks for your concern.
Jer
Dan...I've been
May 18, 2009 - 21:11 ET by JerDan...I've been searching--unsuccessfully thus far--for that post, and while I am certain of its existence and content, it was irresponsible of me to attribute it to you without first verifying the authorship.
So, in case it was someone else who made the comment, I will readily apologize to you for the disservice.
Jer
I'll give you a
May 18, 2009 - 06:48 ET by taterI'll give you a hint...Pontius Pilate said basically the same thing you did Jer.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
Oh, you mean that Pilate
May 18, 2009 - 07:26 ET by JerOh, you mean that Pilate joked he would audit the tax returns of Jesus. Don't be coy, tater...either provide a direct answer or run along.
Pilate asking Jesus for the truth has nothing to do with my response to motherbelt.
Jer
About MB or about the truth
May 18, 2009 - 07:33 ET by taterAbout MB or about the truth thing?
Cause Jesus said he was the truth before Pilate's statement.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
tater, please see my post above.
May 18, 2009 - 07:40 ET by JerThanks.
Jer
Different setting
May 18, 2009 - 17:22 ET by Cool ArrowThat's one of those dangling questions.
Pilate asked Jesus "What is truth"
Did Jesus answer?
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
Same setting
May 18, 2009 - 17:32 ET by QueenMum"Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Then Pilate said "What is truth?"
GO CAVS!!!!!
Right, Cool... I'm quite
May 18, 2009 - 17:33 ET by JerRight, Cool...
I'm quite aware of that. And it all has absolutely NOTHING to do with my exchanges with motherbelt.
Jer
Yeah, like any of them
May 17, 2009 - 15:58 ET by Chris NormanYeah, like any of them would ever admit it if he gave a bad speech. He could have stood up there and recited the ABCs and they would applaud it as "brilliant", "eloquent", "thoughtful"...
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
ABCs
May 17, 2009 - 17:13 ET by Kat Outta the BagThink he could make it all the way to Z without a teleprompter?
KAT... ROFL...doubtful.
May 17, 2009 - 17:16 ET by bigtimerKAT...
ROFL...doubtful. ;-)
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Hey, give the dude a little
May 17, 2009 - 23:01 ET by JerryHey, give the dude a little credit.
Obama: "I've stated every letter... 28 I think... with 2 more to go..."
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Jerry... ROFL! ...that
May 17, 2009 - 23:28 ET by bigtimerJerry...
ROFL!
...that was a good.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Mr. President. 1st, you must lead with a voice of tolerance.
May 17, 2009 - 16:11 ET by Gary HallAllow me to combine a few issues from today together here:
From Obama's speech today (my bold):
Talk is cheap, Mr. President. Telling your staff to change the words on your website is cheap, Mr. President.
Telling your staff (and the left side of the isle, including the MSM) to change their intolerant attitude of the other side's heart felt views, would be an example of demonstrating strength of character.
For example, take your senior advisor on your staff, David Axlerod, and his easy willingness to smear (and, make fun of her views) - Miss California on National Public Radio, with the audience's glowing approval. It would appear to this observer, that Axlerod is acting in your image. This is the manner in which you have led; and your staff, your supporters, and the national media will continue to follow you in your set pattern of demonstrating intolerance of the other side, and their heart-felt views of conscience from the other side of the isle, be it Fox News, talk radio, tea bag protestors, Rush, or Miss California.
Asking your staff to change the words, which are so representative of your leadership set of skills, "changes" nothing in the US.
First, you need to "change," and you need to become tolerant of other's views (stop the smear attacks and blame game). Secondly, you need to tell them to change their ways - not your printed words.
Side bar:
Do you, and your side of the isle, consider the Dalai Lama a “right-wing ideologue," worthy only of being smeared? Or, are you seriously interested in engaging with those holding different views in a serious open and wam and inviting dialog?
(;~/ gary
Gary...I noticed that also
May 17, 2009 - 16:44 ET by bigtimerGary...I noticed that also about him saying he directed others to change his words on his web-site...
Making changes on his web-site seemed to be an on-going process...most likely still is.
My favorite part of your post though is this...
Reference:
Do you, and your side of the isle, consider the Dalai Lama a “right-wing ideologue," worthy only of being smeared? Or, are you seriously interested in engaging with those holding different views in a serious open and wam and inviting dialog?
.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
bt..
