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The Spectacle Blog
For the most part, I’m with Quin on this one. Indeed, I will say the same of thing of this morning’s lead article by Philip Klein.
I watched the service on FNC last night and the most objectionable thing about it was the behavior of the audience rather than the behavior of President Obama. The worst example of which was when a segment of the audience jeered Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.
There have also been red flags raised with regard to the dissemination of the t-shirt “Together We Thrive: Tucson and America” at the event. The t-shirts were reportedly printed by the University of Arizona. It does seem peculiar that one would hand out t-shirts at a memorial service. But until I see further evidence I am not prepared to lay this at the feet of President Obama.
Now one can make the case that President Obama could have asked the audience to temper its enthusiasm. Perhaps. But admonition or not, it doesn’t make Obama responsible for their behavior. One can also make the case that Obama ought to have clipped the wings of the liberal intelligentsia far sooner. Frankly, I’m surprised he said anything at all. So better late than never. Let’s take what we can get.
There are those who question President Obama’s sincerity in the matter. I think he was genuinely choked up when it came to talking about 9-year old Christina Taylor Green. Let’s not forget that Obama’s daughter Sasha is the same age. I’m sure he put himself in the shoes of John Green and the thought of suddenly losing his daughter crossed his mind. It’s a thought no father wants to contemplate and that includes President Obama.
So in the grand scheme of things, President Obama did his job last night. But please don’t come to the conclusion that I now support President Obama. Because he will invariably say or do something that will annoy me to no end and thus compel me to write about it. Hey, it could happen before the day is out. But I’m not going to criticize Obama for the sake of criticizing him. That’s not me.
View all comments (46) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/01/13/re-give-obama-some-credit
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GeronL| 1.13.11 @ 9:35AM
I don't care who printed the shirts, who asked for them? The White House.
LiveFreeOrDie | 1.13.11 @ 11:32AM
He never should have been there in the first place. Entirely inappropriate.
After the "Blame right-wingers" plan fell through and the public opinion was measured, the O swoops in and agrees, mostly.
Obama didn't write this speech, he read it. Giving credit because the President can read? Credit for not being total scum, one time?
"I'm sure he put himself in the shoes of John Green and the thought of suddenly losing his daughter crossed his mind. " -- Not a chance. If this elitist scum cared one bit about kids he wouldn't be pushing our country towards economic and social oblivion.
We should expect more from our president. He should act appropriately in every situation. He ought to subscribe to a stricter set of morals than the average citizen. He should be honest and possess an incredible amount of integrity. Our current DIC doesn't fit the bill. Obama has almost zero redeeming qualities.
I can't believe the AmSpec writers are lining up, Goldstein, tongues out licking his jackboot for 10 minutes of "not being an ass." What a joke.
Susan G.| 1.13.11 @ 1:37PM
To LiveFreeorDie!
AWESOME, AWESOME response! You 'nailed' the Big Zero, and this great country DOES deserve a president with integrity, which Obama has NONE, and the word Honesty is a foreign language to him also.
Robert McDougal| 1.13.11 @ 12:52PM
Let's us see if the president will be more civil to
those who oppose his agenda. Will he mock them?
Ricco| 1.13.11 @ 9:50AM
"But please don't come to the conclusion that I now support President Obama."
Oh course it proves that you do!! Unless you're willing to disagree with everything he says, does, or thinks or might think you are not fit to be called a true and genuine Reagan-Goldwater-Buckley conserative. You're just like all those other RINOs who don't hold to the true principles that are a must for you to be mentioned in the same breath as them.
Oh, sorry. I was channelling FreeRepublic.
Patriot| 1.13.11 @ 5:36PM
Free Republic rocks, RINO Ricco!
Cincy| 1.13.11 @ 9:51AM
This event was many things, but a memorial it was not. It might have helped if it had been held in a church, rather than a sports arena.
Granite Sentry | 1.13.11 @ 9:54AM
The crowd (knucklehead students) were definitely out of line; just what you'd expect. But it's also just exhausting listening to calls for civility from the leader of a party known for it's bloodthirsty partisanship, seen most recently in their libeling of conservatives in the wake of this terrible tragedy. The Left has been slandering and lying about the Right for generations now. If there is a vigorous response, it's only because the once Silent Majority finally got a belly full AND the internet has finally given them a voice. More at www.granitesentry.com.
