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Capt. Obvious

(9,002 posts)
Thu Oct 1, 2015, 08:45 PM Oct 2015

Frustrated Obama Says 'We Should Politicize' The Oregon Massacre

A visibly frustrated President Obama took to a podium at the White House on Thursday evening to assail a political system he said had let yet another massacre with a gun take place earlier in the day in Oregon.

"Somebody somewhere will comment and say, Obama politicized this issue," the President said. "Well this is something we should politicize. It is relevant to our common life together, to the body politic."

The shooting on Thursday morning at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore. left 13 dead and more than 20 injured, according to Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. Authorities described the shooter as a 20-year-old man, who died after exchanging gunfire with police.

"America will wrap everyone who's grieving with our prayers and our love," Obama said. "But as I said, just a few months ago, and I said a few months before that, and I said each time we see one of these mass shootings, our thoughts and prayers are not enough. It's not enough. It does not capture the heartache and grief and anger that we should feel. And it does nothing to prevent this carnage from being inflicted someplace else in America."

Obama has had to respond to multiple mass shootings in his tenure. In his speech Thursday, he said that laws have been put in place to prevent other disasters — but not gun violence.

"When Americans are killed in mine disasters, we work to make mines safer. When Americans are killed in floods and hurricanes, we work to make communities safer. When roads are unsafe, we fix them. To reduce auto fatalities, we have seat belt laws because we know it saves lives," Obama said.

....

TPM
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Frustrated Obama Says 'We Should Politicize' The Oregon Massacre (Original Post) Capt. Obvious Oct 2015 OP
Almost 3 years into his last term. ScreamingMeemie Oct 2015 #1
He's done what he can Flying Squirrel Oct 2015 #3
+100%. (N/T) Old Crow Oct 2015 #4
They are simply politicians. I would have loved this anger years ago. ScreamingMeemie Oct 2015 #7
I love to see his anger now - I really appreciate it although it seems like it's a long time coming LiberalElite Oct 2015 #11
They are simply politicians. ScreamingMeemie Oct 2015 #12
I've got some beef JackInGreen Oct 2015 #6
Politicize it? Hell yes.....I'm in. n/t fredamae Oct 2015 #2
Damn right...'the too little to late' crowd needs to step aside and be part of the solution. Fred Sanders Oct 2015 #5
If I ever die in a mass shooting, temporary311 Oct 2015 #8
Straight up. Iggo Oct 2015 #9
The problem is Democrats such as Senator Feinstein. Snobblevitch Oct 2015 #10
I applaud his speech davidpdx Oct 2015 #13

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)
1. Almost 3 years into his last term.
Thu Oct 1, 2015, 08:48 PM
Oct 2015

I have no beef with our President, and it was a fiery speech, but actions will always speak louder than words... and those words rang a little hollow today.

Again, I mean no disrespect against President Obama, but this was a safe time to make this speech...

 

Flying Squirrel

(3,041 posts)
3. He's done what he can
Thu Oct 1, 2015, 11:26 PM
Oct 2015

And he's made this case before. I'm not a member of the BOG but I really don't know what more anyone thinks he should have been able to accomplish given the current political situation in this country.

LiberalElite

(14,691 posts)
11. I love to see his anger now - I really appreciate it although it seems like it's a long time coming
Thu Oct 1, 2015, 11:59 PM
Oct 2015

In our day-to-day lives, people often don't live up to our "expectations." Then we get indignant, as if our expectations are law. (I'm including myself here.) Living among humans means dealing with different personalities. Our Mr. Cool president didn't have to show anger now either. It's not his default disposition. Me, I can easily be a hothead. It is what it is.

Snobblevitch

(1,958 posts)
10. The problem is Democrats such as Senator Feinstein.
Thu Oct 1, 2015, 11:57 PM
Oct 2015

She will attempt to introduce gun control measures that do not have a chance of passage. There is a high likelihood that a UBC could have passed congress if it did not include such things as a ban on magazines and semi-auto long guns.

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)
13. I applaud his speech
Fri Oct 2, 2015, 03:53 AM
Oct 2015

He continues to say what needs to be said, which is if the voters don't elect people to change the laws this WILL continue to happen.

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