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Like Michael Jordan in the Eastern Conference Finals with 10 seconds left on the clock, the president sank the speech that would help shape his presidency for much of 2011.
Utilizing his opportunity to address the nation after the unfortunate shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the Obama speech in Tucson, Ariz., was reflective of the decency that allows our president to transcend the pettiness of his adversaries: He stood his ground without fighting his enemies and reminded the country that "we can all do better."
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The president encouraged those listening to communicate "in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds." The Obama speech also conceded that there is no way to know who was responsible for the shooting that killed six and injured 13 others.
He did say, though, that our nation's polarized political conversation can be handled in a way that is respectful and productive:
"I believe we can be better," said Obama. "Those who died here, those who saved lives here -- they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
The president shared personal notes about all of those who died in the shooting. He also stated that it is okay to engage in debates on gun control and the killer's reasons for shooting his victims. At the same time, he explained that the rhetoric need not be malicious in order to be meaningful:
"At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized, at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do, it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds."
The president also shocked the crowd by informing the audience that Giffords opened her eyes for the first time during his visit to the hospital.
The Obama speech also struck an emotional chord with the crowd by reflecting on 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, the only child who was killed that day. The president noted that Christina was the only girl on her little league team and wanted to become the first woman to compete in Major League Baseball. He also noted that she was born on Sept. 11, 2001, and that there was a picture of her in a book about 9/11 babies, where she is splashing in a rain puddle.
"I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it," Obama said. "If there are rain puddles in heaven, Christina is jumping in them today."
One of Obama's greatest political assets is himself.
When he addresses the public, he is able to influence and impress with his smooth rhetorical abilities and extraordinary charisma. While I am not interested in even beginning to compare President Obama with Martin Luther King Jr., he does share a sense of dignity in his presentation that reminds us of the great one. History will surely remember this man forever.
Watch President Obama in one of his greatest moments here:
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (49)
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By: Archie L. Wilson on 1/14/2011 5:46AM
Mr. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama the two of you couldn't have been more on point than you were during the President's speech, The sensitivity shown towards each person all through the evening was recieved in a very outstanding and respectful way through our television screens. The Presidents speech itself as usaual was a well thought out speech touching all of us. It was beautiful, for the haters that found something negative to say, let them hate on, cause they'd probably find something wrong with Jesus on their way to "HELL". God bless you, your Family and may God bless America in Jesus name Amen. Mr. Archie L. Wilson
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By: Dave on 1/14/2011 6:38AM
After reading all of the comments that has been written here about our President speech, I find it very disturbing how some people think. Now I SEE WHY JESUS DIED to save us.Please READ YOUR BIBLE then you will be able to Love YOURSELF. then Love Others.Mr.David Wiley
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By: bugs hunter on 1/14/2011 11:39PM
"WHY JESUS DIED to save us"
Hell, that was easy for him, he rose from the dead, right?
We need him to come and do it again!
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By: kirok on 1/14/2011 8:19PM
Boyce,
Your kidding me right? "The Obama speech also conceded that there is no way to know who was responsible for the shooting that killed six and injured 13 others."
The frickin pyscho who shot the gun. Uh hello? Your feeble attempt promote the President's speech as shaping the Presidency for 2011. This guy can't even remember his own speech, he has to look at teleprompters. That's beside the point though. This speech though moving as it was, gave no indication of mending fences. Your Liberal cohorts sliced and diced the Right shorlty after the shootings took place. Plus, this memorial for these poor folks seemed more like a campaign rally than anything else. Obama is a glory hound....period. He thrives on his overblown ego.
You right dumb articles sometimes Boyce, and this is one of them. Stick to article cutting us White folks to ribbons, your much better at it.
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By: bugs hunter on 1/14/2011 9:13PM
Is this America's first "Black" president?
Well, I'm sorely dissapointed! He's no different that the White juggler of tricks that were president!
Like the powerful Bishop Eddie Long, nothing you prove can dilute the sway Obama holds over negros who want to be accepted by White America! Nothing!
The whole world correctly sees Obama as a stooge for the fascist plutocracy that governs the American Imperial Empire, except that negro who still feels the need to defend American aggression on the battlefields of Vietnam and against Blacks in the ghetto who don't walk in lock-step with Whitey's rule! These are the negros- usually high-yellow- who are given authority over the masses, to make "good English Negroes" over suffering and smiling negroes!!
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By: michael lofton on 1/15/2011 7:32PM
http://deadwiler.blogtownhall.com/
Taxation Without Competent Representation, The Congressional Black Caucus, and Typical Inner-City Politics
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-352814 No Doubt About It!
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-265276
Obama's Real World Constitutional Law Practice Experience and Civil Rights Expertise is Questionable
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By: TucsonChick on 1/17/2011 12:48AM
I live in Tucson (native) and I was at the memorial. The viewing audience did not see everything that happen before the event was shown on TV. While everybody was waiting for the memorial event to start. Live shots of different politicians, heroes, victims, doctors etc. was put on the "Jumbo Screen" this is what causes the atmosphere to go in to a celebration mode. Every time the camera zoom in on one of them. We were saying: We love you, Thank you. Where proud of you. Where proud of you supporting Tucson etc. With are cheering and loud clapping. Yes, we know a lot of people died on that day, but were thankful for the ones who survived. It could have been even worst. (The shooter had more bullets)
We were very EXCITED to see Pres. Obama and the first lady also. Approx. 13,000 people were in the McKale Center and 13,000 at the football stadium and we waited in line forever. BUT DON’T THINK FOR ONCE, WE DIDN’T MOURN ARE LOSS HERE IN TUCSON. WE HAD DAYS OF MOURNING BEFORE THIS EVENT!! Many of us have gone to the memorial sites and shed tears.
So forgive us for taken time out to say: Hey this was very bad, BUT we are a team and were going to support each other as a community. We showed our LOVE and appreciation for are leaders, doctors, and local heroes with are cheers and loud clapping at the McKale Center.
I don’t hear any of the families who loss love ones complaining about the atmosphere at the event.
What you “traditional mourners” need to realize is some “cultures, religious group etc. “Celebrate” the life of someone while they are in sorrow. We did just this. We did not want to put any “emphasis” on the awfulness of the tragic event. We get this everyday on the news! Tucson look at these wonderful people who were taken from us decided to celebrate who they were. Were also grateful for the ones who survived.
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By: Marsha on 2/03/2011 4:21PM
Imagine my disappointment at the idiotic level of engagement on this site. I believed I'd find open intelligent communication...Not "obama is pandering to negro's who want whitey's approval" BS.
I'll stick with huffington post. The air's cleaner over there.
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By: Sharee on 2/08/2011 3:49PM
An exceptional speech from in extrordinary individual. Thank you President Barack Obama!!!!
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