Jeff| 1.13.11 @ 9:57AM
The students at Virginia managed to avoid looking like fools during their memorial service ...
At least Obama didn't call Republicans terrorists this time ...
Warrior | 1.13.11 @ 12:24PM
Your right, Biden did.
Kitty| 1.13.11 @ 9:54AM
Too little too late. The time for Barry to speak up was on Saturday when accusations were being hurled at innocent people. The best speech known to mankind does not undo the harm, as evidenced by the increase in death threats to those innocents.
Bob Miller| 1.13.11 @ 10:12AM
Kitty, you're onto something here. This reminds me somewhat of the interrogation routine where the good cop follows the bad cop---they're clearly working in tandem. Also, in this case, the dirty work gets done, but no dirt sticks to the boss himself. The extra dimension is that the dirty work failed, making it extra important for Obama to look good to all.
JeffT| 1.13.11 @ 12:55PM
You are spot on. The time for his admonitions was Saturday. Instead, he waits till Wednesday. And a day or 2 after he called Sheriff Dummkopf THANKING him for his efforts, which I assume also included his vitriol against anyone on the Right. You can't turn on and off your truthfulness. Obama, as most politicians, live in an alternative universe where you can say one thing one day and the complete opposite the other. Shame.
Penny| 1.13.11 @ 3:17PM
Bank on Kitty, totally agree - the damage was done. He watched it happening and allowed it to mount by not saying anything until the left's concerted smear against Palin was starting to backfire. With luck it will continue to do so. When the polls showed the public wasn't buying the spin, then he spoke up to try and get some credit for something before the opportunity vanished.
There is no credit due to BHO and those who think there is need to wake up. Everything he does or fails to do is calculated and politicized.
Penny| 1.13.11 @ 3:18PM
Sorry - meant to write 'Bang on' - or is that uncivil?!
martin j smith| 1.13.11 @ 10:09AM
I agree with my own assessment of Obama. Zero credit. --I refer you all the posts on Quin's page I wont spend time further. Did he do his job ? No
Richard Baker| 1.13.11 @ 10:10AM
Everything with this guy is a political calculation. If anyone thinks that the t-shirts and handbills weren't orchestrated by the White House, then I've got a bridge for sale for you. With Secret Service monitoring the proceedings it beggars the imagination to believe that this happened without his knowledge. This was his first campaign event for 2012.
jcp370| 1.13.11 @ 10:15AM
I guess it was the purpose-designed logo at the funeral (complete with giveaway Tshirts) supplied by the White House that took some of bloom off the rose for me.
The coordination with Pelosi as described on her web page was a nice touch though.
“Tonight the University of Arizona community joins with Tucson, the state of Arizona, and indeed the entire nation to acknowledge together Saturday’s tragedy. Appropriately, this remembrance is called ‘Together we thrive: Tucson and America.’ ‘Together we thrive: Tucson and America’ will be an opportunity to grieve, and it will be a demonstration of our strength, a strength in community—a strength in community that was demonstrated last Saturday, a strength in community there that is ongoing."
http://pelosi.house.gov/news/p.....y-to.shtml
Another Jeff| 1.13.11 @ 10:48AM
Look, I guess Obama did a fine job in the speech. But he's a guy with a proven track record of reaching snap judgments and spouting off about things. "I don't know a damn thing about what happened, but clearly the police acted stupidly." "Just because this guy has an Arab name and shouted 'Allahu Akbar!' as he gunned down people doesn't mean we should rush to a conclusion!" And so on. So the fact that he sat idly by for FOUR DAYS while his political allies slandered the Right means he gets zero credit for leadership from me; he's not a leader, he's a politician and a poseur to the bitter end.
Occam's Tool| 1.13.11 @ 11:05AM
This is an ordinary Presidential response to a tragedy. Obama did what was expected of him, and we all want to throw him a bone. He did OK. He's still a dirtbag.
Clint| 1.13.11 @ 11:01AM
Obama throws us A Plastic Self-Serving ( So He Can Get Re-Elected)"Rodney King -CanWe All Just Get Along " bone and we got suckers who gnaw on it.
Response To Enemy Leader: " Nuts! "
This Cynical Plastic Bloviator allowed His Surrogates to Smear, Slander and Attempt to Marginalize The Tea Party, One of Our Kingmakers and Our Media Allies.
