Obama to speak at Notre Dame

[jason_h537]

Contorversy over the scheduled commencement speech to be given by President Obama at our beloved University of Notre Dame. For all your FOX, MSNBC, Rush fans, this is what an educated debate sounds like.

<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/bestoftv/2009/05/14/ac.obama.speech.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>

Now discuss

 

[Honey Nut Irish]

You are right, great discussion there. I think Father Resse nailed it. I don't think there is anything wrong with President Obama speaking at Notre Dame. Also, I hope the students and crowd don't do anything rash.

 

[jason_h537]

I trust Notre Dame students to be respectful in their protests. The big issue that has been noted is not in the conservative protests, but in the republican protests that are latching on to make this a political issue as opposed to a moral one

 

[jason_h537]

Great Quote by Rev. John Jenkins in the LA Times 5/14

"We are not ignoring the critical issue of the protection of life," said Jenkins, who has declined all other interview requests. "On the contrary, we invited him because we care so much about these issues. . . . You cannot change the world if you shun the people you want to persuade, and if you cannot persuade them . . . show respect for them and listen to them."

 

[Junkhead]

I just drove by campus, and all the wackos are out waving signs.

 

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

I have no problem with him speaking at the commencement as long as he doesn't talk about his ideas that go aganst the catholic church, such as abortion.

I don't believe he would be dumb enough to talk about his ideas that he knows are againts the catholic church.

And let me say I'm a catholic and I didn't vote for him. (I'm a Republican)

 

[TheMightyQuinn10]

im sick of all of it.....flip -flop..tommorow Obama will be anti - abort...

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Contorversy over the scheduled commencement speech to be given by President Obama at our beloved University of Notre Dame. For all your FOX, MSNBC, Rush fans, this is what an educated debate sounds like.

<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/bestoftv/2009/05/14/ac.obama.speech.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>

Now discuss

Jason, do you watch FOX? There are civil conversations much like this one there as well that do not include Sean Hannity or Bill O'Reilly. Your statement above has undertone that we must not be able to identify 'educated' people. Republicans are dumb. That's what I get from your post.

 

[TheMightyQuinn10]

i love fox news...bill is the effin man...

 

[Sureal]

I dislike all major news stations really. I normally get the headlines and then just educate myself with some of the reference sites on the net.

For instance:

Congress.org - Key Votes

Shows you exactly who voted for what and what is really stated in a bill. There are other sites that will keep you better informed than the talking heads of the majors.

Just trying to encourage you guys to read/research your news from references rather than watch it...

 

[notredomer23]

I just drove by campus, and all the wackos are out waving signs.

so there wackos because they are pro life in their stances on abortion and stem cell research? real cool man

 

[Bubba]

so there wackos because they are pro life in their stances on abortion and stem cell research? real cool man

He didn't say what the signs were about. Could have been anti-war like many were at the ASU commencement. Why must everyone assume that each post is a remark meant to attack the other side?

 

[notredomer23]

He didn't say what the signs were about. Could have been anti-war like many were at the ASU commencement. Why must everyone assume that each post is a remark meant to attack the other side?

I am not assuming that, but this is what the whole problem that the protesters have with him being there. It is a place of Catholic learning, and his stances on abortion and stem cell research go against their doctrine. If he was pro life on all topics, I wouldnt be happy with him being there, but I wouldnt make a big deal about it.

In my opinion, this should just be the last president they have there for commencement, because either way, people will get offended

 

[Bubba]

I think there is a perception problem. If you watched the video on the first post, Obama earned 54% of the Catholic vote, which was more than McCain received. And, of those polled, only 20% or so (can't remember the exact total) disapprove of him speaking there. Just because a group of people speak the loudest, doesn't make them the majority.

And, you're correct, somebody will always get offended, but that's no reason to stop doing something. It's just part of being the President, some people are going to follow you around and protest your every move. Agree or disagree with any President, I would be honored to have any one of them (past or present) speak at my commencement.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I like Obama.

Sureal, your post is right on time. Kudos buddy.

DiveRightIn, I'm voting for you tomorrow, and then I score the winning touchdown "Brooks style".

And while I'm on a roll, I also marry Cinderella...

As far as I know (which isn't much), the church also teaches tolerance.

Look at the people Jesus hung out with.

Give it a rest folks. Obama is our President. And I am massively conservative, but really respect the man.

 

[TDHeysus]

Just trying to encourage you guys to read/research your news from references rather than watch it...

eehhhhh......Read? rather than watch? You mean there is news other than what is on TV? ....fascinating

 

[MeanGreen]

I totally agree with Fr. Jenkins, if we shun them they have no chance to hear our argument against abortion. Plus, how many graduates can say their commencement speaker was a seated President of the USofA? Not many. I highly doubt he will use this as a political venue. He and his handlers are way to smart for that. Also, if he isn't aware of the controversy this has caused, his people are and they won't let him fudge this up. Just throwing this out there, would it be the same controversy if it were BC or another catholic university. George W. spoke at a catholic college in West. PA a few years ago. He started a war that has cost many of innocent people on both sides their lives. A life is a life. Why didn't that college and George W get all this "bad" press?

