President Breaks Down During Remarks on Newtown School Shooting

'We have seen this too many times'

President Obama spoke with intense emotion about the tragic shooting that left 27 dead and others injured at an elementary school in Newtown.

He began his remarks with what sounded like a call to action: "We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years." But the rest of his speech was a deeply emotional tribute to the victims and their families.

"Each time I hear the news I react not as a president...but as a parent," Obama said. "I know there's not a parent in America who doesn't feel the same overwhelming grief I do."

"Most of the victims today were children. Beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old." Here there was a pause as the president struggled not to break down. "They had their entire lives ahead of them."

"Our hearts are broken today...there are no words that will ease their pain. I will do my best to help. Because while nothing can replace...a loved one, we can all extend a hand to those in need."

And, he concluded, "in the words of scripture, heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds."

Via MSNBC.

Posted 12:35pm PST.

[tomincali]

here we go! all law abiding citizens be prepared for what is about to be said about your right to carry and own firearms.

i know a guy who is fully convinced the gov grabs people brain washes or some other mind altering thing and gives them orders to do this like this.

if this is at all possible i would not doubt it something makes these sickos go off.

[MongoAPillager]

thats just crazy talk,our CIA psy-ops are not capable of that kind of false flag operation,of course with all the high visiablty shootings as of late,well,the anwser is of course new gun laws,maybe international treaty of some kind?? http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/...

[MongoAPillager]

@MongoAPillager they are still working feverishly on this one,but really need some justification... according to some government lawyers international treaty's trump the constitution

[MongoAPillager]

@MongoAPillager http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2012/07...

[tomincali]

@MongoAPillager i thought he was nuts and watches too much tv until he pointed out a drug in columbia called devils breath. i will find a link as to what this drug does, i am sure our gov knows all about it.

[tomincali]

@tomincali http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-21435...

i am sure our gov has its hands on this stuff

[Sillpchs]

His reaction is a political ploy. I bet he cares less, he's trying to win support for gun control.

[Cee_Dee]

You have any children? Just curious.

[Sillpchs]

Well I don't see how that matters...I'm not saying anything about the people who lost loved ones. I truely do sympathize with them, but we all know how politicians like to take advantage of things like this. Especially gun control advicates.

[xsecfr]

@Sillpchs Sympathy versus Empathy; learn the latter and perhaps, you just might get it. No one is coming to take America away from you, it's already gone

[Nat]

You must not have any children. I think every American with children and most of those without children are deeply touched by this situation. You take this opportunity to bash Obama instead of seeing that he and most Americans are devastated at the loss of life. There is no compassion for the children, the adults and the families in your post. Just another chance to bash someone you don't like.

I think you are the one who has no feelings and is using this for what you consider political gain. Shame on you.

[johnCrow]

@Nat well said.

[Annie]

Shame on you!

[srs606791163]

The hate is unbearable. The President is upset because he has a heart. He really does care. He even said today was not the day to talk about gun control. I disagree wholeheartedly. Obama is a decent person, and you people need to come back to reality. The reality where one where people cry because 20 kids were executed in America.

[vigilant]

srs, Yes, he produced a 'tear'- followed immediately by "Most of the victims today were children. Beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them." There's only ONE reason for him to cruelly twist this blade deep in the heart of all the grieving parents - he's setting the stage for assaulting the right of the good, peaceable, law-abiding, people to bear arms. Obama can NEVER let a good tragedy go to waste - it's in his training.

[kirbstomp1]

@vigilant - a good tragedy? Oxymoron?....

Kind of sick for you to say that. Im all for guns, I have 5 myself. I shoot them regularly and they are all registered. Im also an avid hunter. When I heard this I broke a tear or 2 just thinking about it. It doesn't shock me either to see another human being capable or sympathy and empathy to also shed a tear. I do not think our president will make this political and if he does its not gonna work. Good luck rounding up 285 million guns. You'll have to pry mine from my dead fingers.

[vigilant]

@kirbstomp1,
The "good tragedy" remark is a classic line from the Democrats' field manual (by Saul Alinsky). That's how they operate. It's literally in their book. They have no feelings for others. I'll bet you a case of 12-gauge that he follows through with a pitch to ban semi-autos (falsely calling them "assault weapons). As for rounding up 285 Million guns - I expect the vast majority will be turned in voluntarily - under progressively harsher threats of penalties. There will not likely be much more than 10 Million guns that he'll have to come get the hard way - including yours and mine. I plan to give them the ammo first - one at a time.