May 17, 2009 - 16:56 ET by Gary HallI've often used an example involving Bill Moyers. On numerous major issues - but let's use the issue of abortion, here - he will put on one of his 1 hour discussions on the topic of abortion. His typical guests? One will be some far right evangelist type - one who is strictly anti-abortion, even in the most trying of circumustances, and one not blessed with the gift of flowing and inviting speech. The other will be generally be a minority civil rights activist attorney type who is extremely well educated, motivated and especially well-versed displaying the leftist gift of gab. The whole setting is nothing more than a staged set to promote the Moyers leftist agenda - and it will be accomplished by two brilliant personalities using the opportunity to completely expose and to defile the oddball - and his view.
What will not happen on a Bill Moyers show (or most MSM productions), would be the appearance of two notables in the form of two who he greatly admires, Jimmy Carter and the Dalai Lama (or their equivalents) with an equally interesting intellectual informed witness with an opposing view - for a deeply interesting and motivating informative and challenging intellectual discussion.
Moyer's M.O. is not to promote learing and thought thru an educated exploration of the subject.
God Changes Mind.
May 17, 2009 - 16:30 ET by melpolThe written words of God once supported the protesters against abortion at Notre Dame. But the written words of constitutional law comes from the same God. He now writes that abortion is legal. God is allowed to change his mind every five thousand years.
http://www.associate...
God writes Constitutional Law?
May 17, 2009 - 16:40 ET by botgif you're serious, then you're delerious or just seriuosly delerious
heck you're just plain nuts
are you sure you're not a right-wing plant trying to make liberals look idiotic? Surely noone cud be as stoopid as you present.
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
I never know what I will
May 18, 2009 - 00:16 ET by Dan The Man 2I never know what I will write about until suddenly the thought pops into my head.
From mel's website, apparently he leaves his mind pretty much open and any crap falls in and out.
Obama isn't the issue
May 17, 2009 - 16:30 ET by KC MulvilleThe controversy here isn't Obama. The speech isn't the issue. We're happy to have Obama speak on the issue, and we welcome what he wants to say. The problem is the honorary degree. It's one thing to invite a speaker who disagrees with you, but when you honor him with a degree, you endorse his perspective.
Second, this has become a protest against Obama. That shouldn't have happened. This should have been a protest against Notre Dame. Obama has a right to whatever he believes, and it's foolish to make this a protest against him.
I simply disagree with the vague, hazy notion that we all have to agree with the majority decision, or that to disagree with it is being "divisive." We don't have to agree. We can talk about it, and be as open-minded about it as you want, but we don't have to agree on it. That's what votes are for. Votes are how we resolve issues on which we disagree.
Finally, calling for open-mindedness (especially if you only call for it from others) is a rhetorical move. As it is, I am not closed off to reason. I have, however, studied and debated the issue for many years, and along the way, I've formed some deep convictions. Those convictions have been tested and challenged many times, and I consider them rock-solid. If you think that means I am close-minded, then you're just using rhetoric poorly. If you have a reasonable argument, I'll listen; if it's true, I'll adopt it. However, if all you have to say is: "abandon your convictions so I can possibly persuade you," no, that's not what reason or logic demands.
Afternoon KC... I
May 17, 2009 - 16:40 ET by bigtimerAfternoon KC...
I wholeheartedly agree with you about the Honorary degree and Notre Dame inviting him in the first place, and plenty of others agree with this also, and have said so, and have protested for that reason.
On the other hand, Obama could have politely declined the invitation too.
JMHO ;-)
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
As Amy Poehler said last
May 17, 2009 - 16:46 ET by balboaAs Amy Poehler said last night, an honorary degree holds about as much gravitas as a "World's #1 Dad" coffee mug.
roflmao, brilliant
May 17, 2009 - 16:56 ET by kangarooroflmao, brilliant
Uhh... What? An honorary
May 17, 2009 - 23:39 ET by RogerCfromSDUhh... What? An honorary degree HONORS someone. That means those bestowing the degree AGREE with the receipient's works and views.
As a Catholic institution, that is the LAST thing they should be doing. Obama supports infanticide. No clearer examply of someone who shouldn't be honored by Catholics.
I like Poehler. As a comedienne. However, her cavalier view on this matter doesn't demonstrate the intellect of a philosopher or sage.
