Obama Brilliantly Turns an Immigration Heckler Into a Triumph of Free Speech

[babylonsister]

http://www.politicususa.com/2013/11/25/obama-brilliantly-turns-immigration-heckler-triumph-free-speech.html

Obama Brilliantly Turns an Immigration Heckler Into a Triumph of Free Speech
By: Jason Easley
Monday, November, 25th, 2013, 5:49 pm


President Obama demonstrated what free speech is all about today by refusing to throw a heckler out, and discussing the issue of deportations with him during his speech in San Francisco.

Video @ link~

Transcript:

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Mr. Obama –

THE PRESIDENT: — most importantly, we will live up –

AUDIENCE MEMBER: — my family has been separated for 19 months now –

THE PRESIDENT: — most importantly, we will live up to our character as a nation.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I’ve not seen my family. Our families are separated. I need your help. There are thousands of people –

THE PRESIDENT: That’s exactly what we’re talking about.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: — are torn apart every single day.

THE PRESIDENT: That’s why we’re here.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Mr. President, please use your executive order to halt deportations for all 11.5 undocumented immigrants in this country right now.

THE PRESIDENT: What we’re trying –

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Do you agree

AUDIENCE: Obama! Obama! Obama!

AUDIENCE MEMBER: — that we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform at the same time we — you have a power to stop deportation for all undocumented immigrants in this country.
THE PRESIDENT: Actually I don’t. And that’s why we’re here.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: So, please, I need your help.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Stop deportations!

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Stop deportations!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. All right.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Stop deportations! Stop deportations!

THE PRESIDENT: What I’d like to do — no, no, don’t worry about it, guys. Okay, let me finish.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Stop deportations! Yes, we can! Stop deportations!

THE PRESIDENT: These guys don’t need to go. Let me finish. No, no, no, he can stay there. Hold on a second. (Applause.) Hold on a second.

So I respect the passion of these young people because they feel deeply about the concerns for their families. Now, what you need to know, when I’m speaking as President of the United States and I come to this community, is that if, in fact, I could solve all these problems without passing laws in Congress, then I would do so.

But we’re also a nation of laws. That’s part of our tradition. And so the easy way out is to try to yell and pretend like I can do something by violating our laws. And what I’m proposing is the harder path, which is to use our democratic processes to achieve the same goal that you want to achieve. But it won’t be as easy as just shouting. It requires us lobbying and getting it done. (Applause.)

The president didn’t have the heckler removed. He didn’t insult or try to humiliate the heckler. Instead, he listened and had a dialogue about his concerns. The president also made an important point during the conversation.

snip//

President Obama demonstrated what free speech is all about today. The heckler got a chance to talk. He wasn’t punished for his speech. The president listened and made his case for why activists should be supporting immigration reform.

Free speech isn’t contained in a fenced off zone, as George W. Bush did things. Free speech is being able to express a dissenting view to the President of the United States.

President Obama is listening to the American people, and that is a real change that you can believe in.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. This kind of action is what I respect him for.

I do not respect his actions regarding the TPP, or the Keystone Pipeline fiasco.

I wish he would listen to us on those topics.

I am glad he listened to the heckler.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. What's happened with the Keystone Pipeline?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. Nothing yet, but I believe that he will ultimately approve it.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

16. Why? When?

There were plenty of other politically expedient times to approve it- like before the 2012 elections for instance. He sure is dragging his feet on it- and gas prices are dropping and our imports have gone down too. Doesn't really seem to be much reason to approve it. I'm cautiously optimistic that he won't approve it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. I don't know when, and god knows why if he does approve it.

There are some powerful folks who are pushing it: Hillary, The Koch Bros., and quite a few members of Congress.

It will not contribute to our gasoline stores, even if it's approved. The stuff will go overseas and enter the global market after it's processed in wherever it's going in Texas.

I hope he won't approve it, too. But I'm afraid he will.

