Obama at Notre Dame | 05/18/2009 8:40 am

Obama Confronts Abortion Controversy at Notre Dame (Video)

On Sunday, pro-choice President Barack Obama gave the much-debated commencement speech at the Catholic university.

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Obama at Notre Dame

From pro-life demonstrations before his arrival to hecklers during his speech, Barack Obama’s commencement address at the University of Notre Dame seemed like it could have been explosive, but the president did his best to soothe controversy.

As a pro-choice Democrat speaking at a Catholic university, some students, faculty and parents felt his support of abortion rights was a conflict of interest to church teachings. Speaking in front of an estimated 12,000 graduates, Obama expressed his gratitude to be there, his views on the world economy and, yes, the abortion debate.

That’s when we begin to say, ‘Maybe we won’t agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this heart-wrenching decision for any woman is not casually made, it has both moral and spiritual dimensions.’ So let’s work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women, who do not carry their child to term.

The president also urged people to approach the debate with an "open heart," for "when we open our hearts and our minds to those who might not think precisely like we do or precisely what we believe — that’s when we discover at least the possibility of common ground."

Watch Obama’s commencement speech, which aired on Fox News, via YouTube (Part one):

Watch Obama’s commencement speech, which aired on Fox News, via YouTube (Part two):

Tell us: What do you think of President Barack Obama’s commencement speech?

324 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I give him credit for addressing the issue head on. At times, he seemed energized by the controversy. I like that so many in the audience tried to drown out the protesters with" Yes We Can". He did not try to justify his own personal beliefs but took aim at the angry rhetoric from both sides that stymies heartfelt discisssion. Wise call.

I would imagine that his upcoming nomination of a new SC Justice will light this fire once again.

By Maggie W on 05/18/2009 8:55 am

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I found your "At times, he seemed energized by the controversy" very odd. I thought he was energized by the overwhelmingly positive welcome he got from the Notre Dame community. President Obama never attempts to justify his own personal beliefs. People seem to forget what potential lawyers are taught in law school. I suspect the last thing a Law Professor would do in that situation, particularly one who taught Constitutional law is to begin to justify his own beliefs. I suspect we will once again see the opponents to his Supreme Court nominee out thought and out performed by this brilliant man.

By Victoria J on 05/18/2009 4:09 pm

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Interesting, Victoria. I had not thought about the speech in that way. Thank you.

What I heard was his most personally intense speech since the famous speech on race. I felt that he was indeed heartfelt again in his address. He knew he would not change minds. He did ask that we be tolerant of one another. I admired that tremendously. It’s excellent advice during these stressful times we are all experiencing on so many different levels.

By Maggie W on 05/18/2009 4:50 pm

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The intro from Father Jenkins was wonderful and gracious and the President gave a very good thoughtful speech which I think came across well and was well received by all. The applause and standing ovations out weighed the couple of protesters in the audience and the whole thing went off very well. It showed me that the majority of Catholics at least in that audience were more open minded than most and they deserved respect for showing such respect toward the President who has different views from many of them. Bravo Notre Dame and Bravo Mr President.

By caj p on 05/18/2009 9:06 am

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The applause and shouts of "Yes We Can" only goes to prove that indeed…the frontal lobes are NOT fully developed until the mid 20’s.

Obama targeted the young with his radical agenda, knowing that they are not prepared to think past the present and project any consequence into the future. He knows they haven’t the tools to figure past the immediate gratification.

Being respectful to a speaker does not mean that they were "open minded" ….it just means that they had manners.

They will soon discover that good manners should be mistaken for weakness or acceptance of opposing issues. Check the polls……they do not agree.

Obama is a hypocrite. He was the MOST pro abortion position in the Senate. He voted AGAINST medical care for those botched abortions of the BORN ALIVE. Sickening. He should pubilically stand by that which he votes for. He is a wolf in sheep clothing and I will never respect someone who SAYS one thing then CLAIMS another.

That is all that he does…SPEAK. His actions are something else altoghter. Hypocrite and pandering politician.

