Editorial: Obama deftly calms culture war passions (Dallas Morning News).

[Drunken Irishman]

Editorial: Obama deftly calms culture war passions

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/DN-obama_0519edi.State.Edition1.2c6b7a6.html

When Notre Dame, the nation's best-known Catholic university, asked resolutely pro-choice President Barack Obama to receive an honorary degree and deliver the commencement address this year, it caused intense controversy in Catholic circles. About 50 U.S. bishops publicly opposed the president's planned appearance, which violated their 2004 directive that Catholic universities "should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles."

...

Once again, this president displayed his gift for making his most strident opponents marginalize themselves. He comes across as the kind of politician who genuinely sees those who disagree with him as opponents, not enemies. When a strong abortion-rights supporter like Obama is not only honored at the nation's most important Catholic university (in terms of cultural symbolism), but enthusiastically embraced, times are changing.

...

These are positive developments. As a newspaper that supports a woman's right to choose, we are pleased that America has a president committed to preserving that right. We also are pleased that America has a president who sees abortion opponents as fellow citizens worth approaching with "open hearts, open minds fair-minded words."

No matter which side of the issue you're on, that's change we can all believe in.

[monmouth]

1. And the Vatican gave his speech a thumbs up. Makes those others

look like the fools they are.

[vaberella]

2. Great post. n/t

[HopeOverFear]

3. Amen nm

[Occam Bandage]

4. His refusal to fight culture wars drives people insane.

Everyone assumes he's not fighting with them because he's secretly on the other guy's side, up until he gives a speech that calms everyone down and makes the culture warriors all look petty and foolish.

[Cha]

5. Makes smile and a little

emotional:cry::)

"About 50 U.S. bishops publicly opposed the president's planned appearance, which violated their 2004 directive that Catholic universities "should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles."

I guess the President of Notre Dame,Father John Jenkins, didn't get that directive?

Can you imagine if bush read the papers ..coming across that OP ED in his morning news?

[Clio the Leo]

6. the "controversy" was completely manufactured by the press. NT

[FrenchieCat]

7. I don't think the press manufactured it,

as much as they ginned it up.

The teabagging parties...now those were manufactured.

[Clio the Leo]

9. Well ..... maybe we're saying the same thing......

.... the actual amount of folks upset over the President speaking was not equal to the amount of press the matter received.

Those upset in no way reflected MOST Catholic Americans.

(this info is based on a Clio the Leo random hunch poll :) )

[Captain Hilts]

8. Yes, like the airtime on MSNBC 4 batshit crazy Hillary supporters got during the convention.

The networks thrive on conflict, and where it doesn't exist, they make it up.

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. Thanks for sharing this. Great piece. (nt)

[ClarkUSA]

11. Every time Pres. Obama speaks, the collective blood pressure of the nation drops

Finally, Americans can savor a president who isn't divisive in the least.