[bluestate10]

28. The pipeline can be made safe with design changes.

The problem with Oil companies is that they have done things on the cheap since oil became an important commodity. But legitimate environmental concerns are a reason why Oil companies must be held to higher design and safety standards that during the past. Given the tendency of the Obama Presidency to resolve sticky problems via quiet negotiation, who is to say that oil companies aren't being driven to redesign the pipeline and use techniques like double containment and excess capacity pumping stations? None of us know what is happening in the background. Given his track record of doing the right thing, I trust the President to make an environmentally sound decision on the pipeline.

[gilpo]

39. The safety of the pipeline is not the main concern

The safety of the climate after burning all of the hydrocarbons piped through it are the big deal here.

[Whisp]

34. has he acted on the TPP or Pipeline?

What did he do, I think I missed that. Anything signed, sealed - I thought these were still in the talkie stage.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

35. He hasn't acted on either one ..........yet. You haven't missed anything.

[Whisp]

36. Good, thanks.

Let's keep our fingers crossed for the best.

[Ron Green]

2. I've been so disappointed in this President over the past couple of years, and then lately I've been

greatly encouraged. The deal with Iran, the possible rope-a-dope with the ACA rollout, and now this example: it's a ray of hope.

[groundloop]

9. That's the thing - we will NEVER have a President with whom we agree 100%

I too wish President Obama would have done some things differently. I disagree with how he handled certain situations. But overall he is FAR FAR better for the country than President Bush was or Romney would have been.

Also, when I hear people saying "Obama should have done this or that" I cringe at their lack of understanding that the President can't circumvent Congress in the passage of laws. Sometimes I wish he could, but as President Obama pointed out to that heckler he has to work within the confines of the Constitution.

[Ron Green]

42. Where he's failed, in my view, is in not using

the "bully pulpit" effectively to call out the corporate masters and shake the consciousness of their victims. But again, he's not a true leftie.

[riqster]

48. That bully pulpit has to run through a right-wing-controlled media

So even when he does use it, most Americans never hear about it.

[Scootaloo]

50. Well, what I've come to understand...

Is that no matter what the man does, it'll never be good enough.

I'm content with Obama being a few small steps in the right direction. I didn't expect a revolutionary, and I'm not getting a revolutionary, so it works out.

[Gothmog]

3. Good Story

I am glad the President Obama was able to deal with these audience members (I am using this term instead of hecklers because to me it is more appropriate).

[Demo_Chris]

4. Well done Mr President! nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. It's called respect, and this president has always tried to do that. Everyone wants the easy way...

Last edited Tue Nov 26, 2013, 02:27 PM - Edit history (1)

out. If you can't shame Congress into actually doing its job, you try & shame the president into circumventing the law? Governing by executive order, and signing statements should not be commonplace. Put pressure on the branch of government that can actually do "Immigration Reform", this president would sign that bill ASAP!

[bluestate10]

29. What activists can do is either get their asses to red states to help red state Democrats turn

the tide in re states, or contribute money to red state Democratic organizations so that those organizations have enough money to put up good and often winning fights.

[Ezlivin]

44. Jerry Mander won't let us

Down here in Texas the whole state is carved up quite nicely into gerrymandered districts where it's possible to be elected for life if you're conservative enough. If you're progressive/liberal/not-crazy there are a couple of districts you might win.

We're working like crazy to get Wendy Davis elected. We haven't given up hope, but the scope of the problem is enormous.

[riqster]

49. Jerry is a motherfucker, no doubt about it.

But he is stronger in some districts than others.

[Tarheel_Dem]

47. Nope. As you can see from this thread, the "activists" would rather sit around on DU tossing....

bombs at the White House, instead of dealing with the real problem. Trying to find ways to circumvent "the law" is not "activism". Real liberals and immigration reform advocates need to find a way to recapture the zeal of 2008, stop nipping at the heels of this president at every fuckin' turn, and as you say, hit the pavement in those districts where the Repukes are vulnerable.

