Obama's "Come to Jesus" Moment!

I am not sure what it was that I watched tonight. It was supposed to be a memorial service for the fallen victims of the Tucson shooting. What we got was a Native American blessing the doors of the room and everything else in the universe; Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano quoting Isaiah and Paul; Barack Obama quoting Job; and a university venue filled with 13,000 college students on the inside, and 14,000on the outside acting like this was a standard Obama political rally.

In fairness to the President, he looked more than a little uncomfortable in what should have been a solemn event. He didn’t show up in pep rally mode. To his credit, he adapted and succeeded in turning the thing into a rally for America and our democracy event. His speech was outstanding. He is nothing if not a great orator. On the other hand, didn’t his advance team talk with the University hosting the event and tell them the kind of intended atmospherics?

Notwithstanding, it is clear that the November election was a “Come to Jesus” moment for Obama both literally and figuratively. Many of the speeches he gave around Christmas reflected a “Keep Christ in Christmas” message. And now he has Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano, both looking overtly uncomfortable, reading epistles at public events? Wow. What happened to bowing to the Muslims?

Whatever else the Tucson service was supposed or not supposed to be, intended or unintended, it will be viewed as the kick-off event to the 2012 election campaign because that’s what it turned out to be. The hooting and hollering took on the 2008 Obama messianic ardor. He left the venue pounding the flesh. The media went orgasmic…particular Diane Sawyer. And we’re off to the races.

I don’t fault Obama for what happened. In a way, maybe the Tucsonians were ready for some relief and wanted waive the flag a bit. Obama showed he could speak without a teleprompter. Who knew? His comments about the nine year old girl jumping in heavenly rain puddles even brought a tear to my eye; not as much as John Boehner, but a tear nonetheless. Every now and then we all need to hear about the way a democracy should be rather than the way it is.

Will this be the make-up sex speech between Obama and the American public? Does this speech mark a pivot to the center? Will the discourse of American politics become civil once again? Naaaaa!!! Les jeux sont faites (the dye are cast). Fasten your seatbelts for the next two years…it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Wait a minute, do you think we could get Janet Napolitano to substitute for that crazy nun on the Ecumenical Channel? How do you think she would look in a habit? What a coup!!! Come to Jesus.