Obama’s Speech at Notre Dame: A Review

It is too early, of course, to formulate a judgment about POTUS Obama. But it is possible to be specific about the strengths and weaknesses of the content he delivers in speeches. It is a mixture of boilerplate liberal rhetoric and “genuine co-optation” of centrist and conservative themes. Examples:

[P]art of the problem, of course, lies in the imperfections of man -- our selfishness, our pride, our stubbornness, our acquisitiveness, our insecurities, our egos; all the cruelties large and small that those of us in the Christian tradition understand to be rooted in original sin. 

The embrace of the concept of original sin, a key Christian teaching with a corresponding analogue in Jewish tradition (galut or “alienation” from God which begins with Adam and cannot be overcome except through an initiative from God’s side) is impressive and not exactly typical of American civil religion, which tends to be pollyannish about human shortcomings. To be sure, the list of “imperfections of man” – the gender-inclusive use of the word “man,” I note in passing, warms the cockles of my inner poet – would have been stronger if it had been more classical in tone. Greed (avaritia), gluttony (gula), envy (invidia), and pride (superbia) make their appearance, but extravagance (luxuria), despair (acedia), and anger (ira) are inadequately represented.

I attribute the oversight to a poorly schooled and/or inattentive Catholic speechwriter, who could easily have put “our despair and lack of hope” in place of “our insecurities,” and thereby tie the list of cardinal imperfections to an overriding theme of Obama’s persona, to wit: “the audacity of hope” - a fine phrase coined by a gifted but undisciplined preacher, Jeremiah Wright.

It would also have been appropriate to have had “infatuation with our own anger” – something Obama tries hard to avoid – in place of the repetitious “our egos.” Finally, is it possible for the President and First Family of an imperial nation to stress simplicity in dress and consumer habits, rather than opulence and excess? I am a Pollyanna, of course, since I want to answer “yes.”

Another example:

The soldier and the lawyer may both love this country with equal passion, and yet reach very different conclusions on the specific steps needed to protect us from harm. The gay activist and the evangelical pastor may both deplore the ravages of HIV/AIDS, but find themselves unable to bridge the cultural divide that might unite their efforts.

The examples are well-chosen and prove among other things that Obama’s friendship with evangelical pastors like Rick Warren has not been in vain.

The following quote is Obama at his best, but sets him up for a fall:

As I considered the controversy surrounding my visit here, I was reminded of an encounter I had during my Senate campaign, one that I describe in a book I wrote called “The Audacity of Hope.” A few days after I won the Democratic nomination, I received an e-mail from a doctor who told me that while he voted for me in the Illinois primary, he had a serious concern that might prevent him from voting for me in the general election. He described himself as a Christian who was strongly pro-life -- but that was not what was preventing him potentially from voting for me.

What bothered the doctor was an entry that my campaign staff had posted on my website -- an entry that said I would fight “right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman’s right to choose.” 

The doctor said he had assumed I was a reasonable person, he supported my policy initiatives to help the poor and to lift up our educational system, but that if I truly believed that every pro-life individual was simply an ideologue who wanted to inflict suffering on women, then I was not very reasonable. He wrote, “I do not ask at this point that you oppose abortion, only that you speak about this issue in fair-minded words.”  Fair-minded words.

After I read the doctor’s letter, I wrote back to him and I thanked him. And I didn’t change my underlying position, but I did tell my staff to change the words on my website. 

And I said a prayer that night that I might extend the same presumption of good faith to others that the doctor had extended to me. 

Throughout his term, I intend to extend to Obama the presumption of good faith of which he speaks. But that’s easy for me to say. It will be harder for him to deliver from his end, on the issue of abortion as on many others. That’s because I will judge the extent of his fair-mindedness based not on the rhetoric of his speeches, but on the content of the legislation he seeks to pass.  

Comments

[Dead Man Walking 2]

This was a very interesting read. I had never really put that much thought into the way that Obama has incorporated religious text and references into his speeches. Though in my defense I am a strong believer in the separation of church and state and because of this I do not listen to a speech in the same way that you might John. I will listen to it for the way that Obama will make references to what he plans to do or his reasoning behind what has been done. I find it interesting that he is incorporating religion as much he is, but it is also a tad distressing. He needs to make decisions based not on what the Bible says, but rather what the laws are and is best for the people. I do applaud you on ‘I will judge the extent of his fair-mindedness based not on the rhetoric of his speeches, but on the content of the legislation he seeks to pass.’ That I feel is a trait not carried by many religious groups and it is good to see change for once.

[Pulp Fiction 3]

I do not follow Obama’s speeches regularly so it was interesting in class to have seen the examples. I do not follow politics much for that matter, and I guess never realized that religion would play a big controversy. I don’t entirely feel it is wrong however, we are freedom to speech, yet he was not pushing his religion on anyone. He was simply backing his thoughts and feelings with a way only some people understand how to do.

[breaker morant4]

I have never really listened to a speech from a president before. I think its a good thing that Obama can talk about his religion freely. he is the president and free speech is a big part of this country. I don't feel like its a bad thing that he talks about religion just as long as he is not pushing it on every one els.

[Praying with Lior 2]

The way the public officials speak tells a lot about their confidence about the topic that they are talking out. Someone who speaks clearly and gets their point across easily can be very powerful and influential. President Obama’s ability to slide in religious references into his speeches shows that he is well taught in religious field. I am a big supporter of President Obama and the Democratic Party but I however believe that the president could refrain from mixing religion into his political speeches.