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.
Lead, Follow or Get The Hell Outta Our Way.
Carpe Diem.
Al Adab| 1.13.11 @ 11:04AM
Didn't watch, don't care. This is simply another example of this President thinking that every event, every issue in the country is all about him. From an arrest in Conneticut to a football or basketball game to this shooting and murder; to this narcissist, it's all about him. That makes it dangerous. How is such a psychosis likely to react if thwarted? With self-destructive behavior?
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.13.11 @ 11:33AM
Obama turned it into a political event by mentioning the rhetoric when there isn't any evidence that rhetoric had anything to do with it. Since Obama is in charge of the Justice Department he knows better.
The plaintive claims of leadership don't pass the smell test.
Amanda| 1.13.11 @ 11:59AM
The "take what we can get" attitude is partially to blame for how we got in this mess.
How about governing with honesty, ethics and
humility. I see none of this with Obama and his
administration or most members of congress.
It is all a big game to them; then they go out to lunch together.
Nick| 1.13.11 @ 12:15PM
Hey, President Dither!
Here is my contribution to "a more civil and honest public discourse" and to talk to "each other in a way that heals."
"Do not wait for orders from headquarters, mount up everybody and ride to the sound of the guns!"
Lock and load, conservatives.
Politics is war by other means, to reverse von Clausewitz's famous dictum.
Jesus Christ| 1.13.11 @ 12:28PM
Wow, what a bunch of Negative Nancys here. This memorial could have been held in a church, everyone being toned down more, I, Myself, could have descended down with angels, and YOU ALL here would still be complaining about the event. JESUS! If it was Bush instead of Obama and everything happened the same as last night only with Bush, you all would have been praising the event as the most Patriotic thing to happen to this country in years!
Al Adab| 1.13.11 @ 12:50PM
JC,
Not hardly. Inchallah.
Wayne | 1.13.11 @ 1:52PM
No I wouldn't.
Patriot| 1.13.11 @ 5:39PM
Nah, Unlike you braindead Leftists, we hold our politicians accountable. At least we're trying to!
Rorschach | 1.13.11 @ 12:30PM
Obama has maxed out the credit limit.
Billy| 1.13.11 @ 1:01PM
People are angry about the shirts, the crowd, the black president. But this was about those dead and wounded, wasn't it? Do all these other things matter all that much?
Patriot| 1.13.11 @ 5:41PM
Nothing said here about Obama's ethnicity, until you spewed your racism, Billy. Predictable Leftist.
Billy| 1.13.11 @ 11:50PM
Well, he's black isn't it? I just said many people hate this black president, I didn't say they hate this black president because he's black...
Josef| 1.13.11 @ 1:07PM
How is any of this helpful? Are people here just desperate to stay angry at all costs? I imagine replies like "we NEED to be angry to change things" and "if you're not angry, you're not paying attention" will be the rationale. I would just ask that everyone please pause.
Patriot| 1.13.11 @ 5:42PM
Some people don't like to be played, Josef.
Jake| 1.13.11 @ 1:19PM
Last night's performance by Obama should be a wake up call to any Republican who think 2012 is going to be a cake walk because Obama is so damaged.
It's a rare Obama speech that isn't chock full of references to himself and while his Ft Hood memorial speech was textually not bad ,
he couldn't resist absolving Hasan's religious motivations.
This change indicates not that Obama has matured or become
presidential , but, that he's finally willing to to take advice from an adult
like Daley and fake it.
Any hopes that Obama would be just a one term president just got dashed after last night's theater ,
even with a stumbling economy.
I think the new and improved Obama changes the dynamics of the Republican hopefuls and makes it even more imperative that we field someone who can strongly challenge him from the right , while not repelling independents.
Wayne | 1.13.11 @ 1:51PM
He will be hard if conservatives continue to give him a pass.
Obi-Blonde Kenobi| 1.13.11 @ 1:41PM
Et tu, Goldstein?
You know, a lot of us (yeah, I conducted a poll this morning) are appalled by smarmy pieces like yours and Quin's. You were impressed with his sincerity and believe he was relating to Christina Green's father? Really? REALLY? Much as he relates to the parents of children Sasha's age with life threatening asthma? Have you been sucking on an Obama Campaign Breathalyzer, oops sorry. I meant to say inhaler.