[vigilant]

Even the NY Times acknowledges Obama's intent:
"Obama’s Cautious Call for Action Sets Stage to Revive Gun Debate" (NY Times, 12/15/12)

[srs606791163]

@vigilant Obama is a man with kids. He was hurting the same way we all were. yesterday. Not everyone is obsessed with politics. A real show of emotion is met with vitriol. And if we do get some gun law reformation it will be a good thing. Why do we want gun control? So we can try to save lives. I am fully aware that it won't stop every killing, but that is like handing out free cigarettes because you can't stop every kind of cancer. So, forgive me if I stand by OUR president in this time of incomprehensible tragedy. You politicize it, and bring the Republican party even further down. No one wants to be a Republican anymore. The Republican/Tea Party are punchlines. They are more concerned with bashing OUR president than they are concerned with the massacre of yesterday. The one where 20 elementary school kids were shot execution style. If the president is trying to bring up a gun debate, he didn't do it yesterday. Isn't that what Republicans are always saying? "It's too soon after the tragedy to discuss gun laws." Well, we have to have the conversation now, because 20 of our truly innocent were murdered yesterday. 1 nut with a couple of guns ruined countless lives. 1 guy. Yea, but the worst part of the day was watching Obama.

[classychazy]

The president has children of his own he does know it can happen to any family any where including his own. For some of you to say the things you are saying I say SHAME ON YOU ALL! I also wonder if you have a heart.

[martydotcom]

These gun nuts take a mass shooting in a kindergarten as the new normal, Some radicals here affixing blame on a gov plot. After Columbine was it time to talk about gun laws? Was it time after Virginia Tech? Maybe it was time after Tucson and Aurora and Oak Creek.If no now when?
President Obama rightly sent his heartfelt condolences to the families in Newtown.We should question the mental stability of those who see his communications as a plot I'm sure they're armed to the teeth.

[xsecfr]

"Meaningful Action", in the military, always meant that a perimeter was to be secured. Mental illness isn't an issue and personally, this guy didn't do anything spectacular nor out of the ordinary; he used a gun how it was meant to be used. Perhaps, he was angry that the guy in Oregon only killed two people with just as many shots. Who knows or cares?

[srs606791163]

What do you men by who cares?

[xsecfr]

@srs606791163 Americans just like anyone else put an abundance of PRIDE in murdering people, when the results benefit them. At an early age, my elementary school taught me that criminal activity resulted in the establishment of the greatest country in the world. The Forefathers declared their independence from Nature's God and said that they could do a better job of ruling the World. As far as I've seen the creation of a Nation by Whites and for Whites hasn't been successful, yet.

If they or anyone that chooses to abide by their principles of hatred and discrimination truly believes that the World was meant to be ruled by a gun, atomic weapon or threat of nuclear annihilation, then no one cares!!!!!! Not you nor I nor anyone else; whom claims that we're protecting freedom. We cannot be free, if our independence depends on a weapon to secure it. There isn't any certainty to be had in LIFE, anyways. Nature's design is UNCERTAINTY; therefore, certainty is UNNATURAL and considered a CRIME AGAINST NATURE.

[srs606791163]

@xsecfr Thanks for clarifying. I don't disagree. This story is just heartbreaking.

[xsecfr]

@srs606791163 Heart= irrational thought process; whereas, the mind is rational thoughts. Both are carried out within the same unit, the difference is people tend to put more trust into irrational thoughts, for some odd reason. " This could never happen here." Then, they go on with their lives and boom. From the moment a person conceives, Nature is fighting against them as in the pursuance of an ending; which is the result of something beginning. Has life, has the ability to lose life. The entire concept of inventing crap to withstand the test of time is ludicrous, no one is as great of an architect as Nature's God. The complexity and strength of Chaos is unparalleled.

Look at the lack of effort it took for a tropical depression to turn into the Perfect Storm Sandy. How much did it cost? Were the seasons upset? Nature doesn't require any assistance to perform or be maintained; the strong exist, the weak survive. Restoring Nature's Order and then, allowing people to live accordingly won't end turmoil nor destruction but educating them not to take out their problem with The Creator against the Creator's creations is a must. America's greatest enemy is nature; uncertainty.

[xsecfr]

@srs606791163 But if we were having, yet another united nation's meeting, in search of a solution. Uncertainty is an incurable disease; which plagues more than 70% of the world's population. It's the cause of people's addictions; hatred, alcoholism, racism, substance abuse, domestic violence and the list goes on and on. It's no different from man wanting to go faster, as if he were gaining time. Without nature's approval, his pursuits are futile. No different from the creation of the gun; in which, he sought to be capable of killing quicker or more accurately. But as it relates to reproducing nourishment, he can't quicken the growth of corn or wheat to sustain nor increase the productivity of raising chickens, pigs or cows; therefore, man's ambitions are recognized as failures. Hunger, starvation and famine are symptoms of stupidity.