A nation cannot be free without a free, unbiased media. We are not free.
bozo had angst before he
May 17, 2009 - 16:36 ET by kangaroobozo had angst before he spoke, I am going to be drowning in BS before this presidency is over, sheeesh bozos middle name is stir the freaking pot 24/7, bloody hell I feel sorry for the students, this is THERE grad day, how dare obama make it about him, " spitting chips"
→ Wallabe praised, Roo
May 17, 2009 - 16:37 ET by Cool ArrowAlways wondered what the literal translation of "Hussein" was.
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
LOL rant/off
May 17, 2009 - 17:00 ET by kangarooLOL rant/off
The more BO is challenged,
May 17, 2009 - 16:48 ET by d1carterThe more BO is challenged, the higher his chin gets...
d1... What a great way to
May 17, 2009 - 17:04 ET by bigtimerd1...
What a great way to put it!
All Hail to the Mighty One...(just wanted to throw that in there)
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Some observations
May 17, 2009 - 17:04 ET by iveseenitall1. As Micheal Steele noted about Obama--it's not his flowery words we disagree with; it's his actions.
2. The president of ND, Jenkins, made me sick to my stomach. He's the personification of all that is hypocritical about the left wing of the Catholic church. And his justifications for giving Obama an honorary doctorate were simply laughable. Years of service as a community organizer?? Giving "audacious hope" to all people?? What! And then to say that it is much harder to get an honorary doctorate than to earn one through years of study?? Take it from one who knows --- that's outright BS.
3. On Fox, the sociology professor Williams from ND defended the invitation by literally describing the left-wing garbage he teaches at the school ( e.g. that you can't be successful in life if you are burdened with a child ). This guy teaches at a "Catholic" school? This is what our Catholic youth are being taught? God help us.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
isia.... Well as you
May 17, 2009 - 17:10 ET by bigtimerisia....
Well as you probably already know, I agree with you about Jenkins..it was maddening...
I just want to thank you for mentioning Williams...I saw/heard that also, I loved what's his name, who has been arrested already for protesting, Terry his last name?
...anyway he really put him in his place as far as I am concerned...he basically said the same thing as you did about him being a poor teacher ...something to that affect.
God help us all is right!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
BT
May 17, 2009 - 17:46 ET by iveseenitallRight on. I was thinking today how ironic ( and sad ) it is that ND, a "Catholic" school, throws people in jail for protesting abortion by praying the rosary on school grounds, while giving an "honorary" degree to a pro-death president and allowing him to address the graduates. The world is indeed upside down.
P.S. Randall (sp?) Terry made the great point that the civil rights groups never gave up the fight and were never told to "compromise". Why should we who believe that abortion is also a human rights issue ever give up the fight?
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
isia... Yep...that's
May 17, 2009 - 17:51 ET by bigtimerisia...
Yep...that's it...Randall Terry.
...hey at least I got the last name right.
He was great with that phone interview.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Terry got a lot of press in
May 17, 2009 - 20:50 ET by motherbeltTerry got a lot of press in the 90's as the founder of the anti-abortion group "Operation Rescue." Of course, they were just a bunch of "right-wing extremists."
He kind of lay low for a while, popping up during the Nancy Cruzan case in New Jersey and then the Terry Schiavo case.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Hey thanks mb...I always
May 17, 2009 - 20:55 ET by bigtimerHey thanks mb...I always learn more when I come here.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Well, you don't disagree
May 17, 2009 - 17:13 ET by balboaWell, you don't disagree with them until he uses "evocative" instead of "provocative," and if he refers to the White House as "my house."
Flowery
May 17, 2009 - 17:23 ET by iveseenitallI said one can agree with his "flowery" language, not his misuse (often) of the English language.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
3. On Fox, the sociology
May 17, 2009 - 18:16 ET by motherbelt3. On Fox, the sociology professor Williams from ND defended the
invitation by literally describing the left-wing garbage he teaches at
the school ( e.g. that you can't be successful in life if you are
burdened with a child ). This guy teaches at a "Catholic" school? This
is what our Catholic youth are being taught? God help us.
Oh. My. God. And I say that as a prayer!
Notre Dame is just another college with a Catholic name and the secular liberals in charge.
I am going to bring up here again an article that I found during a weeks-ago discussion of this, I hope no one minds, but some may have not seen it then....
C.I.N.O.: Catholic in Name Only
The money quote (emphasis added):
The turning point for many of these schools came in the late
Sixties when many of their presidents signed onto a letter that
expressed their desire for more academic freedom from the Vatican. That letter became known as the "Land O' Lakes statement", named after the conference center at the University of Notre Dame where the principals met.
