Is the blame game now over?

In his Tucson memorial service speech, President Obama could not have been more clear in his urgings to put an end to the blame game. A significant portion of the full text was devoted to that theme. For examples:

"But at a time when our discourse has become so polarized - at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who happen to think differently than we do - it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we're talking to each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds.

"Scripture tells us that there is evil in the world, and that terrible things happen for reasons that defy human understanding. In the words of Job, "When I looked for light then came darkness." Bad things happen, and we have to guard against simple explanations in the aftermath."

"For the truth is, none of us can know exactly what triggered the vicious attack. None of us can know with any certainty what might have stopped these shots from being fired, or what thoughts lurked in the inner recesses of a violent man's mind. Yes, we have to examine all the facts behind this tragedy. We cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence. We should be willing to challenge old assumptions inn order to lessen the prospects of such violence in the future. But what we cannot do is use this tragedy as one more occasion to turn on each other. That we cannot do. That we cannot do."

"As we discuss these issues, let each of us do so with a good dose of humility. Rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let's use this occasion to expand our moral imaginations, to listen to each other more carefully, to sharpen our instincts for empathy and remind ourselves all the ways that our hopes and dreams our bound together."

"If this tragedy prompts reflection and debate - as it should - let's make sure it's worthy of those we have lost. Let's make sure it's not on the usual plane of politics and point-scoring and pettiness that drifts away in the next news cycle."

Eloquent words, a strong message, well put - as is typical of President Obama's incredible rhetorical ability. But the question is. Will these words take hold? Will the pundits and politicos treat the speech as a buffet, where one can pick and choose what one likes and ignore the rest? More to the point, will they even see themselves in it, or instead think that the President was actually talking not about them but about someone else? (I recall for example when President Obama told Congress people that it was necessary to change Washington and end the climate of corruption. Everyone there stood up and applauded. It was as if the President could not have been referring to them but to some other non-existent politicians somewhere else).

Will the substance of talk radio, cable chatter, newspaper op-ed pieces, and political speeches now change? Or will it be business as usual, while everyone praises the speech? Let's watch.