slate | On Feb. 6, Obama went to Indiana and lauded Dick Lugar, the state’s former Republican senator. The next day, in his weekly radio address, he repeated:
“I’ll work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, who wants to get to
‘yes.’ … We should stop refighting old battles and start working
together.” Even last Friday, in his speech to the Democratic National Committee,
five of Obama’s nine references to Republicans were positive. “If
Republicans are serious about taking on the specific challenges that
face the middle class,” he pleaded, “we should welcome them.”
That’s how Obama treats his domestic adversaries. He doesn’t take the
bait. He doesn’t define the whole opposition party by its worst
elements. He rejects polarization. He emphasizes shared values. He
reminds his own partisans that they, too, are sinners.
For Democrats, this can be exasperating. It’s especially exasperating
when Republicans refuse to take responsibility for, or even disown, outbursts from their colleagues, such as Rep. Joe Wilson’s “You lie!” or Rudy Giuliani’s “I do not believe that the president loves America.” Rep.
Darrell Issa, who as chairman of the House oversight committee has led
investigations of the Obama administration, claims Giuliani didn’t deny
that Obama loves America—“He said he didn't believe” Obama loves America. Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, a 2016 presidential hopeful, says of Giuliani’s remark: “If you are looking for someone to condemn the mayor, look elsewhere.” Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana backs up Giuliani’s insinuation
that Obama favors the enemy over his own country: “[Giuliani]
is understandably frustrated with a president who, as I said before, is
fully willing to lecture the people of this country about the Crusades
but is unwilling to call Islamic extremism for what it is.”
Please. If we’re going to start calling out religious and political
groups for extremism, we could start at home with Republicans. Too many
of them spew animus. Too many foment sectarianism. Too many sit by, or
make excuses, as others appeal to tribalism. If Obama were to treat them
the way they say he should treat Islam—holding the entire faith
accountable for its ugliest followers—they’d squeal nonstop about
slander and demagogy. They’re lucky that’s not his style.