“I watched the service on FNC last night and the most objectionable thing about it was the behavior of the audience rather than the behavior of President Obama. The worst example of which was when a segment of the audience jeered Arizona Governor Jan Brewer…”
But, you didn’t find the presidential presence and address at a memorial service where there were tee shirt handouts offensive? Coming soon to a church or synagogue vestibule near you: Obama’s Greatest Memorial Service Speeches. CD - $19.95/DVD - $29.95! But, wait – there’s more! We’ll throw in a Together We Thrive tee shirt to the first 25 worshippers! Was this just an oversight by Obama’s staff? Will he have to launch another search for more ass to kick? From the same people who brought you The World's Most Embarrassing Gifts to British Royalty and Government Officials, tune in next week to see the next what tasteless humiliation Obama's zany advisors have arranged for America!
You didn’t find Obama’s VERY contrived and cloying attempt at familiarity embarrassing – mortifying - and self-serving? “…Gabby opened her eyes for the first time. Gabby opened her eyes for the first time. Gabby opened her eyes. Gabby opened her eyes, so I can tell you she knows we are here. She knows we love her. And she knows that we are rooting for her through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey. We are there for her."
Question: Did Barack Obama ever actually meet Congresswoman Giffords or the Giffords/Kelly Families BEFORE last night or did she just regain consciousness and the ability to speak long enough when His Royal Pookiness entered to tell him, "Just call me Gabby." Because many of us felt that since she IS duly elected to sit in the House of Representatives for her district, wouldn’t it have been more appropriate and dignified to simply say – slapping my forehead. Holy guacamole! What were we thinking???
Okay, you and Quin can finish doing your kiss ups now. By the way, how many days and how many kiss up reps will it take before you’re in the same shape as the liberal media?
Wayne | 1.13.11 @ 1:49PM
Of course the crowd's behavior was Obama's fault. As the leader he only had to scold them for booing Brewer. He also could apologize for his own vitriol as President. And thirdly he did not have to lie to get a cheer. He was not the person to see Giffords open her eyes. She opened them Sunday according to the Chief surgeon.
Which makes me question the Spectator itself. Why does it seem to have a need to give Obama credibility?
Willy| 1.13.11 @ 2:22PM
The most important topic that has not been discussed in the aftermath of Tucson and the rock concert 'memorial' is why the media and the White House chose to blow up(pardon my uncivil language) this mindless violence to the status of 911. Where were they after the tragedy at Ft. Hood? With these people, EVERYTHING is political and calculated, including so-called memorials. Given the motives, I am unimpressed with the speechmaking. Been there, done that, got the 'T-shirt'.
Obi-Blonde Kenobi| 1.13.11 @ 2:45PM
I've asked myself the same thing, Willy. Where WAS Barack Obama when 13 Americans were killed and 30 more wounded at Fort Hood? I mean this with no disrespect for the victims of the tragedy in Tucson, but obviously the ripple effect from the lives of FORTY-THREE people in Killeen, Texas including the mass murder of 13 wasn't as politically compelling as the attempted assassination of a congressman or the murder of a 9-year-old child. I believe not only that life is precious, but that each life is as valuable and meaningful and worthwhile as the next.
But, it seems the current administration utilizes the utmost specificity when deciding which heartbreak it will acknowledge, and that only after a determination has been made of what spin can put on it to benefit Team Obama.
Patriot| 1.13.11 @ 5:44PM
All excellent questions. Too bad the writers at AmSpec didn't ask them.
Nick| 1.13.11 @ 6:57PM
Not to be nitpicky, Gen. Kenobi, but 14 Americans were killed by jihadi Hasan.
One of the victims, Francheska Velez, was pregnant.
Person of Choler| 1.13.11 @ 11:15PM
Obama needs votes in 2012 and, if he is capable of learning anything, he learned in the 2010 elections that micturating-off more than half the people in the country won't get them.
inge| 1.14.11 @ 5:52AM
Anybody who fell for this phony speech is as silly as those who still find his behavior 'presidential'. The guy is a phony; he could care less whether this woman survives or not; he is simply, and only interested in his start of the 2012 campaign-it's what it is!
this charlatan does NOT impress me!