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
- Trump tries to drag America backward on a very different July 4th July 4, 2020 01:23 pm
- White House hosts a party in the midst of a pandemic July 4, 2020 02:41 pm
- Monument protection is top priority for Trump administration this July 4th weekend July 3, 2020 11:37 pm
- Kimberly Guilfoyle -- Donald Trump Jr.'s girlfriend and top Trump campaign official -- tests positive for coronavirus July 4, 2020 10:47 am
- Analysis: There is no 'I' in 'We the People' July 4, 2020 02:25 pm
- Liz Cheney, a key voice in House Republican leadership, increasingly breaks with Trump July 4, 2020 12:43 am
Yes Mr. Prez the people have spoken and the word is no! As in no more gun laws! Enforce the ones you have first !!
Ahhhhhhh yes, thank you so much for confiming what most of us thought Mr. President. "They deserve a vote", but only if the vote goes your way. If not then blame the gun lobby and say they "willfully lied", as if the Senators are sooooooo stupid they can't read it for themselves. I bet you'll be throwing your rattle around the White House for quite awhile now.
This was a Constitutional victory for the people, against those who would trample on our constitutional rights, with no justification whatsoever.
There are LOTS of shameful days in washington - sometimes about 365 a year. Compared to the other shameful things Obama and the Congress do, this is almost laudatory.
You have to provide more paperwork to vote than to buy a gun! People who are fed up, get your paperwork in order, elections are coming soon....
Obama, everyday you are in office is a shameful day in Washington.
How come Harry Reid voted NO – can't believe it
Excuse me, I like the one politician not above lying and misleading calling out those who lie and mislead. Good to know only others play politics and lying and misleading is only not good if you lose. LOL
Hmm .. gun control advocates lied and thus the senate didn't vote Mr. Obama's way .. what a crock of BS. This makes sense only if you believe the Senate was victim of mind control .. Hmm .. he may be on to something ..
poor Obama... the cry baby didn't get his way for once..... now who's showing his true colors.....its still a democracy...
Shameful? – because you couldn't take an amendment away?? Isn't as easy as you thought it would be, is it? Remember – this isn't a dictatorship.
Restricting rights and freedoms of American Citizens won't solve the issues of violence in our country. Stopping violent people will. Can we get the conversation started about preventing the progression of violent behavior to the levels we see at Columbine, VA Tech, Newtown, etc? All the offenders in these cases had histories of violence, known to many in their respective families and communities yet their tendencies were allowed to escalate from scary to murderous. Our focus as a nation must turn to solving this, while remaining vigilant in protecting and preserving our rights and freedoms.
Bring on round two, Obama, we are waiting for you.
The shame oblabla is when elected officials sworn to uphold the consitution and the CITIZENS Bill of Rights for left wing liberal agendas and ideaology. The shame is using those unfortunate victims of heinous crime to attack law abiding Americans exercising their rights. You and your kind are phonies and quite simply career politicians. We do not want your hope and you've already taken the change from our pockets.
How do we know that what the President wanted to do would not become what has happened in Canada; a firearm confiscation debacle?
Finally something went right for once. I am tired of watching my beliefs and the beliefs America was founded on be tarnished and destroyed so naysayers can be happier. Tough cookies. Looks like you lost this time.
The fact is that the American public don't want this legislation and the Senate listened to the people not the President.
I think it is a real shame we can't vote the president out of office. Thank you senators for listening.
Trying to ram through sweeping laws when emotions are running high is never a good idea, no matter how important the legislation or the issue might be. Our lawmakers need to take a step back and let cooler heads prevail. By going for a first-round knockout, Diane Feinstein and President Obama have hurt their cause. This battle is going to take years, and as he says, this is merely round one. Time for them to settle in and prepare themselves for the long haul.
A victory for liberty.
Obama is so upset because He didn"t get his way.It is a disgrease to have those family stand behine him. thay are still trying to deal with there lost.
Pretty shameful the last 5 years BRO!!!!
Dear Mr. President "the gun lobby and its allies," is in reality the American people, a large number of whom recently joined the NRA to help them battle against your policies. So this was in fact a win for the people of America and the Constitution.
The shameful day in Washington happened on inauguration day.
This just shows how out of touch Obama is with the American people. It failed BECAUSE of the American people!!!
President Barack Obama lashed out Wednesday at those in the U.S. Senate who voted against........" What a selfish, insufferable, pompus crybaby of a president we have. When he doesnt get his way he lashes out against those who do not have the same opinions as his. Hey Mr. President, what you just experienced is an example of the balance of power. Contrary to your beliefs, you do not have all the power. Get over yourself !!!