[Cha]

54. That's the heart of the matter, Tarheel~ President Obama gives RESPECT to

everyone but not everyone is capable of reciprocating.

They don't have a respectful bone in their mean-spirited bodies. Boom.

to Respecting your fellow beings & Immigration Reform!

http://theobamadiary.com/2013/11/25/chat-away-290/#comments
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Nerdy Wonka @NerdyWonka
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PBO: "That's the same thing with [DADT]. Folks yelled Executive Order but I decided to push for repeal" Thanks, Mr. Constitutional Law Prof

12:07 PM - 25 Nov 2013
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POTUS: "We look like the world. You've got a president named Obama!" Crowd: "Wooooooo!" and applauds. #ImmigrationReform

10:32 AM - 25 Nov 2013
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[Tarheel_Dem]

55. "Reciprocation". That's it. When did we become teanutters? Yelling at our POTUS & FLOTUS?

[nolabear]

6. He's eloquently informing everyone of the realities of office.

We all so want what we want that it's hard to accept that the laws can't be set aside. The processes are excruciatingly slow, but they are democratic as much as we can make them, and as he said, it's far harder. But it's what we've agreed on. I admire him tremendously for talking about that undefensively.

[TroglodyteScholar]

7. You can thank his community organizing background for that

Genuinely concerned + ability to relate rather than judge = the real deal

[Jamaal510]

8. If that were President Romney,

he'd have his hype men in the audience chanting "USA! USA!" while security throws the guy out.

[el_bryanto]

10. Well his hype men would do their best - but how inspiring are they really? nt

[byronius]

11. ...after being tased by five or six gold-plated Tasers.

[arcane1]

27. Remember, "don't tase me bro!" was at a kerry appearance.

I'm glad Obama handled this one better than that!

[freshwest]

12. Gentle but firm truth telling:

Last edited Tue Nov 26, 2013, 12:44 AM - Edit history (1)

And so the easy way out is to try to yell and pretend like I can do something by violating our laws. And what I’m proposing is the harder path, which is to use our democratic processes to achieve the same goal that you want to achieve. But it won’t be as easy as just shouting. It requires us lobbying and getting it done.

How weary he must be, trying to teach the basics in a nation dumbed down by mass media. He has the same style as some of the best professors I've met.

Thanks for the article.

[bettyellen]

19. "He had the same style as some of the best professors I've met. " This is why morons - who never had

a favorite professor- hate him. People are doubling down on the idiocy these days.

[Vattel]

13. His record has improved on immigration, but it is not very good.

Especially early in his presidency he deported a lot of people that he didn't have to deport. So he shouldn't pretend that it has all been the fault of Congress.

[bluestate10]

31. Explain something to me. If current LAW says that people HAVE to be deported once

specific administrative appeals by them have been exhausted, how could the President NOT deport them and not violate those laws? Republicans would impeach this President for eating breakfast in the morning if they could find a way to justify it. Imagine what they would do it the President actually broke laws. We need a President who is pushing Congress to do the right thing and change laws on immigration and not one that is lawyered up fighting semi-legitimate impeachment attempts.

[Scuba]

37. The law also says bankers who commit fraud have to be prosecuted for felonies.

[Vattel]

40. You are talking about people already apprehended and in the "INS system."

But how many of those people get picked up and into the system in the first place--i.e., how much border security there is--is hugely impacted by executive branch policy. Early in his first term, Obama increased border security a lot, and so did much worse than Bush in my view in exercising his discretion on border security issues. (This is not to say that he hasn't been better than Bush on almost every issue.)

[sheshe2]

17. K&R! nt

[NuclearDem]

18. Let me see...

Nope, no credit to the activists themselves here.

But that's just what I expected.

[JohnnyRingo]

23. I'm not at all averse to the cause...

..but interrupting a speech by the president seldom goes as well. I doubt it's ever found resolution either.

I'm big on organized labor, but I can't imagine shouting down a president in hopes it created sentiment for a larger organized workforce. Frankly, I think it shows disrespect and an infantile understanding of how to get things done.

