Talk about a bully pulpit

To say the least, President Obama’s recent speech regarding the tragedy in Tucson fell arrogantly short. This president wishes to lecture the right about political rhetoric? He has the audacity to lecture the right without first an apology for himself?

This president said, “If they bring a knife to fight we bring a gun.” This president said, “We’re gonna punish our enemies.” This president considers and labels 50 percent of his constituents enemies and has the gall to lecture anyone about hateful rhetoric? He owes all of us an apology, not a lecture.

And while he is apologizing for himself, and instead of apologizing for the evils of America, he can also apologize for Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Democrats who have spent the last two years calling millions of citizens Nazis and brown shirts just for disagreeing with them.

If this president was serious about rolling the rhetoric back he should have started with himself. How powerful would that have been? I know I would have been impressed and taken back.

David Barnes

Spokane Valley