by Mark Silva
A long day of homages to Abraham Lincoln has begun in Washington, where President Barack Obama joined a celebration of the union-saving president's 200th birthday, and will close in Springfield, Ill., where Obama will attend a dinner honoring Lincoln in the city where Obama's own campaign for the White House started two years ago.
"We are far less divided than in Lincoln's Day,'' Obama said this morning, "but when we are once again debating the critical issues of our time - and debating them fiercely - let us remember that we are doing so as servants to the same flag, as representatives of the same people.''
Last night, the president and First Lady Michelle Obama attended a celebration for the reopening of a renovated Ford's Theatre, the Washington playhouse where Lincoln was assassinated. (The box where Lincoln was shot stands above and behind the president in the AP photo by Evan Vucci.)
This morning, the president honored Lincoln in the Capitol whose construction would not be halted by the demand for war metals.
In his many remarks surrounding the anniversary of Lincoln's birth today, the president is reiterating the lesson of "unity'' which the 16th president taught a nation.
"It is an honor to be here - a place where Lincoln served, was inaugurated, and where the nation he saved bid him a last farewell,'' Obama said today.
"As we mark the bicentennial of our 16th president's birth, I cannot claim to know as much about his life and works as many of those who are also speaking today, but I can say that I feel a special gratitude to this singular figure who in so many ways made by own story possible - and who in so many ways made America's story possible.
Read on, and see the story of Aaron Copland's Lincoln here as well:
"It is fitting that we are holding this celebration here at the Capitol,'' he said. "For the life of this building is bound ever so closely to the times of this immortal President. Built by artisans and craftsmen, immigrants and slaves - it was here, in the rotunda, that union soldiers received help from a makeshift hospital; it was downstairs, in the basement, that they were baked bread to give them strength; and it was in the Senate and House chambers, where they slept at night, and spent some of their days.
"What those soldiers saw when they looked on this building was a very different sight than the one we see today. For it remained unfinished until the end of the war,'' he said. "The laborers who built the dome came to work wondering whether each day would be their last; whether the metal they were using for its frame would be requisitioned for the war and melted down into bullets. But each day went by without any orders to halt construction, and so they kept on working and kept on building.
"When President Lincoln was finally told of all the metal being used here, his response was short and clear: that is as it should be,'' he said. "The American people needed to be reminded, he believed, that even in a time of war, the work would go on; that even when the nation itself was in doubt, its future was being secured; and that on that distant day, when the guns fell silent, a national capitol would stand, with a statue of freedom at its peak, as a symbol of unity in a land still mending its divisions.
"It is this sense of unity, this ability to plan for a shared future even at a moment our nation was torn apart, that I reflect on today. And while there are any number of moments that reveal that particular side of this extraordinary man - that particular aspect of his leadership - there is one I'd like to share with you today.
"In the war's final weeks, aboard Grant's flagship, The River Queen, President Lincoln was asked what was to be done with the rebel armies once General Lee surrendered. With victory at hand, Lincoln could have sought revenge. He could have forced the South to pay a steep price for their rebellion. But despite all the bloodshed and all the misery that each side had exacted upon the other, no Confederate soldier was to be punished, Lincoln ordered. They were to be treated, as he put it, "liberally all round." All Lincoln wanted was for Confederate troops to go back home and return to work on their farms and in their shops. He was even willing, he said, to "let them have their horses to plow with and...their guns to shoot crows with."
"That was the only way, Lincoln knew, to repair the rifts that had torn this country apart,'' Obama said. "It was the only way to begin the healing that our nation so desperately needed. For what Lincoln never forgot, not even in the midst of civil war, was that despite all that divided us - north and south, black and white - we were, at heart, one nation and one people, sharing a bond as Americans that could not break.
"And so even as we meet here today, at a moment when we are far less divided than in Lincoln's day, but when we are once again debating the critical issues of our time - and debating them fiercely - let us remember that we are doing so as servants to the same flag, as representatives of the same people, and as stakeholders in a common future,'' he said. "That is the most fitting tribute we can pay - and the most lasting monument we can build - to that most remarkable of men, Abraham Lincoln.''
