Rieder: Obama's welcome support for free speech on campus

Much of the attention to President Obama's commencement speech at Rutgers University on Sunday understandably focused on his not-really-veiled assault on Donald Trump and, more broadly, know-nothingism in general.

But equally important was his welcome attack on what, for want of a better term, has become known as political correctness on campus.

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One of the more troubling developments in recent years has been the advent of a climate at too many universities and colleges in which never is heard a discouraging word, a world in which dissent is unwelcome, in which political orthodoxy is mandatory, in which safe spaces are sought to protect students from anything that might offend their sensibilities.

This, of course, at venues that should be emphasizing vigorous debate over the issues of the day and the issues of the centuries.

Just in recent months we've witnessed a University of Missouri communications professor of all things preventing a student journalist from interviewing his fellow students (they were in one of those sacred safe spaces, never mind that it was a public space); students at Smith College who wanted to cover a student sit-in against racism being required to sign a pledge of solidarity with the protesters; a lecturer at Yale University stepping down after she was widely chastised for defending the right to wear potentially offensive Halloween costumes.

And at campus after campus, speakers with unpopular views have been forced to cancel their visits. So much for free speech and the free-wheeling exchange of ideas.

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Obama, himself often criticized by his foes as being too politically correct, waded squarely into this fray in his address at Rutgers. He began by recalling that two years ago, there was powerful opposition by students to former secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivering the Rutgers commencement address. The furor caused Rice to scrap her appearance. Obama noted that he had many disagreements with Rice and the regime of President George W. Bush over foreign policy.

"But," he told the graduating Scarlet Knights, "the notion that this community or the country would be better served by not hearing from a former secretary of State, or shutting out what she had to say — I believe that’s misguided. I don't think that's how democracy works best, when we're not even willing to listen to each other."

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And then, in a wonderful use of the fabled Bully Pulpit in the very right setting, Obama took on the broader issue head on.

"If you disagree with somebody, bring them in — and ask them tough questions. Hold their feet to the fire. Make them defend their positions. If somebody has got a bad or offensive idea, prove it wrong. Engage it. Debate it. Stand up for what you believe in. Don't be scared to take somebody on. Don't feel like you got to shut your ears off because you're too fragile and somebody might offend your sensibilities. Go at them if they’re not making any sense. Use your logic and reason and words.  And by doing so, you’ll strengthen your own position, and you’ll hone your arguments. And maybe you’ll learn something and realize you don't know everything.  And you may have a new understanding not only about what your opponents believe but maybe what you believe."

And then the clincher: "Either way, you win. And more importantly, our democracy wins."

Of course, closed minds are not only found on campus. In our current politico/media landscape, it's easy to limit your news or "news" intake to material that simply reinforces your views and never challenges them. That's also not healthy for democracy.

In what was widely seen as a riposte aimed at Trump, Obama took aim at a phenomenon that well precedes The Donald's emergence as a political force and goes far deeper. A spirit of anti-intellectualism is far too pervasive in our society.

"In politics and in life, ignorance is not a virtue," Obama told the graduates. "It's not cool to not know what you're talking about. That's not keeping it real, or telling it like it is. That's not challenging political correctness. That's just not knowing what you're talking about."

True that.

(Of course, Obama hardly is immune from spreading misinformation. He won PolitiFact's Lie of the Year Award for 2013 for "If you like your health plan, you can keep it.")

While his soaring rhetoric paved the way for his journey to the White House, the embattled Obama often has seemed a tight, constrained figure during his two terms. But as the twilight of his presidency approaches, he has relaxed substantially. He seems much more confident to be himself, to state forcefully what he thinks regardless of how his political opponents might react.

But at New Jersey-based Rutgers, even Obama Unbound was reluctant to take on one burning issue, although he teased at first that he would: What should you call that Garden State delicacy that is known as pork roll in South Jersey and Taylor ham in North Jersey? (If you're at home scoring, the correct answer is pork roll.)

"I come here for a simple reason — to finally settle this pork roll vs. Taylor ham question," Obama said to laughter and applause. But he quickly backed off. "I'm just kidding. There’s not much I’m afraid to take on in my final year of office, but I know better than to get in the middle of that debate."

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rem Rieder on Twitter @remrieder