Obama at Arizona State University?

My guess right now is that ASU will fold and give Obama an honorary degree after all. But that would not be the best result for Obama on the political/cultural stage. It would be much better if they stick to their guns and, if they do, here is Obama's smartest move:

He should sail silently and serenely past all the jabber. Maybe have Gibbs say that honorary degrees are the business of the University and the President respects that and looks forward to the commencement and is grateful for the opportunity to speak.

Maybe a crack about he already how has real degrees from Harvard and Columbia? That is so tempting but probably not a good idea. It plays into the elite thing--and he is in Arizona after all, you think that's an accident? Hook that up with the whole Notre Dame (i.e. Indiana) kerfuffle and you know it is no accident.

Anyway, when Obama gets to ASU he should begin with his patented, ironic, off-hand "how weird is this" smile and gesture--he does that so well--and then say: "I have a lot of reasons for wanting to complete a (pause) body of work (pause) during my presidency, and I feel them deeply every day. But I want to thank the university for providing me with an extra reason--the hope that one day I will be awarded an honorary degree from ASU. These are tough times (pause) and I need all the motivation I can get."

The kids would love it and the mavens on the stage would squirm, deliciously, helplessly. The opticals would be fabulous. And if Obama used the rest of the speech to call for a new kind of patriotism, an inclusive and generous kind of patriotism--it could turn into a classic moment.

Comments

[squarebird]

If Obama received an honorary degree from every university at which he speaks .. then that honorary degree becomes as meaningful as the tropy that every peewee league soccer team now receives at the end of a season. The ASU President is exactly right in at least waiting until the President completes one term before offering such an award. Please support him in his effort to keep this honor from shrinking into a "self-esteem" trinket. The President does NOT need that. He is not Mike Tyson.

Should every President be retroactively awarded an "honorary degree" from every university and community college in the country? Why not?

[madatnewsmedia]

they're meaningless anyway! The President isn't the issue; he has not said a thing about this issue, others have!! Obama doesn't care about a honorary degree; why should he? He was asked to speak and speak he will! The country was angry, not the President!

[amorvincitomnia]

You really have to marvel at the mindset over at ASU. In a word: disgraceful!

[Absintheforall]

Mike Tyson got an honorary degree, it seems.
What, does Obama think he's in the same league as Mike Tyson??

[karela]

There was never any doubt about how Obama would handle this. He'll be cool, like he always is. He hasn't expressed any recognition of all the broohaha. It's the rest of us who have been offended for him. He won't be looking for ways to put ASU down. He'll just go give his speech and the young people will love him as always. The old goats who caused this situation will probably find that they want to give him an honorary degree after all. They have already caused a bad taste in two thirds of the country's mouths and they have to know that's gonna effect enrollment and donations. No university can afford to intentionally create so much bad feeling against itself----­especially not just to make somebody in the University hierarchy feel like they'd rubbed a liberal's nose in it a bit. They'll reconsider and change their mind. And Obama will be cool about that too. He has too many big things on his mind to accord little stuff like this any space at all.

[madatnewsmedia]

karela, my sentiments exactly! He doesn't care about these things, we do!!

[Bitsko]

The much more liberal University of Arizona in Tucson would have made for a friendlier venue, but I like the idea of our President going to the conservative climes of Tempe. If the west is the future of politics, this is great strategy.

[vinny]

So you desire to have Obama mock the university and then make a speech about inclusion?

Don't forget to tell Obama that the trick to this political ploy is to feign sincerity as much as humanly possible, especially when mocking the honorary degree, otherwise it would tarnish his image as a post-partisan.

[Gogetter]

Do you even know what "post-partisan" means?

[vinny]

does it matter? it's just a slogan, right? ;)

[Lucky123]

I hope ASU and ND are prepared for a huge wave of right-wing crazies applying for enrollment over the next couple years. They'll get what they deserve, and deserve what they get.

[vinny]

ASU actually has a lot of liberal, and even socialist leaning programs.

[OliverTwist]

What is a "socialist leaning program"?

[evekendall]

If you believe in a government that requires citizens to give a portion of their incomes to do things that will benefit society as a whole, such as hiring police, firefighters, teachers, and military personnel, and building roads, schools, and bridges, then you are a socialist.

[Drdemocrat]

PERFECT!

[peter777]

No doubt about it-- President Obama will handle himself well, no matter what ASU administration does.

[jadeba]

ditto.

[djcchicago]

Arizona State? Can't he just get the honorary doctorate online?

[1murillo]

I agree with beartrack, "Pres. Obama should go ahead and speak but, make no reference at all to this silly dust up."

ASU and Notre Dame have already embarrassed themselves; there's no need to keep kicking them.

[wanttruth]

"When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." -- Jonathan Swift

President Obama DOESN'T NEED ANYTHING from ASU! They should be glad he would consider coming to their second-tier institution!

[cmarmonhalm]

Third tier.

[wanttruth]

Thanks for the correction! LOL 'Third-tier' institution!

[anpu]

Mike Tyson and Kermit the Frog have honorary degrees. Enough said! ASU's position is indefensible

[JimR]

My position is who cares? The economy is still in shambles, piracy is on the increase, our education system is woefully inadequate, just to name a few pressing problems, and you want me to get all worked up over whether ASU gives Obama a piece of paper?

[sueno]

Irregardless of what happens on commencement day, ASU, has lost the "battle"-
The credibility of the school is "dust". What the school doesn't realize is that
most people have made-up their minds about them and those thoughts range from
"being racist" to "they look like shameless clowns" to "just plain stupid".

[harriscrl3]

Or he can refuse it once they give it saying that he doesnt want a degree that came as a result of pressure a University felt. That move would take the power away from the Univesity and givie it back to Obama. Sometimes there is no need to make things complicated especially when they can be easily solved.

Carol

[madatnewsmedia]

ON POINT!