Politicizing

Immediately after the recent shooting in Oregon, the president said: "And, of course, what’s also is that somebody, somewhere will comment and say, Obama politicized this issue. Well, this is something we should politicize."  On many other occasions, however, the president has warned against politicizing various things. Some examples:

• "As I said, it is very important for us not to politicize the relationship between Israel and the United States. "Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter and an Exchange With Reporters," March 3, 2015. 
• "There has been talk about, should we convene a conversation on race? I haven't seen that be particularly productive when politicians try to organize conversations. They end up being stilted and politicized, and folks are locked into the positions they already have." "Remarks on the Verdict in State of Florida v. George Zimmerman," July 19, 2013. 
• "Everything has become politicized, from the most modest appointment to getting judges on the bench, to trying to make sure the economy grows. Everything has been looked at through a political lens. And that is what people are tired of." "Remarks at an Obama Victory Fund 2012 Fundraiser in New York City," November 30, 2011.
• "We had hoped that in this once-in-a-generation challenge that we were facing that we would see an end to some of the game-playing and posturing and politicizing of everything we did because there would be a recognition that this was an urgent time and we had to take some key steps not only for the next several years, but to ensure that we were going to be competitive in generations to come." "Remarks at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Dinner in Providence," October 25, 2010.
•  "And that's why this election coming up is so important because we essentially have to say that those who are politicizing the issue, who are supportive of the Arizona law, who talk only about border security but aren't willing to talk about the other aspects of this, who don't support the Dream Act, who are out there engaging in rhetoric that is divisive and damaging that -- those aren't the kinds of folks who represent our core American values." "Interview With Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo on Univision Radio Network's "Piolin pr la Manana"," October 25, 2010.
• "So--but what is absolutely true--and this goes to the point you were making earlier, John, about midcourse corrections--the rhetoric and the politicizing of so many decisions that are out there has to be toned down."  "Remarks at CNBC's "Investing in America" Town Hall Meeting and a Question-and-Answer Session," September 20, 2010. 
• "Now, over the last several weeks, we've seen a return of the politicization of these issues that have characterized the last several years. I'm an elected official; I understand these problems around--arouse passions and concerns. They should. We're confronting some of the most complicated questions that a democracy can face. But I have no interest in spending all of our time relitigating the policies of the last 8 years. I'll leave that to others. I want to solve these problems, and I want to solve them together as Americans." "Remarks at the National Archives and Records Administration," May 21, 2009.
• " I do worry about this getting so politicized that we cannot function effectively and it hampers our ability to carry out critical national security operations."  "Remarks Following a Meeting With King Abdullah II of Jordan and an Exchange With Reporters," April 21, 2009.
• 'Now, we came close to getting that kind of reform done several years ago, and then it became politicized. And my whole goal is to remove the politics of this and take a very practical, commonsense approach that benefits people on both sides of the border and creates a secure and safe border so you don't have people who are dying in the deserts as a consequence of a disorderly and illegal migration process." "The President's News Conference With President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa of Mexico in Mexico City," April 16, 2009.  
• "It is time that we end the politicization of this issue. In the coming weeks, my administration will initiate a fresh conversation on family planning, working to find areas of common ground to best meet the needs of women and families at home and around the world." "Statement on the Mexico City Policy and Assistance for Voluntary Population Planning," January 24, 2009.