UPDATE: Full text of remarks as released. The White House has video—click here. I saw Tammy Bruce say that there won't be a minister at the Memorial, but there will be a native American healer guy. That's who's on now. Tammy Bruce
OMG, the "Native American" says he's Mexican and the crowd goes wild. Whistles, hoots, cheers.
A blessedly short blessing, ending with a reference to "our beloved city of Tu-CHON! or Tucson." That was Dr. Carlos Gonzalez, a Pascua Yaqui. One speaker quoted Abraham Lincoln
We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth. Other means may succeed; this could not fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just — a way which, if followed, the world will forever applaud, and God must forever bless.
Janet Napolitano is reading from Isaiah 40. Eric Holder is reading from Second Corinthians. Obama being introduced. Obama quotes Psalm 46. After honoring the people who actually fought back, he's now coming to the "Bring us Together" part. More Tammy Bruce:
Tammy is live-Tweeting fast and accurately. I suspect her of being a graduate of typing class, back when girls did that. From the remarks prepared (full text here) it's clear that he's trying to do the "Bring Us Together" thing—the phrase is actually President Nixon's—but there's a point where he comes out for more civility:
"But at a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized — at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do — it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds."
Tammy Bruce, girl typist, responded
A little late for this "We need to talk in ways that heal, not ways that wound." Great timing, with the wounding already done.
But then he went on:
"The loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better in our private lives — to be better friends and neighbors, co-workers and parents. And if, as has been discussed in recent days, their deaths help usher in more civility in our public discourse, let's remember that it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy, but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to our challenges as a nation, in a way that would make them proud."
Well, no. This is not about civility, and it's pretty clear that any such "civility" would only go one way. Remember the guy who shouted "You lie!" at Obama? That was uncivil, and the guy apologized, but Obama never apologized for lying.