Comments
Yeah right, and what were Obama's words? "We won", sounds like unity to me.
Note to lefties; how can you act like sleeping zombies as the Obama admin. arrests those poor Somalian pirates, desperately attempting to elk out a living in a lawless land on the high seas, and then carry out a policy of rendition to the notoriously cruel and inhuman Kenyan prisons, where their civil liberties will be denied and they most certainly will be tortured. Where is your outrage and compassion billy r and the rest of your crying gang?
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 12, 2009 12:29 PM
It's great to see one of America's Great Republican presidents get the recogination they deserve !
Posted by: Al in Chicago | February 12, 2009 12:36 PM
I find Obama’s numerous efforts to both honor and link himself with Lincoln’s legacy far more palatable than the cheesy and overdone GOP tributes to Reagan…
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | February 12, 2009 12:37 PM
Nise to see our Mesiah honoring a great Republican. It takes everyone's mind off of the Pelosi non-stimulous welfare package.
Posted by: BDD | February 12, 2009 12:44 PM
Lincoln: The GREATEST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT EVER!
Obama: Worst. President. Ever.
Posted by: elly | February 12, 2009 12:54 PM
Elly,
Come on. Obama is 23 days into his presidency. Worst President based on what? That you didn't vote for him maybe and can't get over it?Grow up. Even a vaguely fair-minded person can see the ridiculousness of your comment.
Posted by: Steve | February 12, 2009 1:09 PM
EDITORS: The comment about "poor Somalian pirates" is vile in the exytreme and should be removed.
Posted by: Humanist | February 12, 2009 1:20 PM
EDITORS: The comment about "poor Somalian pirates" is vile in the extreme and should be removed.
Posted by: Humanist | February 12, 2009 1:21 PM
You sir are no Abraham Lincoln!
Posted by: Fran | February 12, 2009 1:21 PM
You sir are no Abraham Lincoln!
Posted by: Fran | February 12, 2009 1:21 PM
You sir are no Abraham Lincoln!
Posted by: Fran | February 12, 2009 1:21 PM
Hey, elly--You might want to wait just a little longer than 3 weeks before declaring Obama the worst President ever. I think Bush has the lock on that title.
Of course fo people with your mindset, Obama will never do anything right anyway. Good thing that in the overall scheme of things, you're irrelevant.
Posted by: Missy | February 12, 2009 1:24 PM
When you read a news story about someone do you ask yourself if it is bias, and/or are they improperly using the communitarian movement pressures to sway their readers opinions? It is my opinion that the press was bias and harassed former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, continues to harass him and might harass him forever; and that they protected priests who abused alter boys until decades later. I also believe that the press is bias in my Henry County Case No. 06-CM-700. They never reported that the Court order me not to use a bill of rights defense in my jury trial, as recorded in the Common Law Record, page C796, lines 11-23; and they never reported that the Court denied my motion (C141-162) to initiate appropriate disciplinary measures against Geneseo School District¹s attorney Everett E. Nicholas, Jr. for initiating, participating and covering up the misconduct involved in the May 15, 2002 improper ex parte meeting in my teacher dismissal hearing. Nor has any newspaper covered that appeal, Case No. 3-08-0775, in Ottawa IL. Now in my Case No. 08-TR 8934, I believe the press has improperly abused me by falsely reporting that I was obstructing traffic, and then not covering the case and my belief that I am being charged because I campaigned against Henry County State¹s Attorney Terry Patton¹s Nov. 4th re-election, who I refer to as DIRTY TERRY because of what I believe are improper tactics that he uses to get his way, the way of his friends, and/or to add expenses to defendants who do not cooperate with him. Although I have written editorial on this subject of PRESS BIAS since Jan. 26th I have not been contacted by any newspaper about my opinion. At my pretrial, on Feb. 12th in Cambridge IL, I only noticed one reporter, Lisa Hammer of the Kewanee Star Courier, and she did not talk with me about my charges. The Court set a hearing date of Feb. 18th at 2:30 P.M. for my dismiss motion. When will the media begin to present both sides of a story fairly? What do we need to do to require that of the media? VoteNoParty member Cecil James Roth
Posted by: Cecil James Roth | February 12, 2009 1:26 PM
@ Elly: Wow, you're calling it already?
