Obama: 'This was a pretty shameful day in Washington'
(CNN) - President Barack Obama lashed out Wednesday at those in the U.S. Senate who voted against a compromise proposal to expand background checks on firearms sales, saying those who defeated the legislation "decided it wasn't worth it."
He blamed the defeat of the deal on "the gun lobby and its allies," saying those against the legislation "willfully lied" about its provisions.
"All in in all, this was a pretty shameful day in Washington," he said, as families who lost loved ones in the Newtown school shooting stood around him. Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in a mass shooting, also stood by his side.
He said "we can do more" to impose stricter gun laws and warned that "if this Congress refuses to listen to the American people ... the real impact is going to have to come from the voters."
He urged people to tell their senators they were disappointed by the vote.
"Those who care deeply about preventing more and more gun violence will have to be as passionate and as organized and as vocal as those who blocked these common sense proposals to keep our kids safe," he said.
"I see this as just Round One," he added.
Mark Barden, the father of a Newtown school massacre victim, said he and others will return home "disappointed but not defeated." He appeared before Obama spoke in the White House Rose Garden.
From CNN Politics
- America's terrible, growing coronavirus death toll makes Trump accept reality March 30, 2020 04:50 pm
- Trump's path to extending coronavirus guidelines was led by health experts and the scenes at one New York hospital March 30, 2020 11:36 am
- Exclusive: Justice reviews stock trades by lawmakers after coronavirus briefings March 30, 2020 02:22 pm
- President Trump's coronavirus briefings lack a crucial element: Empathy March 30, 2020 06:19 pm
- Trump contradicts Pompeo by downplaying foreign coronavirus disinformation campaigns March 30, 2020 03:02 pm
- The Point: The 37 most mind-boggling lines from Donald Trump's Sunday coronavirus briefing March 30, 2020 04:22 pm
Hey Harry Reid - you still believe Mitch McConnell and his "gentlemen's agreement"?
IDIOT. 51 is majority of 100.
The only thing "shameful" is a slim majority of Americans allowing YOU to still be President.
"All in in all, this was a pretty shameful day in Washington," he said,. Every day is shameful in Washington. Useless
New laws don't stop criminals.
He should be ashamed of the sequestration, not the damn background checks. Let the states handle the background checks , and let the feds worry about the budget
the only gun control authorized by our Constitution is that our is by [LAW] to ensure that we [ALL] have them...
"He urged people to tell their senators they were disappointed by the vote. "
I assure you I will.
I live in Washington State and both my Senators voted for this amendment. I sent them an email over the weekend urging them not to vote for it. I intend to remind then I will remember it during the next election cycle when they will not be getting my vote.
Obama is projecting again when he calls opponents of gun control liars. Typical Alinsky tactic from the left...
so. this is my third post for this thread, are they going to block me again in violation of the first Amendment??? I sure hope so, because I could use the money, and I have some very powerful Legal allies!!!
bo lies about everything, and he punishes Americans when he doesn't get hs way. I hope he has at the least, a migraine today.
I'm glad Marco Rubio had the sense to represent Florida in the right way and vote nay on this bill.
Bill Nelson can kiss his behind goodbye in the next election
Ah, boo-hoo. And now Gabby and hubby can come off the Palatine Hill and head back out to the range to relax and squeeze off some rounds from an AR-15 with a 30 round magazine. They just don't want you to do it. The pleb cannot be trusted.
What was shameful was Obama using families of the Newtown tragedy as props to further and anti-second amendment agenda. You can always find victims to support unconstitutional legislation. You can always find victims who don't give a damn if they inconvenience tens of millions of gun owners so that they might be able to feel they had done something to fix wha they perceive to be a problem. The real problem is trying to pass legislation that really had nothing to do with what happened at Newtown, which was a problem of a mentally ill person stealing guns illegally. The focus of this legislation should have been preventing mentally ill people from accessing guns and arming teachers and others in schools to stop these tragedies as they begin to happen. But know, liberals had to overreach as usual and start attacking law-abiding gun owners around the country.
No, you know what is shameful, you embarrassment ... Your Nonbel Prize and your attitudes toward your own peopl. You know ... Americans, not "your" people. YOU shame us.
the senate shows obama who the boss is..
everyday is "shameful" as long as OSatan is in the white house.
I am going to tell my senator that I am very happy about the outcome.
PLEASE CNN begin publishing those Senators who voted against these amendments immediately and do not stop until each of their present terms are up for re-election. If the American People ever needed you, we need you now. regardless of what their reasons were, please publish their reasons, and a single sheet list of their names and hopefully that list will then go viral and regardless of how their vote was threatened by the NRA as being 'scored', that when it comes time for their re-election, the official 'score' card is submitted by the American Public on them. PLEASE OH GOD IN HEAVEN FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE DIED AND ARE YET TO BE BOURNE..and thank you
Actually the proposal passed 56-44, but Harry Reid's refusal to change the filibuster rules makes it necessary to get 60 votes to do anything in the Senate. Absolutely the weakest Senate Leader in history, a disgrace to democracy, and an abetter of enemies of the People.
You're so brave Harry. Your legacy is secure. Sleep well.
Obama willfully lied. There has never been a shred of credible evidence that the Democrats proposals would actually have an effect on crime and homicide rates. Not one. I've been trying to find evidence to support some of their proposals, and it just isn't there. The only thing the Dems have is the emotional appeal. That's not enough. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. We can't go making laws based on strong emotions, or the country is lost. Do Democrats not see that?
The only authority granted our Government by the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION concerning weapons of any kind is the issuance of authority under the THIRD Amendment... IE,... To ensure thier availability to every CITIZEN who would take up and bear them the in defense of the NATION[.]
I am ashamed of Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana. He was elected to represent Indiana voters and his "yes" vote is opposite of how his constituents believe.
Since January 2009 most days in DC have been shameful because all that the rethugs want is to do everything possible against our President who was elected not once but twice by the people. These might have been the worst of those days because it was done in front of parents whose children were murdered thanks to the NRA.
A valid argument could be presented that it is the progressive mindset perpetuated by the media that personifies American politics today. Shamelessly and symbolically implementing emotional blackmail as well as using victims as political 'props' . . . all the while the real issues of mental health (not even addressed via the Affordable Health Care Act) are still being ignored. And, all the while America's dire fiscal and monetary issues are still actively ignored in an overly regulated economy incapable of fostering job growth.
Mr Obama we are not fooled. No one will forget the day Anderson Cooper's nose disappeared while he was supposedly doing a live interview from Sandy Hook getting him the nickname Queen of the Green Screen. You have completely underestimated the American spirit and should know the American people are no longer fooled by the rhetoric and we're prepared for anything that's thrown our way. The sheep have awoken Mr President. Keep that information in mind when you next try to take even more of our rights away.