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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Notre Dame Splits on Obama Speech, Protests

Students excited about visit, not pleased with activists' tactics

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(Newser) – As President Obama's commencement speech at Notre Dame approaches, pro-life activists have converged on the campus with banners, planes, and plans for civil disobedience. But students, who expressed pride that the president chose their school, aren't too happy with the protests. "It cheapens the argument. As someone who is pro-life, I don't respect it," one told the Washington Post.

Even as activists revel at the chance to confront Obama, their support on campus is waning. A National Right to Life executive calls the president a "radical pro-abortion extremist," even though Obama has expressed a desire to minimize abortions by reducing unwanted pregnancies and promoting adoption. Of the protesting, a professor said with a sigh, "It makes the cause a circus."

Although George W Bush was a supporter of the death penalty, which the Catholic Church opposes, his speech at Notre Dame in 2001 was met with only small, scattered protests.
Although George W Bush was a supporter of the death penalty, which the Catholic Church opposes, his speech at Notre Dame in 2001 was met with only small, scattered protests.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Former Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes is arrested by Notre Dame police during an anti-abortion protest at Notre Dame Friday, May 8, 2009 in South Bend, Ind.
Former Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes is arrested by Notre Dame police during an anti-abortion protest at Notre Dame Friday, May 8, 2009 in South Bend, Ind.   (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)
The library at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., with its famous stained glass window.
The library at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., with its famous stained glass window.   (©seantoyer)
Bishop John M. D'Arcy, bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, promises to boycott President Obama's May 17 commencement speech at Notre Dame.
Bishop John M. D'Arcy, bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, promises to boycott President Obama's May 17 commencement speech at Notre Dame.   (AP Photo/Joe Raymond, File)
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4 comments
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EddyTeach
May 13, 09 11:10 AM CDT
Having the president speak at commencement is an enormous honor. No matter the politics, these people need to respect the privilege they have in having the president speak. Reply
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kansas1946
May 13, 09 5:03 PM CDT
Although George W Bush was a supporter of the death penalty, which the Catholic Church opposes, his speech at Notre Dame in 2001 was met with only small, scattered protests. ********************************** This just shows what hypocrites pro-lifers are. A president that invaded a soverign nation without provication, killing thousands and thousands of civilions in the process, and lied about the reason for the invasion, who'se home state has the highest number of people on death row in the country, and the highest number of false imprisonments because of corrrupt prosecutors, a president that promoted torture of human beings, and Notre Dame just is all agiggle. As far as morality goes, Bush isn't fit to kiss Obama's shoes. Reply
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justme
May 13, 09 7:48 PM CDT
Partisans are OK but I would prefer partisans who had a grasp on the truth. "No provocation? ask the UN and their many statements to the contrary. Bush lied? Both Clintons, the British , the French, and many others all said the same. As for the rest, stay off the cool aid sites. Notre Dame is in that precarious position of being a Catholic school when academics have become uber liberals by nature. Controversy will result. That is both normal and healthy.
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kansas1946
May 13, 09 11:23 PM CDT
This "partisan" who is an independent and was a Republican for 27 years has a great "grasp of the truth." What does the UN have to do with us invading a country?? What does Clinton have to do with it, or Britain. Bush will go down as the worst president in US history and that is MY grasp of the truth. I watched him and his ilk completely destroy the party that I at one time cared about and campaigned for. Reply
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