President Barack Obama once again called on both parties to work together and discuss issues in a civil manner during his weekly radio address on Saturday.
His address seemed to be a continuation of the speech he gave at a memorial service in Tucson during the week where he also pleaded for civil discourse. He said the nation’s reaction to last weekend’s shooting should be a reminder that “we are one American family, 300 million strong.”
The president urged lawmakers to continue the bipartisanship and coming together that they showed this past week in honoring Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and the other victims of the Tucson shooting.
“One by one, representatives from all parts of the country and all points of view rose in common cause to honor Gabby and the other victims, and to reflect on our shared hopes for this country,” Obama said. “As shrill and discordant as our politics can be at times, it was a moment that reminded us of who we really are – and how much we depend on one another.”
After the president’s speech in Tucson, people on both sides of the aisle praised his calls for civility. Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and possible 2012 GOP presidential candidate, said Obama gave “easily the best speech of his presidency.” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he “comforted and inspired the country.”
Since the “shellacking” Democrats got in November, President Obama has tried to move more toward the center and put a greater emphasis on compromise and working together to solve the nation’s problems. Knowing some of the hot topic issues that are set to be debated on Capitol Hill in the coming months and knowing how the political rhetoric has gotten more heated over the past couple of years, it is no surprise the president used not only the events of the Tucson shooting but also his weekly radio address to urge lawmakers and the American people to speak “with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds” – as he said at the memorial service.
Obama said both both parties needed to work together to move the country forward and that they should tone down the rhetoric when talking about ways to grow the economy, lower the deficit and implement a budget.
“This is still a time of great challenges for us to solve,” he said. “We’ve got to grow jobs faster, and forge a stronger, more competitive economy. We’ve got to shore up our budget, and bring down our deficits. We’ve got to keep our people safe, and see to it that the American Dream remains vibrant and alive for our children and grandchildren.
“These are challenges I believe we can meet. And I believe we can do it in a way worthy of those who sent us here to serve. So as business resumes, I look forward to working together in that same spirit of common cause with members of Congress from both parties – because before we are Democrats or Republicans, we are Americans.”
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