I'm staunchly anti-war, but Medea has never made me feel proud to be on her side. Sorry.

[JohnnyRingo]

20. Just saw it on Rachel...

Obama is a great president, earning his Nobel day by day.

Maybe I'm overselling him, but that was a remarkable display at the speech. I can't in my wildest imagination seeing a President Romney conducting himself like that.

[malaise]

22. Just saw the clip on Rachel

Wonderful

[1StrongBlackMan]

24. Message to be heard ...

So I respect the passion of these young people because they feel deeply about the concerns for their families. Now, what you need to know, when I’m speaking as President of the United States and I come to this community, is that if, in fact, I could solve all these problems without passing laws in Congress, then I would do so.

But we’re also a nation of laws. That’s part of our tradition. And so the easy way out is to try to yell and pretend like I can do something by violating our laws. And what I’m proposing is the harder path, which is to use our democratic processes to achieve the same goal that you want to achieve. But it won’t be as easy as just shouting. It requires us lobbying and getting it done. (Applause.)

But I wonder ... how many will hear it?

[blue14u]

25. Just the look on the girls

faces as they stood to be removed ( and our President)

said let them stay), was a look of delight.. I believe he taught

them a valuable lessen they will carry through their whole

lives, and hopefully teach others to do the same.

President Obama.. a gentleman indeed,

and a President (I don't always agree with him, but I voted for him and

of late he has been doing a great job), I respect, and

someone who respects others, as he showed he does. I know he

wants reform, and we will have it. We are slowly chipping away

at immigration and one day we will celebrate its success..

[liberal N proud]

26. I have seen him speak 4 times, 3 of them he did similar things

He is really great at shutting these things down by letting them have their word.

One guy thought he would trap then candidate Obama on the Pledge of Allegiance, ended up leading it.

Another wanted to know why the President couldn't find him a job, Obama had been in office less than a year at the time, but hushed the audience to let the guy have his word,

[jazzimov]

30. This is also the perfect rebuke to those who claim

that Obama is a "dictator". Of course, I think it's ridiculous because Bush was the one pushing for the "theory of the Unitary Executive" - but this just proves how Obama has restored the Rule of Law and Constitutional principles.

if, in fact, I could solve all these problems without passing laws in Congress, then I would do so.

But we’re also a nation of laws. That’s part of our tradition. And so the easy way out is to try to yell and pretend like I can do something by violating our laws. And what I’m proposing is the harder path, which is to use our democratic processes to achieve the same goal that you want to achieve. But it won’t be as easy as just shouting. It requires us lobbying and getting it done.

Those are the words of someone trying to restore the rule of law.

[gopiscrap]

32. I saw that. it was excellent unlike when I got the shit kicked out of me

from George Bush I and his goons when he appeared in Tacoma on October 27, 1988 for a campaign stop. Things got out of control and he had to leave early from his speech. It was the lead story on all three national news shows that night and Bush lost the State of Washington to Dukakis that year!

[Whisp]

33. He's a wonderful human being. Bravo, Mr. President.

He will go down in history as The Best Ever.

[Shankapotomus]

38. I've always wanted to see

a president treat a "heckler" in such a positive manner. Not only is it the right thing to do but it's brilliant politically. Silencing a critic by letting them speak and not pushing them away from you and the conversation. So obvious and I haven't ever heard of a president doing this before this one.

[Coyotl]

41. A person of great intellect can handle this situation. Meanwhile, Bush had to be protected from

the intelligent people.

[Scurrilous]

43. K & R

[Blue Owl]

45. That's how it's done.

[JEFF9K]

46. Rush Limbaugh tried to say this guy was a plant.

[moondust]

51. Similar to the Code Pink incident.

Code Pink heckler interrupts Obama counterterror speech

[fadedrose]

52. Saw it - He was great!!

[lumpy]

53. Education is a wonderful thing unless you want a dictator who can solve all your problems

without a stroke of a pen.