"To perform its teaching and research functions effectively
the Catholic university must have a true autonomy and academic freedom in the face of authority of whatever kind, lay or clerical, external to the academic community itself," the statement read. The Land O' Lakes statement is officially entitled "The Nature of the Catholic University" (1967).
Hosting that meeting was [are you ready for this?]
Father Theodore Hesburgh, president for many years of Notre Dame.
Until I read that, I thought that Notre Dame was finally going the way of the CINO universities. Now it appears that ND was a founding member of the movement.
How sad.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
mb... Wow! What a catch
May 17, 2009 - 18:28 ET by bigtimermb...
Wow! What a catch there gal...all I can say is this figures and thank you for pointing this out.
...as he was getting all his applause and kudos today....at least now I know who he is, the face will stay etched in my mind.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Hesburgh
May 17, 2009 - 19:35 ET by iveseenitallAll throughout my career fighting the "liberals" in education, Hesburgh's speeches and writings would come up time and again. He was (is) a leading left-wing radical who helped "change" the church and the schools in America. I snickered to myself every time Barry mentioned his name today. Hesburgh, Jenkins, Wright, Ayers, et.al. These are the names no American should ever forget. As I've said from the beginning,Obama is an indocrinated leftist.These are his mentors. Conspiracy theory? Not so. This is insidious.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
I am watching a modern day
May 17, 2009 - 18:01 ET by DelsaHITLER speak at a once great university.
I am sick to see his brown shirts marching in lock step
In addition, father John should be fired. I can't believe he gave
obama's political speech invoking the dead grandmother and never
mentioning the illegal alien aunti.
Can't remember when I have been so angry. Just watching this TOTUS
POTUS leaves me speechless as to how low this country has gone and how
far we have traveled in under a year.
I have to admit I could not leave the sound on and then I had to change the station/channel.
The whole thing made me want to toss ye ole cookies. The Catholic Church, for the most part, in this country is dead!
The Catholics in this country have a difference of opinion regarding the issue of "LIFE"?
Holy Mother of God.
Our Country has now joined ND as a once great.....
Delsa:
May 17, 2009 - 18:45 ET by iveseenitall"A modern day Hitler". Right on. Those are the exact words my wife said to me while watching Obama's address today. The "liberals" will say this is just right-wing ranting. But my wife is more well-read on the subject than anyone I know. Even if people don't want to read, they should at least watch the newsreels of Hitler in the '30s. America is being duped by this devil Obama.
P.S. I, too, wanted to barf as I watched the travesty today. And yes, we are seeing the death of a once-great nation.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
False Witness
May 17, 2009 - 19:11 ET by BondPlainBondFrom Obama's speech at Notre Dame this afternoon:
I have no doubts in my faith.
I believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son). With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
We DO know what God has planned for us and we DO know what God has asked of us. It's all in The Holy Bible, chapter and verse, Old and New Testaments, it's expressed through the celebration of the Mass and in the homily.
Obama bore false witness against God.
OK, so what does God have
May 17, 2009 - 19:14 ET by balboaOK, so what does God have planned for you?
balboa
May 17, 2009 - 19:18 ET by BondPlainBondThat I ignore troll posts intentionally meant to be divisive, ignorant, and inflammatory.
BPB... Amen to
May 17, 2009 - 19:21 ET by bigtimerBPB...
Amen to that!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
How convenient. You know
May 17, 2009 - 19:22 ET by balboaHow convenient. You know what Obama meant. You just want to see an insult where there is none.
And were you insuletd where
May 18, 2009 - 00:34 ET by Dan The Man 2And were you insuletd where tehre was none?
Problem Is
May 17, 2009 - 19:16 ET by BondPlainBondNo one LISTENS to Obama. They HEAR him fine, but LISTENING eludes the delusional and starry-eyed devotees to Obama's brand of "religion" and "government".
Obama's "faith"
May 17, 2009 - 19:16 ET by iveseenitallObama has "faith" in one and only one--himself. (and maybe Allah)
NEVER,NEVER trusta "liberal"
Very true
May 17, 2009 - 19:19 ET by BondPlainBondWhen Obama tells us HE will change things and that WE should have hope
in him, then we can know for sure his promises of hope are empty. When
he tells us HE will take away from the rich and give to the poor —
instead of creating incentives for the poor to better themselves and
motivations for the fortunate to be better neighbors — then his
promises for justice are empty.
Debate?
