Comments on: Column – Obama, The Man and the Mantle

By: Mary Ann Z.

Mary Ann Z. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:00:56 +0000

Some Obama supporters really revere him, while some think he was the better person for the job, without thinking him a quasi-Messiah.

That said, while Sen. McCain’s speech was gracious, the folks who booed his congratulations to the President-elect were hardly calm, equable, or gracious.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:36:20 +0000

I’m getting a lot of e-mail on this column along with the comments here.

I think that to note history – the outrage all over the Left after Reagan won – is not to be ungracious. Ditto not being excited about Obama himself. That’s sort of my point. In one sense it doesn’t matter what I “think” of the new President, because the Office is what matters.

Sure people can and should be outspoken about their leaders. That doesn’t need to end. But in general, I stand by the assertion that the graciousness of Republicans in the wake of Obama’s victory is exemplary, and very much unlike what we’ve seen in the past, or what we would have seen had the election gone the other way, from the Left.

Thanks for your comments!

By: FridaL

FridaL — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:10:48 +0000

Thanks for the column and the clarity with which you sort things out.

I write to respond to DonD, whose partisanship shows.

Why would it be graceful to be dishonest? Clearly, Betsy and us readers are disappointed by the horrible behavior of the Democrats, the demonizing of Republicans, the hatred of President Bush, and the refusal to work cooperatively. The fact that such a Bush basher could get elected is at the core of our disappointment.

The key to a good column is that it captures truth. Although DonD must have different perceptions, for Betsy to deny what she sees would hardly be graceful. The key is to generate insight by confronting reality.

By: John S.

John S. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:12:25 +0000

In a cloumn of yours I read yesterday, you said, and i quote “Let’s just say that the relative calmness and equanamity, even graciousness, with which conservatives in general have greeted the Barack Obama win after a hard-fought fight is in stark contrast with the raging hostility that typically greets Republican presidential vicoties.”
What a laugh. I can’t think of two more prominent conservative windbags than Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and apparantly you haven’t been listening to them too much lately. Gracious? Far from it.

By: pam parrish

pam parrish — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:45:26 +0000

Thank you, thank you. thank you for your column of Saturday November 8,2008 concerning our new president. I have been absolutely sick over the election until I read your column. I am a believer and I know that God is in charge, but I was having a hard time accepting this presidency. I would have loved your dad!! He brings back such wonderful memories of my own republican leader father. I always say I was branded with an R from the “Get-Go”. You are a very good teacher, not only to your children but to the readers lucky enough to have found your words of wisdom! Thanks again for the wonderful reminder of God’s authority!

By: DonD

DonD — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:35:47 +0000

While a “respect the office” message is welcome and a fine approach to consolation, perhaps you could have expanded a bit on an import concept early in the column: grace. Taking a stab at the other side (”massive freakout”) while claiming better behavior for your own (”calmness and equanimity, even graciousness”), is not in the least graceful. Finding yourself getting to the end of the column after that without a single kind word or hint of respect for Obama the person or the other side as a group is quite the opposite of grace.