The contrasts, both in style and in tone, were undeniable. Perhaps more telling though are the apparent motivations behind the two public statements made by Barack Obama and Sarah Palin yesterday, in response to the assassination attempt on the life of Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
Obama, speaking at the Arizona memorial service for the other victims of Saturday's shooting, did what presidents do. Looking and sounding more presidential then he has at any other point during his tenure at the White House, Obama served as the comforter-in-chief both for the families and friends in attendance, and for the rest of us watching the nationally televised speech, still trying to make sense of it all.
He eulogized the fallen, offered the support of the nation to the wounded and to the families of those who were lost, and praised those who helped prevent any further damage as heroes. Obama also wisely took the high road in choosing not to point fingers, place blame, or otherwise politicize the tragic events in Arizona at a time more appropriately given over to reflection and grieving for those who were lost.
If anything, Obama seized the moment to urge a return to civility in the political debate, and for a more rational, less inflammatory tone of unity in the national discourse seeking to find common solutions to the complex problems facing America in tough economic times.
Whether Obama's words continue to resonate by this time tomorrow or even next week remains an open question of course. But Obama's speech on Wednesday transcended partisan politics. This was a president doing what all presidents during a national tragedy do, much as Bill Clinton did after the Oklahoma City bombing, and yes, George W. Bush did after 9/11.
That said, in a lot of ways Obama also looked more like the rock star of the 2008 campaign than he has at any point since then. The memorial event at times seemed more like a campaign rally—there were several times when Obama's remarks were interrupted by spontaneous eruptions of cheer—than a somber memorial service. Obama's speech also served as a reminder of just how electric he can be as a speaker. You almost expected the crowd to start chanting "Yes, We Can" at times.
For that reason, it also reminded me again of just why I've become so disappointed with his presidency at times. Aside from the way he has all too often met the punches of his Republican detractors by opening up a bi-partisan can of compromise on them, Obama has also seemed detached from the populist movement that helped elect him. Obama is the sort of speaker who, at his best, can galvanize people from all walks of life into action. Which is exactly why I'd like to see him do a lot more speaking.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Antonio
Yeah, she's pretty whack.
2 - Glen Boyd
Yes, she is.
3 - handyguy
Obama's speech was very moving, even though the pep-rally atmospherics were a little weird [not his fault].
The speech at least came close to giving real meaning to all the 24-hour bloviating and hysteria of the news coverage since Saturday.
4 - Costello
Nice speech by Obama but not sure it will have any lasting effects, but time will tell.
I feel sorry for Palin because she is surrounded by some terrible people, like the leeches who drained Tyson's bank account as he was spiraling. Did no one think releasing the video on the day of the funeral was a bad idea? I had never heard the term "blood libel" before, but could anyone who had not of known the anti-Semitic connotation? Hope she has no presidential aspirations.
5 - Jerry
I didn't hear Palin's speech and only part of Obama's. What I did hear of his was what I would expect from any president, but nothing that would send tingles up my leg.
Concerning Palin, I'm willing to accept your assessment but find it difficult to understand how so many people can't see that when it comes to narcissism, Palin has nothing on Mr. Obama.
It is the same dynamic at work with this political rhetoric issue. It is just expected that left wing radicalism is OK - spiking trees, burning flags, suing gun makers and oil companies are all "good" forms of free speech, but the tea party is villified for criticizing gov't spending and Obamacare, then blamed for inflaming a schizophrenic to commit murder.
6 - scienceinproducts
Honestly, I think both are shameful. The death of a person is a private, personal matter and a private, personal grief. It shouldn't be politicized whatsoever. Neither Obama nor Palin should have given a speech, nor do anything of a public nature whatsoever. A simple "it's a great tragedy," or a letter of condolence would have done fine. But to make a speech of it? That's unnecessary politicizing. Jeez!
7 - scienceinproducts
I mean, come on, a rock star at a memorial ceremony?? That's nauseating. If that was Obama's intention, he should be incredibly ashamed of himself.
8 - Jerry
Ideally death should be a private matter, but obviously it wasn't in this case, so we need to deal with it and learn from it. I do agree that they should just keep their speeches to a minimum, but again, that is an ideal as well.
9 - Glenn Contrarian
Are we really surprised?
President Obama gave a great speech meant to help heal the nation, to bring us closer, to speak out against 'words that wound' and replace them with 'words that heal'. His speech was easily as apolitical as any that we've heard in the past fifty years.
And what to the conservatives do? They vilify him for it. And if Obama had given no speech at all, they would have pilloried him for not stepping up when the country needed him. In other words, it really didn't matter what Obama did - the Right would vilify him for it anyway.
Are we really surprised? Not anymore.
10 - Jerry
That's right. The right is evil, wicked and hateful, waiting for any opportunity to vilify Obama...sounds familiar.
11 - Glenn Contrarian
And for Jerry -
Ever work with someone with narcissistic personality disorder? I have...and you know what? They're usually very intelligent and never, ever apologize for anything. I hope for your sake you never have to work with such a person, because the very first time you tell them they've done something the least bit wrong you become their enemy. They see you as a threat and they may very well try to find a way to end your career to get you out of their way. I was lucky...the narcissist was a bit too obvious and it all came back on him as a result.
We've heard President Obama apologize for his failings on more than one occasion - and that tells me he's not narcissistic. Have we heard Palin apologize for anything?