May 17, 2009 - 19:45 ET by iveseenitallThere is no "debate' about abortion. Pouring water on someone to get information doesn't demonstrate a lack of American values. Murdering the innocent does. Then again, we wouldn't want to PUNISH anyone with a baby, would we Barry?
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Obama's Ego
May 17, 2009 - 20:39 ET by jaywlI haven't seen this remarked on anywhere but I thought it pathetic and humorous at the same time. When talking of his "introduction" to the churches in Chicago (intro to Christianity, perhaps?) he said "the church folks, they invited me to their services and sang with me..." the hymns. The egotistical Savior believes, I'm sure, the choir joined Obama as soon as he decided to start singing the praises of Jesus. I wonder what they did before Obama picked up on Jesus? I find it hard to believe his speechwriter wrote it that way, maybe the Big O mangled the teleprompter with a Freudian Obamaism.
"Angst"?
May 17, 2009 - 20:59 ET by DelsaSOBama is soooo vain and egotistical there is NO WAY he know what "angst" is!
If he had class he would have stayed away. He would have said he could not attend if it meant causing so much disruption to Catholics.
But those would the words from a humble man and SOBama is anything but humble!
Angst?
Desla... You said it all
May 17, 2009 - 21:04 ET by bigtimerDesla...
You said it all as far as O goes regarding all of this.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Thanks Big
May 17, 2009 - 21:56 ET by Delsawish I could spell and remember not to leave words out of my typing.
Geeze.
Courageous?
May 17, 2009 - 20:59 ET by GregEHe's president of the United States, the most powerful position in the entire world. He's seen as a messiah, if not THE Messiah, by millions of people. He has more security around him than any president in the history of US presidents. His every move is viewed by mainstream media and conveyed to the entire nation as the greatest moves ever made by a president.
Now tell me, does it take any courage, given all that, to give a single speech at a university, simply because there is some hyped up "controversy?" Please.....spare me.
Re Courageous?
May 17, 2009 - 21:21 ET by slickwillie2001Exactly.
Now if President George W. Bush was in a perfectly analogous situation, the liberal media would have called him arrogant, confrontational, condescending, etc.
I say
May 18, 2009 - 07:38 ET by RowaneI say that anyone who views obambi as the messiah should be taken to one of those deprograming centers where they deprogram cultists.
There was absolutely
May 17, 2009 - 22:01 ET by RogerCfromSDThere was absolutely nothing courageous about Obama's abortion speech. The man is a moral coward.
He supports infanticide. If he had publically taken the stance that he thought abortion is wrong, THAT would've been courageous.
As it stands, he used empty rhetoric that said NOTHING except to encourage OTHERS to take moral stances and to compromise them.
There is no compromise on this issue. Abortion is MURDER. A civilized society does not excuse or accomodate murder; especially when abortion is used as casually as it is used by Americans as a preferred form of birth control.
A nation cannot be free without a free, unbiased media. We are not free.
Roger,
May 17, 2009 - 22:10 ET by DelsaI yelled at the tv when SOBama suggested "we find some common ground and come together".
He is either OUT OF HIS MIND or ???
"commom ground" on ABORTION!
What would it be?
Where to bury the baby?
Unbelievable.
These are Catholics???
No more funding for ND!
What an eye opener...
May 17, 2009 - 23:02 ET by Southern voterThe fact that 54% of Catholics voted for Obama has been such a mystery to me ...knowing his radical record on abortion...yet today watching the news coverage, listening to all the liberal priest try to equate abortion with capital punishment was unbelievable...not to mention the standing ovation Obama received by those at Notre Dame...I hope all parents who truly want their children to have a Catholic education ...grade school, high school and college ..take a close look at what happened today ...go to your schools and find out what your children are being taught about their faith...as you all know, the tuition at all Catholic schools is extremely high ...make sure you are getting what you are paying for...
I will never look at Notre Dame in the same way again ...and Bravo to the graduates that had the courage to stand up for life !!!
Why Catholics?
May 17, 2009 - 23:54 ET by slickwillie2001I've talked to relatives of mine that worship the guy and tried to tell them that he is radically pro-abortion, and they just don't believe it. They don't watch Fox News or read conservative papers or blogs, so why would they know? The old networks sure aren't going to tell them. This is what we don't consider, that others don't see the news that we see.
