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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 OPINION 
12

A Win for Obama, Moderate Catholics

President's Notre Dame speech was radical and conservative: Dionne

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(Newser) – Abortion opponents protested and pro-life students skipped, but Barack Obama's Notre Dame commencement address was at once "the most radical and the most conservative speech of his presidency," writes Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne. The president refused to indulge the protesters' desire to "reignite the culture wars," opting for humility and compromise—but he showed a comfort with the language of faith equal to George Bush.

"The ultimate irony of faith is that it necessarily admits doubt," Obama said, leading us away from self-righteous certainty and toward inclusion. That was a subtle riposte to the demonstrators and hecklers, according to Dionne, and will cheer moderate Catholics as much as abortion rights activists. "Obama's opponents on the Catholic right placed a large bet on his Notre Dame visit," the columnist writes. "And they lost."

President Barack Obama is hooded as he receives an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Laws during commencement ceremonies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., campus Sunday, May 17, 2009.
President Barack Obama is hooded as he receives an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Laws during commencement ceremonies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., campus Sunday, May 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
President Barack Obama holds his hand outstretched during a blessing for graduates during commencement exercises at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Sunday, May 17, 2009.
President Barack Obama holds his hand outstretched during a blessing for graduates during commencement exercises at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Sunday, May 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama delivers his commencement address during commencement ceremonies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., Sunday, May 17, 2009.
President Barack Obama delivers his commencement address during commencement ceremonies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., Sunday, May 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
President Barack Obama delivers the commencement speech during the 2009 graduation ceremony at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Sunday, May 17, 2009.
President Barack Obama delivers the commencement speech during the 2009 graduation ceremony at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Sunday, May 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama delivers the commencement speech during the 2009 graduation ceremony at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Sunday, May 17, 2009.
President Barack Obama delivers the commencement speech during the 2009 graduation ceremony at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Sunday, May 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Norma McCorvey, bottom center, is confronted by police after marching on campus at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., Sunday, May 17, 2009.
Norma McCorvey, bottom center, is confronted by police after marching on campus at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., Sunday, May 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eric Y. Exit)
Norma McCorvey, second left, and Father Norman Weslin, center, lead an anti-abortion protest Saturday, May 16, 2009 in South Bend, Indiana.
Norma McCorvey, second left, and Father Norman Weslin, center, lead an anti-abortion protest Saturday, May 16, 2009 in South Bend, Indiana.   (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)
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His argument drew on very old ideas, notably original sin and the common good. Obama was as explicit in talking about his faith as Bush ever was about his own, but with distinctly different inflections and conclusions. - EJ Dionne, Washington Post columnist

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12 comments
VIEWING:
 
Fondue
May 18, 09 8:44 AM CDT
Score! for the open-minded people. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+4
ClingingToHope
May 18, 09 9:18 AM CDT
Hail, Chairman Barry! Hail, Chairman Barry! Can the man go nothing wrong? Let the libs be ready for the 2010 elections when the "man behind the curtain" is exposed! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-6
IN RESPONSE:
Robert_Dada
May 18, 09 9:28 AM CDT
More unintelligent drivel. At least try to back things up with some sensible political reasoning instead of coming across like a 10th class Rush Limbaugh.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
woody66
May 18, 09 11:12 AM CDT
What did you think of the speech No Nuts or did you bother to listen before weighing in ? Just curious.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
Doctor_Zaius
May 18, 09 9:22 AM CDT
I thought that restraining order kept you from exposing yourself? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+4

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