Posted by: Boof | February 12, 2009 1:28 PM
Hey, Elly, your "Greatest Republican President Ever" would be 200 years old today. Your party hasn't done a thing right since. Congratulations!
Posted by: Matt | February 12, 2009 1:47 PM
You mangling of the facts, Bubba Jeff Porter, is why you have so little credibility.
Posted by: Flo | February 12, 2009 1:51 PM
It's fascinating that the presidential baton was passed to Lincoln during a time of crisis by one of the worst U.S. presidents in our 233-year history, just as it was passed to our current president during a time of crisis by one of the worst U.S. presidents in our 233-year history (Bush). Time will tell if Barack Obama can rise to the level of greatness as Lincoln did. But given that he possesses the same qualities of humility, thoughtfulness, patience and humor, I wouldn’t bet against him.
Posted by: mJ | February 12, 2009 2:31 PM
Lincoln does have one thing in common with Obama. He kept McClellan, a democrat, in command of the Army throughout most of his first term. He needed to do this to ensure democratic cooperation.
The issue; McClellan was one of the most incompetent individuals in either army. Lee had free reign to terrorize the North.
If Lincoln was as interested in protecting this nation as he was getting re-elected, hundreds of thousands of lives would have been spared.
I believe Obama and Lincoln share this trait.
Posted by: Greg | February 12, 2009 2:33 PM
Lincoln would be a Democrat today.
No way would he want to be a part of the current Repub party, the party that thinks that 'Barack the Magic Negro' is just the funniest thing ever and demonizes everyone who does not look or think like they do.
When history looks back at the current Republican party and asks why they shrank to such small numbers, they'll come to the conclusion that the Republican party was unwilling to change and they knowingly destroyed themselves out of ignorance.
Posted by: dano | February 12, 2009 2:42 PM
Barry the great divider.
How much did his trip to Springfield cost?
The market shows what a great job Barry is doing. The democrats have destroyed this country, the media has abandoned it's role in challenging the politicians. It's over. USA - RIP. Maybe Barry will be around for the beginning of the next civil war, because he is very wrong - we are as divided as we were then, it's just going to take something to start the ball rolling - and a falling economy, corrupt, incompetent goverment is just the thing.
All republicans should sit on their hands, do nothing, pay as little as possible in taxes and let the democrats pay for Barry's wasteful plan.
Posted by: moreofthesame | February 12, 2009 3:25 PM
Bubba Porter......Billy r. here to ask ......what the hell are you talking about??????? Please repost with a clear question and not the usual partisan rat trap. This thread is about Lincoln and unity.....so I have no clue as to your rant.
Posted by: bill r. | February 12, 2009 3:42 PM
Missy
As I recall, the Left never, ever gave President Bush any honeymoon period, and started on him before he even started in the office. . If the Left had treated President Bush better maybe Obama would be treated better. So please spare us with your tears that the right is hammering Obama so hard. We are only doing what you did.
Posted by: Darkwater | February 12, 2009 4:02 PM
All republicans should sit on their hands, do nothing, pay as little as possible in taxes and let the democrats pay for Barry's wasteful plan.
Posted by: moreofthesame | February 12, 2009 3:25 PM
...
Sitting on your hands, starting unnecessary wars, blowing money on the Military Industrial Complex and rich cronies (Halliburton) is exactly what the Repuglicans have been doing for the last eight years and that's exactly why they're a very small minority now.
You're right, the Repuglicans should sit back and do nothing because when they do do something bad things always happen and people die for no reason.
The grownups are in charge now!
Posted by: Teresa | February 12, 2009 4:04 PM
moreofthesame.......Your call for a Jihad is heard. After all...this "is" more your country than the people who voted the republicans out of office.
