By Brenda Flanagan
Correspondent
“I come here for a simple reason — to finally settle this pork roll versus Taylor Ham question,” said President Obama.
In a speech peppered with Jersey jokes and sharp political jabs, President Obama offered advice to the 12,000 graduating Rutgers students seated on the windy field at High Point Stadium. Obama praised the school’s diversity and its 250 years of academic excellence. Without naming names, the president took several well-aimed swipes at the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump.
“The world is more interconnected than ever before, and it’s becoming more connected every day. Building walls won’t change that,” Obama said.
Obama built on that unsubtle reference to Trump’s proposed wall against Mexican immigrants, drawing cheers from the crowd of 40,000. Obama said fear and isolationism won’t keep America safe.
“Isolating or disparaging Muslims, suggesting that they should be treated differently when it comes to entering this country, that is not just a betrayal of our values, that’s not just a betrayal of who we are, it would alienate the very communities at home and abroad who are our most important partners in the fight against violent extremism,” he said.
The president aimed another oblique slap at Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again.” He said America’s far better off today than 50 or even eight years ago.
“When you hear someone longing for the ‘good old days,’ take it with a grain of salt,” he said.
As for politicians who disparage science as elitist, Obama said, “It’s not cool to not know what you’re talking about. That’s not keeping it real or telling it like it is.”
“Telling it like it is” was Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign slogan during his failed presidential primary campaign. Christie now heads Trump’s transition team — but he wasn’t there to hear the president’s barbs.
Where was Gov. Christie? At his son, Andrew’s, baseball game — Princeton versus Yale. Christie has coached his son who is Princeton’s catcher, Andrew since his son was 7. The governor said he wasn’t going to miss Andrew’s final game.
Princeton won. Rutgers, meanwhile, listened to the president chide young people for not turning out to vote. Obama also called Rutgers “misguided” for protesting against former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice until she withdrew as commencement speaker a couple years ago.
“If you disagree with somebody, bring them in and ask them tough questions. Hold their feet to the fire. Don’t feel like you got to shut your ears off because you’re too fragile and somebody might offend your sensibilities,” Obama said.
“I thought the president’s speech was amazing. He was great he had a great dynamic. You could tell he really understood Rutgers,” said Giae Derisse.
Afterward, the audience raved.
“I think it was awesome that he came out and gave a speech like that. I think he hit every influential topic that needs to be discussed in the present day with the politics and everything going around with that,” said Kamran Qureshi of Somerset.
“He’s just amazing. He’s one of the people that I look up to and idolize and one of the people who inspired me to pursue education, as a way to get better and grow,” said Ayesha Gougouehi.
In the end, President Obama got an honorary Rutgers degree. The Class of 2016 got an unforgettable graduation.