First lady to visit families of Sikh temple shooting victims
Washington (CNN) – First lady Michelle Obama will travel to Wisconsin Thursday to meet with family members of those killed and injured in a Sikh temple shooting earlier this month, White House officials confirmed Sunday.
The shooting - which left six people dead and four others injured - occurred August 5 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The shooter, identified by police as 40-year-old Army veteran Wade Michael Page, was shot by police responding to the Sunday morning attack and later died.
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At a memorial service for the shooting victims, Attorney General Eric Holder labeled the attack on the temple "an act of terrorism, an act of hatred, a hate crime" - the strongest denunciation of the rampage by a federal law enforcement official.
Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Sikhs in America have been targeted by revenge-seekers who apparently have mistaken them for Muslims, perhaps due to the turbans they traditionally wear and their dark skin.
In a statement released the morning of the shooting, President Barack Obama wrote that "the people of Oak Creek must know that the American people have them in our thoughts and prayers, and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded."
"My Administration will provide whatever support is necessary to the officials who are responding to this tragic shooting and moving forward with an investigation," Obama continued. "As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family."
After a shooting at a Colorado movie theater in July that left 12 people dead, the president visited with families of the victims and made a short statement to cameras.
He has thus far avoided calls from gun control advocates to offer new proposals on restricting access to firearms.
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Why? Did Obama run out of money for campaign ads and needs to get free media attention using victims of a tragedy?
What Michelle Obama says or does is of ZERO importance to me - EVER!
Michelle Obama is a huge racist and her college wriings prove it. I hope she has started packing for her and her family's exit from the white house later this year. Bye-bye Michelle, go tell somebody else what to eat.
@NOT a Government Dependent -Why? Did Obama run out of money for campaign ads and needs to get free media attention using victims of a tragedy?
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Aww... poor baby. Where was your spoutrage when Willard visited the Aurora shooting victims ??
It's Ok as long as its not the other side doing it. Right?
thanks for playing..
Please stop the hate and to "nomobama" if Michelle Obama is such a racist, i am sure you can point me to these so-called college writings you speak of!
No sympathy for the Sikhs, but plenty of disrespect from the other side for the First Lady of America.
1-2 days after the well written article on CNN. Not bad. Better late than never.
Michelle Obama is the genuine article. There are no "you people" in her world.
The best first lady that I have seen. We love you Michelle. Go get these racist republicans.
I can't believe them calling you racist. All racist would vote republican.
Michelle, and Barack Obama are both shameful opportunists, who have exploited everybody, and everything they could, throughout their overly ambitious, and unethical history, of grabbing power at all costs, at every opportunity.
This is why we need people in the white house that cares!
We need people in congress that cares!
Obama could do his job a whole lot better if it wasn't for the party of "NO" from day one.
But the hatred for Obama out weight the need of the american people! SAD, SAD, SAD!
The First Lady is going to visit the Sikhs because she's human. She cares about the tragedy that others suffer. It is also the responsiblity of the First Lady to do things like this. She's trying to show sympathy to people who lost family members to a hateful racist. Just like you, who are spouting all this hatred for her and her husband should. And for those of you who say she wrote racist things in college, please stop listening to that gas bag Limbaugh. I would be willing to bet you haven't actually read what she wrote. You've just been told it was racist. Did you read it yourself? [sound of crickets]. I didn't think so. Are you so shallow, so hateful, so ignorant, that you turn a sympathy visit into some snide, nasty remark aobut her. You should be ashamed of yourself. I'm sure you're popular there in the hillbilly trailerpark where you live, but get out and see the world. Try to say something nice once in a while. America doesn't need hateful nasty people like you.
wow hard to believe the haterz here. Trashing the first lady because she wants to offer her condolences. Is everything political to you? You should be ashamed.
You people who hate the president and his wife are pathetic, only in America.
Hmmm...she didn't go see the white folks from the Colorado theater shooting...but visits the Sikhs. SO TYPICAL.
I can't wait until Michelle Antoinette has to pay for her own vacations again. The Obamas are such blatant pretenders. Users. Just worthless human beings.
When Clinton left the White House, he took all the "W" keys from the computer keyboards...when the Obamas leave, someone better make sure the silverware is still there!
Consevativez on attack mode in a heartbeat. Blastin the first lady simply for comforting the victimz of the shooting. Newz flash: romney helped out tryin to comfort the victimz in colorado not too long ago n itz typical of conservativez like ya'll to think that itz ok for romney or other of ur candidatez to show love n concern for the victimz but when ppl on ur rival team doez the same ya'll cry out n say "they r jus there for political gain." CONSERVATIVEZ GIVE ME A BREAK!
She is going because it is the PC thing to do. I refer you to CNN article by Valarie Kaur dated Aug 17, 2012 "Prsident Obama, come to Oak Creek"
When Obama visits people who are victims of a tragedy, the neocons criticize him for using it as a political photo op. If he doesn't visit, the neocons criticize him for not carrying about people unless they can be used for PR. It doesn't matter where he goes or what he does, they hate him for breathing.
Sending Michelle Obama seems like a good thing to me. But some neo-conehead will post a comment about her wearing the wrong thing.
the hate generated by the repos that post here are the very reason they will loose this election. Bad manners and disrespect for the first lady is disgraceful and most people who see this want no part of it. This is not about policy but just nasty . Forward 2012