FDR on his political foes: "I welcome their hatred"

[babylonsister]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/2/13/152357/902/480/697176


FDR on his political foes: "I welcome their hatred"
by Jed Lewison
Fri Feb 13, 2009


On the same day that House Republicans unanimously rejected President Obama's economic recovery plan, it's worth stepping back in time to recall FDR's words when confronted with the very same kind of partisan obstruction.

Excerpted from his 1936 campaign speech in Madison Square Garden, Roosevelt said "Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me—and I welcome their hatred."

With a few minor changes, those same words would be just as relevant today as they were then.

Here's a full transcript of the audio recording in this post:

For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace—business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me—and I welcome their hatred.

I should like to have it said of my first Administration that in it the forces of selfishness and of lust for power met their match. I should like to have it said of my second Administration that in it these forces met their master.

[PhilosopherKing]

1. What if Obama said the same thing nowadays?

How would the public respond? How would the Republicans?

[CanonRay]

2. Brilliant, it could describe today perfectly.

I wish Obama would just quote this, or make up his own in a similar vein.

[babylonsister]

3. I think Obama has pretty much said this, just not in so many words. nt