President Barack Obama used a commencement speech last week at the University of Michigan to attack a growing number of American Citizens who disagree with him and have become increasingly concerned about his policies and governmental practices.
Could it be that Mr. Obama’s prepared remarks are part of a coordinated campaign of sequenced remarks that include statements recently made by predecessor Bill Clinton among others?
Beginning his address, Mr. Obama—reading from his ever-present teleprompter—said “But what troubles me is when I hear people say that all of government is inherently bad. When our government is spoken of as some menacing, threatening foreign entity, it ignores the fact that in our democracy, government is us.”
Planting rhetorical seeds, the president continued, “Government is the roads we drive on and the speed limits that keep us safe. It’s the men and women in the military, the inspectors in our mines, the pioneering researchers in public universities.
Next came Mr. Obama’s claim that the “financial meltdown dramatically showed the dangers of too little government” and “when a lack of accountability on Wall Street nearly led to the collapse of our entire economy.”
Mr. Obama also urged “both sides in the political debate to tone it down.” He then stated “Throwing around phrases like ‘socialists’ and ‘Soviet-style takeover, “fascists’ and (apparently for balance included) ‘right-wing nut’—that may grab headlines, but it also “closes the door to the possibility of compromise.”
Then, playing the fear card, Mr. Obama said “At its worst, it can send signals to the most extreme elements of our society that perhaps violence is a justifiable response.”
Mr. President, with all due respect, “government is us” only when those elected by the People respect all citizens, listen to the people’s concerns, and accept the directions provided to them by the people.
Mr. President, government is not us—and cannot be us—whenever those elected ignore the will of the people.
Mr. President, it is most unfortunate—for our country—that a consistent pattern of ignoring the will of the people has developed since early last year; and, what has been demonstrated to constituents can be described, at best, as a disconnected attitude of governing behavior that ignores the majority of American’s Citizens.
Mr. President, again, with all due respect, would you please be so kind to read, think about, and accept your own statement that “Government is us”?
When you do, We The People can again expect that incumbent members of the U.S. Congress will return to their districts to appear in person at district town halls to listen to constituents, and all members of the executive branch will behave accordingly.
Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications, a professional member of the National Speakers Association, and founder of Citizens For Change (www.CFC.us). He can be reached via email: RichOlivastro@gmail.com ; telephone: 877.RichSpeaks, or www.richardolivastro.com/blog.