The concept of overpopulating the world to erect the greatest force to attempt to take it all is madness. 60 million people in the US aren't diagnosed and treated for mental illness without cause. The World's Kill Em All culture causes it. People are imprisoned to their bodies at birth, the mental self is there at conception. It as to be, in order to begin the educational cycle of Trust/Betrayal. It's not a matter of resolving what people recognize as problems; it's understanding that no matter what decision, one makes, it's always going to have an opposition and a reason for later revolt. Sometimes, with words and once, words run out or understanding is elusive, Death. Honestly, I've dialogued with plenty of old men; whom wanted World Peace. They paraded contestants for Mrs. America for years. One Natural Correction ( disaster ) and peace becomes pandemonium. See No Truth, Hear No Truth and people, like myself, just lobby for what people say they want; Lies.

[Dan_Tien]

I cannot fathom what makes someone murder children. It is times like this that I wish I could believe in Hell.

[Medicinebow]

As a parent it is difficult to see these things happen. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families. Its every parents nightmare. I've been in this type of situation with my own child.

I sincerely believe our President is sincere in his feelings concerning the situation. This is not the time nor the place for bashing.

[SmedleyButler]

What a freaking hypocrite. He sends over drones to kill , tear apart innocent women and children not a tear, he get acting coaching, sheds a tear and everyone believes him. Not me. The next thing that will happen, all the surrogate terrorists we're paying will use shoulder fired missiles from Libya and Syria to take down airliners in the U.S. What a sicko satanic government we have.

[Cheenoguy]

I believe the emotion was real. The culture of war this country has leads people to not think of citizens of the enemy country as lives lost. It's hypocritical, but sincere emotion.

[mtkopf]

Two tragedies today: those poor innocent babies murdered and a bunch of idiots who use the tragedy as another way to attack Obama.
I really hate people sometime!

[Keyjo]

Yeah. Some people will capitalize on anything, even a vile act.
Today is a day for the Nation to mourn.
This is supposed to be the season of "Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards ALL." I see little evidence of that spirit alive and well.

[SmedleyButler]

@Keyjo Never waste a crisis- Rhom Emanuel
Like the Dunblane shooting. Seemed cut and dry right?
"The latest allegations came to light following a campaign to lift the secrecy on the Dunblane massacre. Large sections of the police report were banned from the public domain under a 100-year secrecy order. Lord Cullen, an establishment insider, also omitted and censored references to the documents in his final report. Parents and teachers were advised to concentrate their efforts on a campaign to outlaw handguns instead of focusing on how the mentally unstable Freemason, already known by the police to be a paedophile, had obtained a firearms licence for six handguns. Hamilton allegedly enjoyed good relations with both local Labour luminary George Robertson and Michael Forsyth, the then Scottish Secretary of State and MP for Stirling. Forsyth congratulated and encouraged Hamilton for running a boy’s club. Hamilton was also found to have exchanged letters with the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth."
http://cuthulan.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/uk-g...

[Keyjo]

@SmedleyButler
Nothing shocking here. Powerful men have chased the tails of adolescent boys since the beginning of time. But it's an interesting read.

[vigilant]

mtkopf,
Your overt expression of hate for people concerns me greatly. Please seek professional counseling immediately - BEFORE you hurt some innocent soul.

[KRKelly]

What creates so much rage in an individual to go on a killing spree? Sometimes a believe we need to go back to the days of good old fashion paddling, rather than buying in to this modern day parenting that creates all this spoiled brats.

[Keyjo]

Pure evil perpetuated against children and all of humanity has been going on since the beginning of time. It's just more high profile now, due to modern media. "Good old fashion paddling (sic)," is sometimes a whitewashed version of "beating." Victims of child abuse (beating) are often the perpetrators of these heinous massacres.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/12/justice/florida...

[mtkopf]

I think the difference between now and 30-40 yrs ago is simple: back then if someone was full of rage or j UST plain crazy, they used their hands or at worst used a handgun. Nowadays someone can get a machine designed to decimate dozens of people in seconds. That's how they were designed, that's what they were made for.
Today, I'm NOT proud to be an American!

[Cheenoguy]

Its the extremes on either sides of the parenting scale that cause problems. A spoiled child will be a spoiled adult who views himself as more important then everyone else. An abused child is likely going to become an abuser. Firm, but loving parents usually raise the best people.
I went to a school where they didn't paddle. Suspensions and detentions were the discipline. I behaved because I didn't want to go home if I didn't. There I would face firm but loving parents. If my child is disobedient at school he will have to deal with me. If a teacher lays a hand on him they will as well.
Alas, good parenting doesn't guarantee your child will not suffer from mental illness.

