'Together We Thrive' Obama Rally

On Wednesday evening, there was supposed to be a memorial service for the shooting victims in Tucson.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere wasn't appropriately solemn and respectful. It had all the makings of a political rally, with cheering and yelping and people jumping to their feet, even event t-shirts.

My impression, as I watched the service unfold on TV, was not that a memorial was being held in the wake of a massacre that left 6 people dead and many others fighting for their lives.

One doesn't typically hear people acting like they're at a sporting event when they're supposed to be gathering to honor the dead.

When Janet Napolitano did a Scripture reading, it was met with cheers as if she had made a game winning three-point shot at the buzzer.

Truly bizarre.

There was definitely excitement in the air at the University of Arizona's McKale Center on Wednesday. University of Arizona President Robert Shelton served as the "master of ceremonies" for the memorial, but he had some trouble containing his enthusiasm.

When he introduced Obama, he shouted as if he were speaking at a campaign rally or serving as the announcer for The Price is Right. "President Obama! Come on down!" His fired up intro was followed by the yelps of the pumped up crowd.

Memorial service?

And Obama himself struggled to find the right tone in his speech. At times he spoke movingly about the victims. At other times, however, he would raise his voice and shift into campaign rally mode. It was jarring.

I think it was wrong for Obama to insert political talk into the alleged memorial service. This wasn't the time to yap about a new era of civility. That was off topic and belonged elsewhere, like in his State of the Union address.

Obama and others should have focused on the victims, remembering them, and leading the nation in mourning. This wasn't time for platitudes and preaching about "vitriol" and political divisions.

A sick, deranged individual went on a murderous rampage. What Jared Loughner did has nothing to do with the current level of political discourse in the country.

I'm surprised that the memorial was politicized the way it was.

When Governor Jan Brewer took the stage, some people booed.

Booing a speaker at a memorial service?

Inappropriate.

I don't understand how some media outlets and pundits can in good conscience report that the event was apolitical.

Michelle Malkin notes that the service was "branded."

"Together We Thrive" was the logo for the memorial, replete with "Together We Thrive" blue and white t-shirts.


Is "Together We Thrive" the new "Yes We Can"?

If the families of Loughner's victims found some comfort through the memorial/rally, then it was a positive gathering, in spite of the unseemly aspects.

In their grief, I doubt they're giving any thought to the inappropriateness of cheesy t-shirts or a university president visibly thrilled with hosting Obama or an out of control crowd.

Obama and the media are talking about healing.

That's dramatically easier said than done for those suffering this horrific, sudden loss of their precious loved ones.

For them, this isn't a television event with political ramifications, something to be analyzed with cool detachment. Healing probably isn't anywhere in sight for them yet.

At this point, shouldn't we be talking about them - the dead, the wounded, and the survivors left to bear the unbearable burden of such deep personal tragedy?

At a memorial, there should be the sounds of quiet prayers, expressions of concern, and support for the victims, not roars from a crowd cheering to support their political favorites.
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Text of Obama's speech, (White House transcript)