Nation Divided, Needs Reconciliation … Will Obama Offer Olive Branch?

Authored by News Donkey

A recent Associated Press news story, Analysis: ‘You lie!’ further erodes discourse, tells us that political dialog in this country has eroded to the lowest lows we’ve seen in many many years. The two major political parties point the finger daily, each expressing blame and outrage over the latest transgression du jour, an unending contest of tit for tat. But how did we get to this point?

Everyone is to Blame

Democrats will tell you that this sad state of political discourse is a direct result of Republicans not playing nicely, just like they did under former President George W. Bush.

Republicans will tell you that the problems really started with the Democrats who did more than just disagree with Republicans under Bush, but rather stooped to showing unprecedented disrespect for a sitting President. One might be tempted to argue that Bush did some unprecedented things himself. But then again, how many Presidents have had to contend with an attack on the mainland United States on the scale of 911? It was a tough time, but Democrats showed little patience for Bush.

Same Playbook, Different Sides

So today, Republicans appear to have simply opened the Democrats’ own playbook in order to deliver the same level of disrespect back to Obama. The same impatience. Should Democrats really be all that surprised?

The present situation has the makings of an ugly cycle that will only get worse, such as exhibited in the recent “You lie!” outburst on the House floor during Obama’s speech on healthcare. This trend is not healthy.

Some disagreement should always be expected and even encouraged… but not to the extent that our government becomes paralyzed! Held hostage are key efforts such as Obama’s plan for healthcare reform, and previously under Bush it was the plan for Social Security reform. How long can this go on? Do we even want to find out the answer to this question?

Extending an Olive Branch

What we need in order to break this “us vs. them” cycle in our government is a significant act of reconciliation between the two political parties. This is not to naively suggest a hug fest in Congress. But the tensions are too high not to do something.

Republicans, being in the political dog house right now, are in no real position to effectively reconcile differences with the in-power Democrats. Yet, we do need a functioning two party system to ensure proper debate of issues. So if reconciliation is going to happen, it must come from the Democrats, and from Obama in particular as our President.

Obama, on behalf of the Democratic Party, needs to account to the entire nation for the years of disrespect directed at Bush by Democrats; and he himself did contribute to some of the rhetoric. Mind you, this is not to say that Democrats shouldn’t have disagreed with Bush. Disagree all they want, it was the disrespect that crossed the line and which has set the tone for Obama’s current challenges.

It’s about Winning Hearts, not Scoring Points

To win the hearts of conservatives and lower the pitch of the political discourse so that real work can be done, Obama must do the one thing that Bush never did, and that is to admit to failings; that BOTH parties, not just Republicans, are at fault for the present state of our nation. And to even apologize for the years of disrespect that was directed at Bush by Democrats. Such an apology, honestly given, would allow the Republicans a clear path of dignity for reconciliation. This would provide the olive branch.

I have no doubt that many Democrats, and perhaps even some Republicans, will scoff at this suggestion. And of course, there is the choice to keep things as they are, which does not seem to be working by the way.

We need a return to having real statesmanship in our government. We are at a point in history where Obama can separate himself from the pack of politicians and truly lead the nation into the future. Would an apology really be that much to ask for?

We are all taught as children, at least most of us, to make apologies for our wrongs. Considering Obama’s recent speech to school children, it would be a great example for kids to see how a grown man, our President, can work out differences in a civilized fashion. Working out differences is more than just offering to work together, it is also apologizing for past transgressions in order to clear the way for future progress.

Newsdonkey’s Prediction

Newsdonkey predicts that if the current negative discource continues at its current level, the White House is going to have to plan a major televised speech by Obama to address the problem. It might be in a week, in month, in three months, who knows when. Perhaps more than the economy or healthcare or anything else, the greatest challenge now facing our nation is our own division. As the ole saying goes, “united we stand, divided we fall”. The division of our nation is becoming a very serious problem.

Update 09-13-2009: The latest symptom of the division of our nation is highlighted in a recent article from the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, Massive crowd marches against Obama’s agenda, which describes tens of thousands of anti-Obama protestors who gathered Saturday across downtown Washington, DC. While there are a host of specific complaints cited, brewing underneath is a layer of general anger and resentment. Liberals spent the last eight years venting over Bush and now the conservatives appear to be moving down the same path with Obama. Rather than allowing this trend to continue, the President of the United States would be an ideal person to reach out and attempt unifying the nation and putting a stop to all this. But it will require more than just a call for unification; there needs to be healing, and healing starts with apologies to show good faith and encourage the other side to embrace the offer.

Update 09-14-2009: An article in Politico, The great myth: bipartisanship, adds yet additional perspective on this issue, including the desire of many voters that the two parties should try to work together more than they are now.

Obama School Speech Insensitive to Political Climate

Authored by News Donkey

President Obama’s plans for a speech to school children has stirred up a real hornets nest, it seems. While most people will agree with the idea of encouraging kids to stay in school and work hard, it is not really the message as much as the messenger that has drawn ire from Republicans and conservatives, and even some moderates.

What if George W. Bush had done this?

To understand how the conservatives feel, diehard Democrats and liberals need only consider how they might have felt if George W. Bush, during his Presidency, had planned a similar speech for kids in which the lesson plans would have included:

• Questions for pre-K through grade 6th students to think about during the speech, such as “What is the President trying to tell me? What is the President asking me to do?”
• And for grades 7-12, a “guided discussion,” with suggested topics: “What resonated with you from the President’s speech? What is the President inspiring you to do?”

Had Bush, who was supporting the very unpopular war in Iraq, decided to have a little speech like this with the nation’s children, it seems likely that many a Democrat or liberal would have been very upset, and perhaps held their children out of school. Seriously, would any of you solid Democrats or liberals out there have wanted your kids indoctrinated by anything Bush would have to say? I think not.

Respect is at the heart of the problem

Sure, we all talk about the need of showing respect for a President, but it is fair to say that many did not show the slightest respect for Bush. So, Republicans and conservatives can hardly be expected now to feel all cozy and warm about Obama. They cannot be expected to have any less a of strong reaction to Obama than the Democrats and liberals would have had to Bush. And don’t try to sell me on “openness” here. Come on, be honest. You know good and well, many of the Dems and liberals would have been in an uproar over something like this from President W.

A new twist on kissing babies

So, what is Obama’s purpose anyway? News Donkey says that it is indeed all about scoring political points. His healthcare speech is scheduled the very next day.

With a consenting adult standing near by, it would normally be just fine to talk to kids. But what if you the parent are not there? Not even asked for permission? And this happens at your child’s school while you are at work? That is what is happening now. It is really just inappropriate, and insensitive to the political climate. Perhaps even tasteless.

A violation of privacy?

Kids should not be placed in a situation where their particular political views (or religious views, sexual orientation, or anything else personal) could made the subject of classroom discussion, potential ridicule, and possible judgment by teachers and administrators.

People have a right to maintain their privacy, and to protect their children from exposure to someone else’s dogma. We’re not talking multiplication tables here. We’re talking about use of our school classrooms for political grandstanding. This is just a bad idea, Mr. President.