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

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[Junkhead]

George W. spoke at a catholic college in West. PA a few years ago. He started a war that has cost many of innocent people on both sides their lives. A life is a life. Why didn't that college and George W get all this "bad" press?

The hypocrisy of the religious right.

 

[fortwayne_nd]

I totally agree with Fr. Jenkins, if we shun them they have no chance to hear our argument against abortion. Plus, how many graduates can say their commencement speaker was a seated President of the USofA? Not many. I highly doubt he will use this as a political venue. He and his handlers are way to smart for that. Also, if he isn't aware of the controversy this has caused, his people are and they won't let him fudge this up. Just throwing this out there, would it be the same controversy if it were BC or another catholic university. George W. spoke at a catholic college in West. PA a few years ago. He started a war that has cost many of innocent people on both sides their lives. A life is a life. Why didn't that college and George W get all this "bad" press?

Stick to the teleprompter...yeah, Dubya never received any bad press.

I'm still waiting for Dubya to be tried as a war criminal...maybe Obama and Pelosi can sprout a pair.

 

[Honey Nut Irish]

Just because he disagrees with the church he shouldn't be allowed to speak? Are we going back to the days of the Spanish Inquisition?

Also by 'stem cell research' I am going to assume you all mean embryonic stem cell research. There is a big difference.

 

[jason_h537]

Jason, do you watch FOX? There are civil conversations much like this one there as well that do not include Sean Hannity or Bill O'Reilly. Your statement above has undertone that we must not be able to identify 'educated' people. Republicans are dumb. That's what I get from your post.

You are missing the point, I also said MSNBC. I consider myself independent (like my beloved Irish). I just prefer my news unbiased. I give props to Fox for this though

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[jason_h537]

Just because he disagrees with the church he shouldn't be allowed to speak?

Most people who are protesting his pro choice stance are asking he does not get an honerary degree, not his being there. Although there is a minority which want him to not show up at all.

 

[MeanGreen]

Stick to the teleprompter...yeah, Dubya never received any bad press.

I'm still waiting for Dubya to be tried as a war criminal...maybe Obama and Pelosi can sprout a pair.

Dubya received bad press for the most part because he was the most ill prepared person to be elected president. He was not a great public speaker, not that that ability makes a great president, but he lacked communication skills. As a president he made a great baseball owner! I loved him the owner of the Texas Rangers. Those were the best years of that franchise. He nor the college he spoke at 2 or 3 years ago were on CNN, Fox or any other news outlet for his attendance at their commencement. The points I was making were 1) It is at ND and therefore all the attention and 2) we get caught up in the abortion issue and forget about other issues such as war.War is basically killing and the church is against killing. Again, a life is a life. It will be much easier to end this war then to stop abortion. To stop abortion we need to educate people everything from abstinence to alternatives to unplanned pregnancy. If we strike down Roe vs Wade tomorrow, how many young girls and women are going to go to some "facility" to have a illegal abortion and end up with a host of medical problems, if not dead. I am against abortion, but just like alcoholism, drug abuse, and any other ill of society we need to educate people and give them viable options.

 

[jason_h537]

Well the bigger issue as far as Reagen and Bush when they spoke at Notre Dame is that they are for the death penalty which goes against Catholic teachings.


Also not everyone who graduates from Notre Dame is pro life.

 

[Quinntastic]

Didn't anyone ever tell you guys that you never discuss religion and politics at the dinner table?

You all need to start being respectful towards one another before the mud slinging starts up and I get really pissed.

And you guys won't like me when I'm pissed...

 

[jason_h537]

This is what happens during off-season and recruiting is slow...

Now when your pissed do you dance?

 

[Quinntastic]

Well this whole thing is pointless. This is about President Obama making a commencement speech at Notre Dame...whether you like the guy or not, he IS the President, and out of all the Universities he could speak at for graduation, he picked ND. That's saying something.

And of COURSE he's not going to make his speech about abortion, politics or religion. That's one of the most ludicrous things I've ever heard! He's going to say stuff about going out in the world and volunteering and recycle and other warm fuzzy bullshit. Why in the hell any of you would actually think he would make this about abortion is just so...ridiculous to me. He knows the ND is a Catholic school, and he knows that Catholics are (for the most part) against abortion. So why in the HELL would he do something so stupid as to talk pro-abortion to a crowd of Catholics? It's like you're just itching to get into this debate and make a fight out of it.

Be proud that while other universities are getting tv morning show hosts to make their commencement speeches, ND is getting the fucking PRESIDENT of the United States and STFU already.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Can we fold this into the other thread? Or just close it?

 

[jason_h537]

I do not see a problem with the thread. This is a website created to discuss issues about Notre Dame, and this is currently a big one. It is difficult to completely avoid politicsand religion when the main theme is one of the premier Catholic Universities. Aslong as people are respectful and (which for the most part have been) i do not think this topic is off base