No.
I remember watching a debate between Kerry and Dubya, and Kerry asked Bush what he thinks he did wrong in his first term, what he could have done better.
Bush didn't answer, didn't give a single example. What Bush (and most of the Right) didn't understand is that the ability to publicly admit error is something that is respected among the Left. You see it time and time again among the Left's politicians and pundits...and very rarely among the Right's politicians and pundits.
And you know what? If you're a conservative, You'll Just Know that what I've said is all stuff and nonsense...no matter how very true it is.
12 - Jerry
I haven't studied psychology, but I know a narcissist when I see one. Whether being able to apologize indicates that a person isn't narcissistic I know not - I didn't care much for Bush either.
You don't know the first thing about me and it is fruitless to categorically defend myself against your assumptions. You assume correctly that I'm conservative but I won't try to change what you are entirely certain of concerning those who don't entirely agree with you about - carry on my friend.
13 - Boeke
As for all these people who say they "support the victims", does that mean they're willing to chip in to pay their hospital and doctor bills?
Since we do not have Universal Healthcare in the USA, are they willing to support UHC in the future so that the innocent victims of overheated political incitement have some little bit of recourse?
Or are the victims to be thrown to the merciless dogs of the US monopolistic Health Insurance Industry to possibly die untreated in the gutter.
Will we allow a little time to pass to allow us to wallow in our magnanimous feelings of sorrow before we let them fade from the headlines and let their fates become of no concern to us?
Personally, I don't trust the crocodile tears of any of these politicians, accomplished actors and liars all. None. And IMO anyone who falls for it is willfully deceiving themselves.
14 - handyguy
Some conservatives [even Beck, apparently] have praised Obama's speech, if not effusively. We shouldn't be surprised that Rush Limbaugh's reaction was cynical and hostile. Praise for the president is not likely to ever voluntarily pass his lips on any issue.
15 - Glen Boyd
I think Palin may have just finally fatally shot herself in the foot with this one.
For someone who is presumably interested in becoming our next president, she did very little to reach out to anyone beyond her base of tea party nutcases, and also did herself no favors in turning the discussion back upon herself rather than the actual victims.
I can't see the old corporate white guys club that really run the Republican party wanting to get anywhere near her in 2012. Which is why I fully expect them to go the more tried and true route of the slick, used car salesman. Looks like it's gonna' be Obama and Romney on 2012.
-Glen
16 - Costello
will the base embrace Romney when they didn't four years ago? I don't see how he improved his negatives. I would guess they grab a new governor from the class of '10 who are proven winners with limited records
17 - Glen Boyd
While Romney's flip-flopping on the issues may be seen as potentially problematic, and his Mormonism may not sit well with republican evangelicals, I think he still gets the nod by default. He's just centrist enough to grab some moderates disillusioned by Obama, and the GOP also has a history of going with whomever is perceived to be the next in line (McCain, Dole) rather than embracing a relatively fresh new face.
Of all the potential candidates, the slickest guy is still going to have the best shot against Obama. Mitt Romney is that guy.
-Glen
18 - Glen Boyd
Quick point of clarification on my last comment...when I refer to Romney as "just centrist enough," I only mean that when compared to the other far-right fringe types like Palin, etc.
-Glen
19 - El Bicho
Has anyone posted odds? I would bet against Romney
20 - Arch Conservative
I didn't watch the pep rally aka "memorial service" long enough to make it to Obama's speech. The atmosphere was creepy and I kept waiting for the JV quarterback to com tearing threw some banner talking about how "we're gonna take state."
If my nine year old girl was shot and killed with some lunatic I know I wouldn't want "rock stars" speaking at her memorial service. The whole thing was a farce.
Has it ever occured to anyone that Palin's public persona is one of the greatest political decoys of all time? The left has been drooling all over itself each time her name is mentioned while Romney, the one who will most likely end up the GOP nominee, has been flying under the radar since the day he bowed out last time. if Romney can make it through the Gauntlet that is the GOP primary, I like his chances against Obama.
21 - Glen Boyd
I agree with you Arch (about Romney, that is).
-Glen
22 - Dan(Miller)
Comment # 15 claims that "I think Palin may have just finally fatally shot herself in the foot with this one." It continues, "her base of tea party nutcases. . . ." Comment # 17 refers to the "best shot against Obama . . . ." Comment #17 speaks of "far-right fringe types like Palin, etc. " (emphasis added in all quotations)
Dear me! Such violent rhetoric; Shameful! It must be possible to praise his recent speech without "lashing out" by using the same sort of violent, over the top rhetoric he so warmly disparaged to target people from the other side of the political spectrum. Sigh, I guess not.
Dan(Miller)
23 - Glen Boyd
I like your sense of humor, Dan. That was humor...right?
-Glen
24 - Mark
geeze, Glen
can't you recognize profundity when you see it?
25 - Dan(Miller)
Glen, what in the name of Gaia Most Holy is humorous in pointing out the incendiary nature of comments using language such as that for which the right is getting roasted? I thought that perhaps an act of contrition and a promise to go and sin no more might result; I guess not. You will doubtless be held personally responsible if some "far-right fringe" "nutcase" such as one of Sarah Palin's supporters takes a "shot" at President Obama. Gosh Darn!
Dan(Miller)