You don't have to politicize EVERYTHING, stupid!

Submitted by Internazionale on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 3:27pm

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by the shootings on the campus of Virginia Tech. I am blessed to have several Hokies in my life, and I know they are all hurting on some level as a result of this tragedy.

I'm not going to write some anti-gun tirade. I know the Democratic Party is a big-tent party and that we have several champions in our party who are pro-gun.

But I'm really irritated that in this time of grief, Presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino said the following:

"He was horrified and his immediate reaction was one of deep concern for the families of the victims, the victims themselves, the students, the professors and all the people of Virginia who have dealt with this shocking incident," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said. "His thoughts and prayers are with them."

"The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed," Perino said, noting that Bush and Education Secretary Margaret Spellings held a conference on school gun violence last October. "Certainly, bringing a gun into a school dormitory and shooting ... is against the law and something someone should be held accountable for," Perino said.

Why, oh, why, does the president have to politicize everything? Can't we just grieve for even one freaking second?

God help this country.

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Oliver Queen's picture

Obscene

Submitted by Oliver Queen on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 3:47pm.

Some on the left are speaking too quickly as well ... but they don't speak for the President.

LiberalNC's picture

DUH

Submitted by LiberalNC on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 4:44pm.

"Certainly, bringing a gun into a school dormitory and shooting ... is against the law"

No shit Shirley!

"The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed"

The first draft of this statement probably read "God bless the NRA".

Left on 49

Cabarrus Democrats

Robert P.'s picture

That should be enough or her to lose her job.

Submitted by Robert P. on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 6:55pm.

I don't care whose idea it was, that was a stupid, stupid, stupid thing to say.

Blue South's picture

From

Submitted by Blue South on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 5:20pm.

Raising Kaine comes the reminder that there is a good chance the blood supply in the South East will be depleted. You can help.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

Thanks for the reminder, Blue South

Submitted by Linda on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 5:27pm.

I was going to abbreviate your name "BS", but decided against it.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

momoaizo's picture

I know, I want to shorten his name too

Submitted by momoaizo on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 6:11pm.

Have tried Blue and BlueSo, what about BluSo? Got any suggestions Blue South?

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

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Blue South's picture

BluSo

Submitted by Blue South on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 6:18pm.

sounds like im a manhattan neighborhood.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

momoaizo's picture

Bso?

Submitted by momoaizo on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 6:22pm.

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

Progressive Discussions

BS

Submitted by James Protzman on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 6:33pm.

:)

nctodc's picture

In all fairness...

Submitted by nctodc on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 10:56pm.

...the question was asked, which I don't think constitutes politicizing a tragedy. I don't think she could have (or should have, for that matter) ducked the question.

Here's the exchange:

Q Dana, going back to Virginia Tech, what more does this White House think needs to be done as it relates to gun issues? The President says current laws need to be strengthened, anything beyond that -- you had a conference on school violence with guns -- what more needs to be done?

MS. PERINO: I would point you back to the fact that President, along with Secretary Spellings, hosted last October -- October 10, 2006 -- a conference on school gun violence after the Amish school shooting and the other shootings that had happened, because the tragedies are the ones that just collectively break America's heart and are ones that we deeply feel, because all of us can imagine what it would be like to have been at your own school, your own college, and to have something happen. And those of us who are parents, or brothers or sisters of people at the schools have to take that into consideration.

As far as policy, the President believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed. And certainly bringing a gun into a school dormitory and shooting -- I don't want to say numbers because I know that they're still trying to figure out many people were wounded and possibly killed, but obviously that would be against the law and something that someone should be held accountable for.

Q Columbine, Amish school shooting, now this, and a whole host of other gun issues brought into schools -- that's not including guns on the streets and in many urban areas and rural areas. Does there need to be some more restrictions? Does there need to be gun control in this country?

MS. PERINO: The President -- as I said, April, if there are changes to the President's policy we will let you know. But we've had a consistent policy of ensuring that the Justice Department is enforcing all of the gun laws that we have on the books and making sure that they're prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

NY Times Article: A Team Community Gains Strength From Its Weakened Coach

Reading the questions that were asked

Submitted by Betsy Muse on Tue, 04/17/2007 - 5:57am.

does put answers into a whole new context, but there's this one little thing about "enforcing all of the gun laws we have on the books....", that jumps out at me. Apparently, those laws don't apply to vice presidents. I seem to recall Cheney was allowed to sober up before the law was allowed in to investigate after he shot his friend in the face.

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.

Unique's picture

yada yada

Submitted by Unique on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 11:28pm.

It sounded good til she got to this part:
"... the President believes ...all laws must be followed."

Do as I say, not as I do .. much.

The President believes all laws should be followed.

Submitted by Linda on Tue, 04/17/2007 - 2:43am.

He just doesn't believe that laws apply to the President.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

Blue South's picture

I suggest

Submitted by Blue South on Tue, 04/17/2007 - 10:06am.

grabbing a box of Kleenex before reading this.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

Colin Powell Weeps at Obama Victory

"Look what we did. Look what we did."

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