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President Obama: Notre Dame Commencement Speech May 17, 2009 (Part 1)

President Obama: Notre Dame Commencement Speech May 17, 2009 (Part 2) President Obama: Notre Dame Commencement Speech May 17, 2009 (Part 3) President Obama: Notre Dame Commencement Speech May 17, 2009 (Part 4)

The FIrst Lady Michelle Obama gave a commencement speech to students at University California Merced . Read more...

Today, after much protest, controversy and hysterical outrage, Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at Notre Dame. In his speech to the Catholic school's graduates, Obama addressed growing concerns about his "respect for life" head-on.

According to the transcript of the speech, the President was only 241 words into his address, having just made a well-received joke about the elusiveness of honorary degrees, when a heckler screamed, "Abortion is murder! Stop killing children!" The majority of the audience responded by condemning the jackass responsible for the disruption with a loud chorus of boos that eventually morphed into a "yes we can" chant. Obama handled the disturbance deftly, as he always seems to do with an almost disgusting penchant for grace and humility under pressure, moved on with his prepared text, and then returned to the subject of his, in the words of protesting Bishop John D'Arcy, "long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred," about a quarter of the way into his address.

    Let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions, let's reduce unintended pregnancies. (Applause.) Let's make adoption more available. (Applause.) Let's provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term. (Applause.) Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women." Those are things we can do. (Applause.)

    Now, understand — understand, Class of 2009, I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. Because no matter how much we may want to fudge it — indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory — the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature.

    Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded words. It's a way of life that has always been the Notre Dame tradition. (Applause.) Father Hesburgh has long spoken of this institution as both a lighthouse and a crossroads. A lighthouse that stands apart, shining with the wisdom of the Catholic tradition, while the crossroads is where "¼differences of culture and religion and conviction can co-exist with friendship, civility, hospitality, and especially love." And I want to join him and Father John in saying how inspired I am by the maturity and responsibility with which this class has approached the debate surrounding today's ceremony. You are an example of what Notre Dame is about. (Applause.)

    This tradition of cooperation and understanding is one that I learned in my own life many years ago — also with the help of the Catholic Church. [GAWKER]

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