Class Act

Benen: OBAMA AND THE FIGHTING IRISH....

I hadn't heard until this morning that President Obama, after accepting Notre Dame's invitation to deliver a commencement address, had no intention of talking at any length about abortion rights. But in light of the criticism from some conservative corners, the NYT noted that he "decided to devote most of his address to bridging the chasm over abortion and other moral issues."

It was clearly the right call. Indeed, the Washington Post added, "Obama appeared energized by the controversy over his appearance, and he addressed the debate over abortion with relish."

E. J. Dionne's take was spot-on:

Facing down protesters who didn't want him at Notre Dame, President Obama fought back not with harsh words but with the most devastating weapons in his political arsenal: a call for "open hearts," "open minds," "fair-minded words" and a search for "common ground."

There were many messages sent from South Bend. Obama's opponents seek to reignite the culture wars. He doesn't. They would reduce religious faith to a narrow set of issues. He refused to join them. They often see theological arguments as leading to certainty. He opted for humility.

He did all this without skirting the abortion question and without flinching from the "controversy surrounding my visit here." ... By facing their arguments head-on and by demonstrating his attentiveness to Catholic concerns, Obama strengthened moderate and liberal forces inside the church itself. He also struck a forceful blow against those who would keep the nation mired in culture-war politics without end. Obama's opponents on the Catholic right placed a large bet on his Notre Dame visit. And they lost.

In some ways, the half-hour address was a great example of Obama doing precisely what he enjoys doing -- engaging those who disagree with him, extending respect to his rivals, emphasizing the value of dialog, searching for areas of agreement, and all the while, taking the high ground.

Note how he addressed the abortion issue, without backing down from his own long-held position. Obama emphasized, for example, how fair-minded people can work to reduce unwanted pregnancies, which would necessarily lower the number of abortions, and do more to "provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term."

"Now, understand -- understand, Class of 2009, I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. Because no matter how much we may want to fudge it -- indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory -- the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature."

Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins said in introduction, "President Obama has come to Notre Dame, though he knows well that we are fully supportive of Church teaching on the sanctity of human life, and we oppose his policies on abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Others might have avoided this venue for that reason. But President Obama is not someone who stops talking to those who differ with him."

If you missed it, the Politico has the full video, and here's the transcript (which, interestingly enough, included the words of the occasional protestor).

Joe Sudbay: Republicans on Obama's Supreme Court pick: “Elections have consequences; he won.”

I don't often agree with Republicans. Rarely, in fact. But, today, two of them (not for attribution, of course) actually acknowledged the political reality the GOP is facing in the upcoming Supreme Court nomination battle:

A senior Republican Senate official not connected to Mr. Sessions said, “Everyone up here can see the political pieces on the board.” The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the situation candidly, added, “No one is talking about the possibility of defeating any nominee, barring something coming out of left field.”

The official said that not only did Democrats have command of the committee and a strong majority in the Senate, but that any nomination would also come at a time when the president’s public standing was high.

A second top Republican Senate aide, also not connected to Mr. Sessions, said, referring to Mr. Obama, “Elections have consequences; he won.”

Now, if only the Senate Democrats could come to the same conclusion, we'd be doing a lot better up there on Capitol Hill.

The Senate Republicans will play a political game on the nomination -- to appease their base. They did the same thing on the confirmation of Kathleen Sebelius. But, they've lost already. Elections do have consequences.

Think Progress: Gates: ‘I wished I hadn’t said’ that Obama was more analytical than Bush — but it’s true.

In March, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that President Obama is “somewhat more analytical” than President Bush. In an interview with Katie Couric for “60 Minutes,” Gates said, “That’s something I wish I hadn’t said.” But when asked to describe the two presidents, he seemed to reaffirm the dichotomy, again suggesting that Obama is more analytical than Bush:

COURIC: What three words would you use to describe President Bush?

GATES: Committed, questioning, eager to make a decision and move on.

COURIC: What about President Obama?

GATES: Deliberative, decisive and calm.

Watch it:

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