Obama Notre Dame Speech: President Welcomed With "Thunderous Applause"

[babylonsister]

Obama Notre Dame Speech: President Welcomed With "Thunderous Applause"

JULIE PACE | May 17, 2009 04:02 PM EST | AP


SOUTH BEND, Ind. — 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."

One of the noisiest controversies of his young presidency flared after Obama, who supports abortion rights but says the procedure should be rare, was invited to speak at the school and receive an honorary degree. "I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away," the president said.

The Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame's president, introduced Obama and praised the president for not being "someone who stops talking to those who disagree with him." Jenkins said too little attention has been paid to Obama's decision to speak at an institution that opposes his abortion policy.

Ahead of Obama's address, at least 27 people were arrested on trespassing charges. They included Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff identified as "Roe" in the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. She now opposes abortion and joined more than 300 anti-abortion demonstrators at the school's front gate.

More than half held signs, some declaring "Shame on Notre Dame" and "Stop Abortion Now" to express their anger over Notre Dame's invitation to Obama.

Obama entered the arena to thunderous applause and a standing ovation from many in the crowd of 12,000. But as the president began his commencement address, at least three protesters interrupted it. One yelled, "Stop killing our children."

The graduates responded by chanting "Yes we can," the slogan that became synonymous with Obama's presidential campaign. Obama seem unfazed, saying Americans must be able to deal with things that make them "uncomfortable."

The president ceded no ground. But he said those on each side of the debate "can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/17/obama-notre-dame-speech-n_n_204343.html

[alsame]

1. "Stop killing our children"....did they ever

yell that at Bush as he sent Americans off to wars?

Apparently, once you are no longer a fetus you are no longer important.

[Sultana]

2. Our children? Those SOBs don't care about non-white fetuses or children

[thatsrightimirish]

3. Obama won the Catholic vote

So the notion that most Catholics don't support him or disagree with him is ridiculous. Most of the people who are "outraged" aren't even Catholic

[Fire1]

5. And you know this, how?

[babylonsister]

6. ABC just reported the same thing. He did win the Catholic vote, but

(I think they said) 52-54%.

[Fire1]

8. Thanks. So, not overwhelmingly. A little over half.

[goodgd_yall]

12. It was 54%

to 45% for McCain. 54% is better than the overall U.S. results, so I don't think that's too shabby.

[Fire1]

13. not shabby but contradicts the notion that 'most' catholics

supported Obama.

[goodgd_yall]

14. When has 54% not been most?

But I get it---it's not an overwhelming amount, but then you can say that about Obama's victory too. Let's just say, if the whole country was made up of Catholics, he would have had a slightly bigger victory.

[Fire1]

16. ok. A difference of 4% is drastic. Gotcha.

[thatsrightimirish]

17. so 54% isn't most?

[Fire1]

18. That's what I gather from the above post. n/t

[FightingIrish]

4. Father Jenkins received a standing ovation too

At the very end of the ceremony, University Provost Father Thomas Burish, recognized University President Father John Jenkins for his role in inviting President Obama and not backing down in the face of brutal criticism. All in all, it was a great day for Notre Dame. I don't normally like stories about anyone winning at Notre Dame but the Irish, but this headline is just too good.

OBAMA WINS OVER NOTRE DAME

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

[Cha]

7. Good! The president meets the

controversary head on like he always does.

[Better Believe It]

9. Good! The right-wing Catholic bishops do not speak for or represent most Catholics

And it's clear that the great majority of students and faculty at Notre Dame welcomed President Obama and do not support the right-wing agenda.

[Better Believe It]

10. K & R

[goodgd_yall]

11. Does anyone know what the students were chanting ?

The ones who were shouting down the first protestor? That was a great show of support for the president.

[babylonsister]

15. "Yes we can", according to the article. nt

[goodgd_yall]

19. Thanks

I quickly read the article and apparently missed that tidbit.