“Civility is not a sign of weakness” declares President Obama. Well, we know that. When President Bush was civil to his opposition, some of us knew that did not mean he was weak.
Actually, though, his lecturing on civility might carry more weight if the same president saying this did not use the same language to describe Republicans as he uses for terrorists:
“Obama used the same language toward Republicans as he did toward extremists in the Muslim world in his inaugural address. Of Republicans on Wednesday, he said, ‘We extend a hand and get a fist in return.’ In his inaugural address, he said the United States ‘will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.’”
By the way, that line has been scrubbed from the report. When Hot Air linked to it yesterday, it was there. Now it is not, and the AP report reads, instead:
Obama’s new bipartisanship – cooperative offers laced with criticism- was on display. When he recounted the expensive steps Democrats took to halt a deeper recession, he said, “We led.” The suggestion was that Republicans did not.
The president said he meant it when he told House Republicans that he wants to work with them. Then he sharply added: “We’ll call them out when they say they want to work with us, and we extend a hand and get a fist in return.”
Quite toned down, no? I imagine the original report, (still being quoted here and there, for now) which reminds us just how incredibly uncivil President Obama has been toward half the country for the past year, contrasts too starkly with today’s jolly rhetoric, which is setting the tone for Obama’s national charm re-offensive, (hey, I’m a nice guy, let me remind you why you loved me, and how stupid you are!). Someone at the White House does a very good job of jumping on the press to change (or even pull) those pieces they don’t like. And the press seems happy to comply. Although, in reading the new text, it does seem to me the writer did not wish to wholly submit.
“Remaking” America.
I’m sorry, this president really has lost my trust, and will have to do more than throw words around -just words that can mean anything, anymore – before he will regain it. Mr. President, please stop talking, please stop the perpetual campaign you derided in your own SOTU speech last week and do something real to help create some damn jobs, please?
UPDATE – Darn it – I thought I had found this “down the memory hole” moment first. Turns out Moe Lane was WAY ahead of me. That’s what I get for not checking first with Instapundit before starting my workday! 
Meanwhile, Ouch. That’s gonna leave a mark
February 4th, 2010 | 2:16 pm | #1
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by jaspernv: RT @TheAnchoress: Press throws Obama’s previous incivilities out: http://tinyurl.com/yax7ola Too stark a contrast w/ today’s happytalk?…
February 4th, 2010 | 2:33 pm | #2
For Democrats and their allies in the media/entertainment complex, internal opposition has been regarded as the greatest threat to the country for quite some time now. Observe how quick the Pantybomber was given access to a taxpayer funded lawyer, while known enemy of the Left, James O’Keefe was denied a lawyer for more than a day and accused of a far greater crime than he actually allegedly committed.
Try reading The Third Terrorist, by Jayna Davis. She details how the Clinton administration and the corporate media tossed down the memory hole all witnesses who saw Middle Eastern-looking men with Tim McVeigh before and after the Oklahoma City bombing. It was just too politically useful to brand McVeigh a Christian extremist right-winger clearly inspired by Rush and Newt. Help or direction from an experienced bomb builder would make the narrative a bit too sticky.
DHS’ report reflected the true feelings of this administration. They have seen the true enemy and it’s us.
February 4th, 2010 | 2:36 pm | #3
[...] Civil Obama and the Civilizing Press [...]
February 4th, 2010 | 2:57 pm | #4
Was I the only one who caught his dig at conservative preachers?…something like, conservative preachers who were compassionate and concerned, which he said was surprising! He can’t stop himself from insulting everyone who disagrees with him… ..and once again, it was mostly about him!!
February 4th, 2010 | 3:27 pm | #5
[...] The Anchoress has a great review of Obama using the same language for Republicans as he does for terrorists, with a great reminder about the complicit media: Civil Obama and the Civilizing Press – UPDATE [...]
February 4th, 2010 | 5:05 pm | #6
I couldn’t agree more. The more he talks, the more callow and superficial he sounds.
February 4th, 2010 | 5:46 pm | #7
Was this speech by Obama at the Prayer Breakfast a personal confession or an accusation? Somehow I suspect when he says “we need more civility,” he means “you scumbags need to be more civil.”
February 4th, 2010 | 7:13 pm | #8
[...] The Anchoress – Civil Obama and the Civilizing Press – UPDATE [...]
February 4th, 2010 | 8:02 pm | #9
[...] Read more at The Anchoress. [...]
February 6th, 2010 | 1:12 am | #10
[...] h/t: Anchoress [...]
February 7th, 2010 | 1:01 am | #11
There is an old joke about lawyering: When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither facts nor law, pound your fist on the table.
The passive-aggressive variation, of course, is that rather than pounding your fist, you instead whine that your opponent is being “uncivil”.
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