Washington Post: Watch Obama defend a Trump supporter’s rights at a Clinton rally
“Hold up, hold up, hold up,” Obama shouted several times, urging the crowd of 4,500 at a gym at Fayetteville State University to listen. “I told you to be focused and you’re not focused right now. Listen to what I’m saying.”
“Everybody sit down and be quiet for a second. Everybody sit down and be quiet for a second. Now listen up. I’m serious. Listen up,” Obama said. “You’ve got an older gentleman who is supporting his candidate. He’s not doing nothing. You don’t have to worry about him.”
The crowd continued to heckle, and Obama continued to urge those shouting to “hold up,” defending the man’s right to free speech.
“First of all, we live in a country that respects free speech,” Obama said. “Second of all, it looks like maybe he might have served in our military and we ought to respect that. Third of all, he was elderly and we got to respect our elders. And fourth of all, don’t boo. Vote!”
Obama continued to urge voters to focus, saying that’s part of the problem this election season.
“We just get stirred up for all kinds of reasons that are unnecessary. Just relax,” Obama said.
From Sarah Pulliam Bailey: Watch Obama defend a Trump supporter’s rights at a Clinton rally — Washington Post
Image by _mixer_ 
I like his management style.Report
Trump’s been claiming Obama “screamed at” the supporter.. (He’s repeated this multiple times).
Also, he’s been talking about how the Democrats tried to assassinate him as well. (The Trump crowd turned on a guy with a “Republicans against Trump” sign, got rather violent, and someone shouted “Gun” because security wasn’t tossing this dangerous man with the sign out fast enough.).
*sigh*. That’s what’s going on. One of the two major Presidential candidates is a man who repeatedly lies about things we have video evidence of, and who turned violence by his own supporters against a protester into an assassination attempt against him.
And it’s looking like at least 85% of the GOP is gonna vote for him.
I’m pretty sure I’m gonna die of old age before I can take a Republican seriously.Report
Just to follow up the story, Trump claimed at a rally later that day, that Obama
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I would never say that Trump became unhinged.Report
I will miss this aspect of Obama’s leadership style.Report
Even with the aspects of his polices i don’t’ like, i wish could vote for him again.Report
Yuh, me too. I’m gonna miss that dude. Poised, graceful, socially and politically respectful, smart, thoughtful, wise, humorous and self-deprecating. I’d vote for him again.Report
“Poised, graceful, socially and politically respectful, smart, thoughtful, wise, humorous and self-deprecating. ”
Yeah, right. “respectful”, after he insulted a major portion of the electorate (and that’s just what i remember) Sure…..
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/us/politics/13campaign.htmlReport
Really? He insulted them?
Or did he merely misapprehend them? Or just say in too-public a forum what liberal partisans say to themselves all the time (in an attempt to understand why there’s a huge swath of working class voters that used to belong to the Democratic coalition, and now seem to regularly vote against their own economic self-interest by embracing republicans).
But asserting they he “insulted” them is either capitulation to fainting couch culture, or just another form of partisan posturing.Report
I would posit that the percentage of politicians who get caught describing opposing partisans in unflattering terms plus the percentage of politicians who do that but don’t get caught equals 100%Report
Actually both.
I’m part of one of the groups he was talking about and I was insulted by his comments. And I’m sure he talked likes that, or worse, behind closed doors. Most people do.Report
On the other hand, when every Republican politician in existence tells me that I’m not a Real American™, I feel great because I consider the source.Report
Well, you are from the Bay Area…Report
He was more socially and politically respectful in that incident than you’re being Damon, that’s for sure.Report
Opinions vary Still. Frankly, it came off as totally insulting. I’m can be an ass, and oftentimes I am intentionally, but I’m not a politician sucking up for votes either. I get to be me. I’m just part of that great rainbow of diversity 🙂Report
““First of all, we live in a country that respects free speech,” Obama said”
Much anecdotal evidence suggests other wise, sadly.Report
http://www.zazzle.com/obama_says_relax_t_shirt-235985126264701653Report
I keep trying to figure out a way to is that in a pun with Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s song “Relax” and I can’t make it non X rated. 🙂Report
“Everybody chill out. I got this.”Report