[xsecfr]

Nature! Apparently, all it takes is for someone to plant a crop, then not have anything to harvest. That's what caused a man to Declare His Independence of Nature's God and invent a religion; his Last Will And Testament. And paddling only leads to a person finding more creative ways to not get caught, murder is one of those. Killing sprees aren't new, check a bible ( because I believe lies everyday), as far as I know, isra'elites will give you a detailed list of who you can go out and just kill. Americans use that list as a guide, don't they?

[RealityOne]

I wonder if the President ever cries for the dozens of innocent women and children summarily executed by his drones overseas. Seems to me those mass killings don't get much coverage on the 6 o'clock news.

[MarkJM]

Mr. President, you can be emotional about the loss of innocent children, many today are. But if you think for one second you are gonna infringe upon the Second Amendment, you have another thing coming. Not a threat, but myself, along with millions of other Americans who recognize the Right to Keep and Bear Arms will not go along with BS Gun Control legislation. If you want to take action about this, strengthen the penalties against criminal thugs who use firearms in the commission of felonies. Leave the law-abiding citizens alone.

[Russell797]

That shooter WAS a law-abiding citizen as far as we know. So were most all of the shooters in these recent events. Penalties? These perpetrators couldn't care less about any penalty. Have your guns and live with these kinds of things. It's your right.

[MarkJM]

@Russell797 The latest I heard was that the 20yr old was mentally disabled and wasn't supposed to be using any firearms and that the 24yr old brother helped him. But again, the reports and rumor mills are cranking out overtime here so I will continue to monitor until all the facts are present. Regardless, the Lanza brothers are both pieces of scum that should rot in Hell.

[mtkopf]

Penalties? Really? You think the threat of penalties was going to stop this guy today? I think he never planned leaving there alive like the majority of the other shooters in mass killing like this.
I'm not saying you can't have a handgun with a ten round clip or a couple of hunting rifles. What I am saying is any and all assault rifles are banned. Uzis, AKs, machine pistols with expanded clips all gone.
My criteria on s weapon being banned: if it has more than a 10 round clip then its illegal.

[Cheenoguy]

The second amendment guarantees the right to bear arms it does not guarantee the right to no restriction on the types or numbers of firearms.
No one is going to take that penis extension you love so much and are willing to violently react to keep.

[MarkJM]

@mtkopf and banning weapons doesn't get them off the street. That includes those Uzis, AKs, machine pistols with expanded clips. Criminals will get them regardless of the law. And yes, that puts law enforcement and law abiding citizens at a disadvantage. Bans don't work.

[Speedieg]

I am truly sadened by what has occurred and feel awful for the loss of life and the pain these families and loved ones must endure.

[Romney2012]

Death sucks

[Cheenoguy]

Yup.

[kindle]

First thought alligator tears. Second thought how many did Bush leak on 911? I think the POTUS was sincere. Today.

[CommonSense]

I admire his sentiments, but he really should've included some statement about the reality of things. Schools are safer for children to be at than other places. Statistics show this. Some parents don't feel that way. Obama should bring this fact to their attention as some "piece of mind". That he doesn't shows he has a political agenda that relies on people's fears.
Maybe gun prohibition really does work for some countries. But America's gun culture all but guarantees it won't work here.
We need to get rid of this politics of fear on both the left and the right. And if we overdo it and screw ourselves from not being afraid of something we should've been afraid of isn't that better than screwing ourselves over by being too afraid? And even if we make a mistake we're big, we're powerful, and most importantly the American ideal is resilient and still holds importance to people, so chances are we will be able to recover.

[Denizen_Kate]

" ... he has a political agenda that relies on people's fears." Because he didn't say, on this of all days, something like "hey, your children are still safer in our public schools than at other places." Seriously? If you were the parent of one of those five year old victims, how would that statement from the president make you feel? Think much?

[CommonSense]

@Denizen_Kate
It depends on how it is said. Of course saying it with "hey" makes it sound callously informal, so he shouldn't use that word.
You can say anything without being offensive, all you need to do is have it said in the right way. I'm not an expert on that, though I'm trying to learn but hey he's the president even if he couldn't think of it, certainly his speech writers could have.

[seedtick]

A tragedy like this is heartbreaking for any parent. We could only imagine it happening to us.

[vigilant]

Some of us don't have to imagine it - we live with the dull, aching, hollow void - every day. You never get over it - you just learn to deal with it.

[Buggsy888]

@vigilant I am sorry that you have to live with whatever happened in your life,,,it must be such a painful reminder of something horrific you went through. Hugs