On Tuesday's CNN Newsroom, Douglas Brinkley predictably gushed over President Obama's speech at a memorial service for the murdered police officers in Dallas, Texas: "I heard echoes of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Lincoln. It was elegantly written. It pulled on scripture at the right times." Brinkley also touted the "high caliber" of the address, and likened it to President Reagan's Oval Office address after the Challenger disaster and President Clinton's speech after the Oklahoma City bombing. [video below]
The liberal CNN presidential historian contended that the President "tried to turn Dallas into a positive — meaning, the people of Dallas — the citizens, Police Chief David Brown, Mayor Mike Rawlings. I think he wanted us to say, that's the American spirit — what we've seen in Dallas, not one or two fools and idiots — evil makers that are going to try to ruin or derail American democracy." He also claimed that this latest speech "will be remembered — of all of the ones that Obama's done, along with Charleston, as — as being the most poignant."
Brinkley has a record of praising the President's rhetoric. During a July 2013 appearance on CBS This Morning, the historian trumpeted Obama's speech on Trayvon Martin as "historic" and "quite memorable." He also underlined that "this president has been a constant grief counselor. We flash back to Newtown or Tucson or Aurora – he always seems to be hand-holding."
Just over a month later, Brinkley also fawned over the Democrat's "very beautifully written" address marking the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech: "I think it's one of the great speeches that Barack Obama's ever delivered."
Earlier in 2016, the CNN regular asserted on the February 10th edition of CNN Tonight that the President was "really preaching the gospel of civility right after Donald Trump won New Hampshire. There's a contrast of styles between Trump and the President there. I thought that it was a historical moment for the President — a journey down memory lane."
It should be pointed out that back in January 2013, David Gergen invoked two of the same historical figures during a panel discussion about President Obama's second inaugural address that included Brinkley: "He's come along with a statement that firmly addresses a progressive, liberal agenda that's very much in the tradition of King and of Lincoln, and he has rallied his base."
The transcript of Douglas Brinkley's reaction to President Obama's speech in Dallas, Texas on the July 12, 2016 edition of CNN Newsroom:
WOLF BLITZER: Douglas Brinkley is our CNN presidential historian. Doug, you — you watched this from your unique historical perspective — your thought?
[CNN Graphic: "Dallas Memorial Service: Obama: We Let Poverty Fester, Flood Cities With Guns; Obama: We Know There's Evil, Why We Need Police; Obama: Violent Rhetoric Can Harm Push For Justice; Obama: 'One American Family' Is The America I Know"]
DOUGLAS BRINKLEY: Oh, this will be known as 'This is the America I know' speech. I heard echoes of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Lincoln. It was elegantly written. It pulled on scripture at the right times. But he tried to turn Dallas into a positive — meaning, the people of Dallas — the citizens, Police Chief David Brown, Mayor Mike Rawlings. I think he wanted us to say, that's the American spirit — what we've seen in Dallas, not one or two fools and idiots — evil makers that are going to try to ruin or derail American democracy.
I also, Wolf, had to think back to when Ronald Reagan — you know, did a speech on the Challenger; and you had Bill Clinton, who did the 'empty chair' speech in Oklahoma City. There were powerful memories of that. I think this speech is of that high caliber; and it will be remembered — of all of the ones that Obama's done, along with Charleston, as — as being the most poignant.
