Obama's Commencement Request: Civility

President Obama tried to play peacemaker today in his commencement address at the University of Michigan, criticizing the angry politics of our age and urging both sides to tone it down. "Throwing around phrases like 'socialists' and 'Soviet-style takeover,' 'fascists' and 'right-wing nut'—that may grab headlines," he said. But it also undermines democracy and "can send signals to the most extreme elements of our society that perhaps violence is a justifiable response."

His advice: “If you’re someone who only reads the editorial page of the New York Times, try glancing at the page of the Wall Street Journal once in awhile. If you’re a fan of Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, try reading a few columns on the Huffington Post website. It may make your blood boil. Your mind may not be changed. But the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship." (More commencement speech stories.)