Uber-divisive President Calls For Civility In Politics

This is not a repeat of a post from the other day. This is Obama’s weekly address

(The Hill) President Obama is pushing for greater civility in politics while acknowledging the harsh rhetoric that has so far dominated political discourse in the final year of his presidency.

“My faith in the generosity and fundamental goodness of the American people is rewarded every day. But I’ll be the first to admit that the tone of our politics hasn’t gotten better, but worse,” Obama said in his weekly address taped during a visit to the Illinois State Senate and released Saturday.

Nowhere within his pity party does he admit that he is very much to blame for quite a bit of the escalating nasty discourse. Remember, this is a man who insulted Americans as “bitter clingers”. Called American businesses soft and lazy. Attacked the religious leanings of people who were against his contraception mandate. Insulted the Supreme Court multiple times, including to their faces during a State Of The Union. Who has consistently insulted Republican voters as he attacked Republicans in the House and Senate. Who said “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.” Who yammered on about using his pen and phone, despite rarely reaching out to Congress, including people in his own party. His refusal to negotiate on almost everything. “You didn’t build that.” Calling serious issues, such as Fast and Furious, the VA scandal, and Benghazi “phony scandals.” The list could continue on and on. The man is utterly divisive. When George Bush said “your either with them, or your with us”, he was talking about the fight against Islamic terrorists. When Obama says it, the “them” means Americans who have different political beliefs.

How does he intend to fix this problem that, in his mind, is only caused by Other People?

“The good news is there’s also a lot we can do about this, from reducing the influence of money in our politics, to changing the way we draw congressional districts, to simply changing the way we treat each other,” the president added.

Self awareness of his own roll in incivility is certainly not something he suffers from.

Nine years after I first announced for this office, I still believe in a politics of hope. And for all the challenges of a changing world; for all the imperfections of our democracy; choosing a politics of hope is something that’s entirely up to each of us.

So, why did he not choose to engage in the politics of hope himself?

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach.

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