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PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — President Barack Obama says the protests that led former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to back out of delivering a commencement address at Rutgers University two years ago were misguided.
Obama told this year's class of graduates Sunday that he doesn't think it's good for democracy when you're not willing to listen to the other side.
Rice was invited to deliver the 2014 address, but backed out after students protested her involvement in former President George Bush's policies in Iraq.
Rice said at the time that commencement should be a time of joyous celebration and her invitation had become a distraction.
Obama says he disagreed with many of Rice's policies, but took those who created an atmosphere that caused her to pull out to task.
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