Posted by: bill r. | February 12, 2009 4:11 PM
I just recalled another thing that they have/had in common. Both feel that the people, as well as the states, exist to serve the federal government.
Posted by: Greg | February 12, 2009 4:12 PM
I think he's absolutely right. Obama has a better-than-even chance of emulating Lincoln: causing a civil war, destroying half the country, and raping the constitution.
Posted by: Walter Cronkite | February 12, 2009 4:18 PM
Darkwater, don't be stupid. Most of us didn't turn on Bush until he invaded Iraq. He had everyone with him after 9-11 and he blew it.
Posted by: rupet | February 12, 2009 4:31 PM
Wow, three weeks and Obama already has the country in complete chaos: plunging stock market, an overnight trillion dollar debt to China, a Congress running rough-shod over him, cabinet appointments not smart enough to pay their taxes, a secretary of state that Obama can't trust, and a stuttering press conference with 10-minute answers. Oh, I forgot. He can read a TelePrompter. What fun!
Posted by: Daryl | February 12, 2009 5:40 PM
Wow, three weeks and Obama already has the country in complete chaos: plunging stock market, an overnight trillion dollar debt to China, a Congress running rough-shod over him, cabinet appointments not smart enough to pay their taxes, a secretary of state that Obama can't trust, and a stuttering press conference with 10-minute answers. Oh, I forgot. He can read a TelePrompter. What fun!
Posted by: Daryl | February 12, 2009 5:40 PM
I find the anti-Obama remarks most interesting. Especially knowing that they're coming from the supporters of the party who gave us George W. Bush. Obama has been in office for what? 3 weeks? And you expect miracles already? It's going to take much, much more than 3 weeks to untangle the mess that Bush and Cheney left. Much more. Obama might turn out to be a great president. Or he might not. Only time will tell. As for those of you expressing your pride in the fact that Abraham Lincoln was a republican, maybe you should do some homework. You know, read a book or something. What the republican party was in Lincoln's day and what it is now are two completely different things. The republicans then were very liberal. Today they are, well, in a word, useless.
Posted by: Zonker Harris | February 12, 2009 6:09 PM
The only thing H has in common with lincoln is...well there isn't anything in reality. It is so lame to try and evoke comparisons like this. I guess Campaign 2012 has begun. Just keep counting down the days until January 13, 2013.
Posted by: truthurts | February 12, 2009 6:29 PM
Rupet
Stop trying to rewrite history, especially when its less than 10 years old. Before 9/11, the left was all over President Bush.
Posted by: Darkwater | February 12, 2009 7:38 PM
Did Lincoln want to spend all of our childrens futures on programs that only help poor black families? No. Did Lincoln use his race to get elected? No.
Lincoln had class and brains. Barack has neither.
Obama is prez, because America felt that it needed a black man in office. Nothing else.
Obama is going to spend over 2 trillion on the bailouts. America is being destroyed. Should have voted for the old guy.
Posted by: Democrats for Truth | February 12, 2009 7:54 PM
Dear Lord,
Pray for the Republicans of today, for they need your prayers and to calm their angry lily white butts over the fact a Democrat won the White House and that their traitors to the flag reign no more.
Pray for them all as they trying to first convince themselves and then others that the Republican Party of today has any remote connection to the Republican Party of the 1860s.
Pray for them all as they try to fool the rest of the world that they are diverse and inclusive by electing one of the only five Republican black people in the country to the presidency of the RNC.
Pray and help all Republicans now, Lord, before they do something REALLY stupid. Like, open their mouths. Again. To say something, I mean. Really. Help them, Lord.
Posted by: cdub | February 12, 2009 8:59 PM
Sorry Darkwater.
I disagree.
You are rewriting.
Posted by: rupet | February 12, 2009 9:04 PM
Hey Fran ignoramus extraordinaire. Obama doesn't claim to be Lincoln but he would like America to understand what Lincoln did to bring the country together. Somethiing you ignornant thugs would never understand.
Posted by: empi | February 13, 2009 7:56 PM