What the Political Pundits Thought of Obama’s Terrorism Speech
Natalie Johnson /
In a rare address from the Oval Office Sunday night, President Barack Obama attempted to calm Americans shaken after a couple with reported ties to the Islamic State murdered 14 in San Bernardino, Calif., last week.
He called the shootings a terrorist attack “designed to kill innocent people,” vowing to escalate military action in Iraq and Syria to defeat similar threats to the U.S.
“The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it. We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us,” Obama said in reference to the Islamic State, most commonly known as ISIS.
The 13-minute speech marked Obama’s third prime-time address in the Oval Office since the beginning of his presidency.
He said the terrorism threat has evolved since Sept. 11, 2001, into less complex, but harder to detect, lone wolf-style attacks and remained adamant that the U.S. would not enter into a long-term ground war in Iraq and Syria.
Obama also pivoted to gun control, advocating that Congress bar anyone on the no-fly list from buying a gun and pass legislation that would prevent people from being able to purchase assault weapons.
The address followed sharp criticism that the Obama administration has lacked a plan to deal with the rising threat of terrorism both domestically and abroad, concerns that were heightened after the attacks Wednesday in San Bernardino.
Political pundits immediately took to Twitter to react to the president’s latest plan. Here’s what they said.
This is a speech focused on tolerance. Not a speech focused on policy.
— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) December 7, 2015
Shorter Obama: After Paris, I actually started doing the stuff against #ISIS I should have been doing for years. Also, I hate 2nd Amendment.
— Michael Graham (@IAMMGraham) December 7, 2015
Obama at his most passionate arguing that ISIL does not represent Islam.
— Noah Pollak (@NoahPollak) December 7, 2015
Good speech, a bit late.
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) December 7, 2015
Obama: I’m going to give an Oval Office Address America: Okay, watcha got that’s new? Obama: New phone who dis
— Tim Mak (@timkmak) December 7, 2015
Was there a single new anything offered in that speech? Why did he give it at all?
— jon gabriel (@exjon) December 7, 2015
Did anything change because of that address? No. Absolutely not. Nothing.
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) December 7, 2015
Obama clearly on defensive, trying to explain his message/strategy on ISIS. Might have different effect if he responded to Paris this way
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) December 7, 2015
Reminder: Obama and basically every presidential candidate have the same plan to defeat ISIS.
— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) December 7, 2015
If I were presidential speechwriter, I would not have gone for a defensive yet preachy lecture.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) December 7, 2015
Pretty much a let down — given the fact it’s from the oval on a sunday night days after the worst jihadi terror attack since 9/11
— Aaron David Miller (@aarondmiller2) December 7, 2015
Twitter insta-reaction: So-so speech but Obama didn’t really offer anything new. He did ratchet up rhetoric a bit (S.B. a terrorist attack)
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) December 7, 2015
We’ve been at this for a year and a half now. Nothing has changed. The threat is only larger. The only new proposal I heard was gun control.
— Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) December 7, 2015
If Obama really wanted a new AUMF, his administration would be working hard with Congress to craft one. They are not.
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) December 7, 2015
Obama spent more time cheerleading the dismantling of 5th Amendment and lecturing on racism than he did condemning terrorists.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) December 7, 2015
POTUS says no guns for people on “a no-fly list.” There are several of those — an incredibly broad prohibition he’s proposing.
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) December 7, 2015
That was not terribly worthwhile. Or new. Other than the “take away Constitutional rights w/o due process” part.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) December 7, 2015
The argument on guns was unpersuasive but mercifully brief. Probably the least he could do on it given his coalition.
— Ramesh Ponnuru (@RameshPonnuru) December 7, 2015
How did a terror suspect get into the country in the first place?
— Matt Mackowiak (@MattMackowiak) December 7, 2015
I just miss the way President Reagan could, rhetorically, wed gravity with hopefulness with confidence.
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) December 7, 2015
That was an Oval Office address I have already forgotten.
— James Pindell (@JamesPindell) December 7, 2015
Well, I feel so much safer now. Thanks Obama.
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) December 7, 2015
President showed appropriate concern, laid out some actions, but left a lot up to Congress to do #ObamaSpeech
— gretchen hamel (@gretchenhamel) December 7, 2015
FDR gave Fireside Chats. Obama gives Podium Lectures.
— CamEdwards (@CamEdwards) December 7, 2015
The irony of telling *us* that we need to be tolerant as Islamists are slaughtering people all over the world.
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) December 7, 2015
Not surprising, but stunning in a way: POTUS seems to be giving a speech announcing no real change of strategy against ISIS.
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) December 7, 2015