The Bamster was very successful at making people think he was one of them, no matter their views. This is a skill he has that even his classmates at Harvard described. As President of the HLRJ they said he could speak to a room of conservatives and convince them that he was one of them, and then he could do the same to a room of liberals. He's an empty suit, a reflecting glass, an empty vessel. He is anything you want him to be and he believes what you want him to believe.
He's done this to Catholics, but he's also done it to the Wall Street set, to the Jews, to the muslims, and others that he needed to get elected.
Liberalism trumps religion
May 17, 2009 - 23:52 ET by RR GOPLiberalism trumps religion and moral convictions any day at most universities (but I do wonder how he'd be received at Oral Roberts University? Hmmm).
Anyway, everyone knows that Socialism is in perfect alignment with Jesus and besides, The One may make all of their student loans evaporate!
Three quarters of those graduates probably lost their virginity since they've been enrolled there. Quit trying to kid us with this BS. Not sure where this assumption came from that Roman Catholics are somehow closer to God than anyone else or that they tend to be Conservative. This disgraceful spectacle and the election results should bear that out.
Of course, I know a devout, practicing Roman Catholic couple who were noway, nohow going to vote for Obamamessiah and she's very busy with the anti-abortion thing...so it's not all of them for sure.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Every time I hear this man speak it makes me wonder
May 18, 2009 - 00:18 ET by gmaniac1from all the crap he spews, how can his breath not smell so bad? I mean his following is very cult like and the media are just plain juvenile over him. It's not even funny because these are supposed to be grown adults. I saw parts of this as I changed the channel to be one of the 2 viewers. The anchor was clearly in the tank for Baby Boy.
When the people fear the government it's called tyranny, when the government fears the people it's called liberty!
He is as courageous as his
May 18, 2009 - 03:29 ET by snaggletoothieHe is as courageous as his administration is nonpartisan and transparent.
why??
May 18, 2009 - 05:20 ET by RowaneWhy is it courageous? Why is it not considered pretensious and self-righteous? If a Republican had said some of these things to a leftie college crowd the whining would last a month.
Courage or cowardice?
May 18, 2009 - 07:40 ET by c5thenIn bestowing an honor to a speaker who publically and unrepentantly holds beliefs that are the antihesis of what Notre Dame is supposed to be defending and imparting to their charges, that institution has shown itself to be unquestionably compromised and infiltrated by the Great Enemy. They could have invited Barrack Obama to speak without conferring the honor of a degree to him. Instead they chose to ignore their theology and their morality in order to appear "open minded". Instead of embracing the spirit of the protesters and opening a dialog, they chose to use Stalin-esque tactics and have them arrested for trespassing in order to silence their message. Notre Dame has unequivocally shown that their minds are not so much open as corrupted and they are the Enemy's tool, not his opponent. Notre Dame should no longer be concidered part of the Catholic Church, but simply another liberal University.
You could make an argument that Obama showed courage in tackling the issues directly. In taking his ideas directly into what is supposed to be a fortress against them. It is howver just as valid to say that Notre Dame showed cowardice in not standing for it's principles and theology. In inviting the Enemies spokesperson into it's enclosure and conferring an honor upon him as if he were deserving of it. Was Judas courageous too? Does Notre Dame believe that Paul should have been more "open minded" to the Romans?
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
Before the Beatles--
May 18, 2009 - 08:32 ET by milootooleBefore the Beatles-- became so world wise , so sophisticated that they, John Lennon in particular, became smarter than God, they had this to say (sing)--
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be. Yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.
And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
Thi is our hour of darkness. The evil that stands before us is a leader, a government and scholastic institutions, including those which were created to spread His word, that are lost or corrupt or even evil. They honor evil, they preach against God. Comedians , (how dare they call themselves that), like Garofalo, Maher, Griffin who delight in insulting God and demeaning religion and religious believers, abound in the media, the government and on our campuses.
As a few other bloggers on this site, I attended Christian school. I have not attended services for a number of years now save for weddings and funerals, and those, out of respect for the families involved. This because of the secular direction the churches have taken. I worry about my country, I am angered at the direction that our politicians, priests and ministers have been leading us, and , yes, even before the man in the White House today. It has only worsened since his election.
When I am saddened and start to give up hope, up pops a young person full of intelligence, good will and patriotism and rekindles my hope. That has happened to me, here on this site , more than once. As my hope resurges, I then think:
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
Mother Mary, Please lead us back to the principles and moral code that made this country so great.
milootoole
May 18, 2009 - 09:10 ET by BondPlainBondAmen.