He says one thing and does another…..while his supporters just chant stupid, mindless slogans…like the living dead.

By Kelly In Texas on 05/18/2009 11:57 am

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And, KIT……..would you consider those chanting "baby killer" mindless, living dead also?

By MK P on 05/18/2009 12:45 pm

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No…of course not MK P…."baby killer" is pretty specific…"Yes We Can"?….not so much.

By Kelly In Texas on 05/18/2009 2:19 pm

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I believe President Obama has already addressed the issue as to why he voted against that particular bill, but the GOP is not satisfied with that explanation. Yet the GOP is ok with voting AGAINST any measure that will ensure that every child born into this country have access to universal health care. So GOP’s stance is that we should only provide health care to the botched fetus but not to the healthy child that has been borned alive but into a family who is going to attempt to live on minimumk wage. Or what about one that is born to a mother who as you indicated "the frontal lobes are NOT fully developed until the mid 20’s"? She also does not deserve any financial assistance either, but we as a society expect her to raise a newborn without assistance?

By Lotus Kann on 05/18/2009 1:34 pm

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Well Lotus…no I am not satisfied with much that Obama has "said". I do not believe that all people "deserve" government health care. Sure don’t.

Drive an older car, live in a smaller house, buy less cell phones and games…what ever it takes…but save money and take care of your own. How about stopping the abuse of our health care system by illegals? Maybe a few real Americans would benefit? You think?

There are condoms that don’t cost much…I am in favor of FREE condoms and moring after pills. Nope, I do not beleive that all people "deserve" anything. Sure don’t.

You have that right.

By Kelly In Texas on 05/18/2009 2:29 pm

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FREE ?????There is no such thing as " free" anything!!!

Young teens do not drive or own a house of any size and have no jobs, yet 1 in 4 are getting pregnant. There is no assurance young girls will take that pill and teen boys are unlikely to wear a condom even if one is handed to them. Where will they get all these " free" pills and condoms anyway? Let me guess. The public school system? So, on top of everything else, schools should also be in the pharmacy business?

As for health care for illegals, that is an entirely different issue that neither Republicans or the Democrats want to address.

Where precisely does Notre Dame stand anyway, since Carter and Ford were previous speakers, and without incident, and they both supported a woman’s right of choice?

By Maggie W on 05/18/2009 2:46 pm

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Maggie,

I saw Jimmy Carter’s name listed as one of the previous speakers. I thought that he was pro-choice. It makes you wonder doesn’t?

By Kristy B on 05/18/2009 2:57 pm

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Hi, Kristy. This whole fiasco is beyond wonderment. It defies all logic. From day one if this outcry , I looked at previous ND commencement speakers. Very interesting.

By Maggie W on 05/18/2009 4:22 pm

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"The public school system? "

I believe many schools already do this.

By Rachel F on 05/18/2009 3:19 pm

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Precisely. Many high schools also have a separate wing for their pregnant students. They receive " free" prenatal care. hospitalization, and then the district also provides " free " formula, and "free" transportation. I , for one, would prefer to see all that money spent on new technology or add another algebra teacher or install new .modern science labs. But, since there are so many advocates for bringing all these babies into the world, look for more "free" services, including another wing or two or three to hold them all. Look for more kids in the already broken foster care system. Look for county hospitals to be even more understaffed than they are now. Look for more teen moms delivering preemies that require weeks or months of hospital care. All "free"!

Isn’t free just terrific?

By Maggie W on 05/18/2009 4:17 pm

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"But, since there are so many advocates for bringing all these babies into the world"

Well, one would hope that the condoms would prevent some of these problems. The problem here isn’t that there are people advocating "bringing all these babies into the world"; after all, these kids are choosing to keep them. The problem is that these kids are getting pregnant wayyyyyy too young; which means that they’re likely not using the contraceptives they’re given. And probably not being supervised as much as they should, also, LOL.

By Rachel F on 05/18/2009 4:39 pm