File photo of Private William Long, US Army, who was killed
Monday by shots fired at a recruiting center in Little Rock, AR.
The White House released the following statement Wednesday in response to the shooting at Little Rock, Arkansas of a military recruiting center that resulted in the death of Private William Long.
I am deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence against two brave young soldiers who were doing their part to strengthen our armed forces and keep our country safe. I would like to wish Quinton Ezeagwula a speedy recovery, and to offer my condolences and prayers to William Long’s family as they mourn the loss of their son.
The statement appeared on the website of Little Rock television station KATV (hat tip Tammy Bruce) and appears to have released only to Arkansas media. It was made on the third day following the tragedy, causing many to question President Obama’s concern for the safety of members of our military. In contrast, Obama’s statement on the gunning down in Wichita, Kansas of Dr. Tiller by an anti-abortion extremist was issued early afternoon of the day it occurred.
The apparent difference with which the President views the Little Rock and Wichita shootings was the subject of my Examiner.com piece this Tuesday. The lopsided reaction of the Obama White House has not been put in balance by yesterday’s statement to the families of the victims in Little Rock. Though his thoughts are of undeniable comfort to the grieving loved ones, it is worthy to note that his statement on the Wichita killing did not address Dr. Tiller’s families. Instead, he chose to speak to radical anti-abortion activists, admonishing them to reject violence as a means to achieving political ends.
In case your memory is as fallible as my own, the President’s statement following Dr. Tiller’s murder was as follows:
I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.
Why then, was the targeting of American military personnel by an alleged shooter who may be tied to radical Islam not responded to in a similar fashion? It couldn’t have been a reluctance to poke a stick in the eye of the Muslim world leading up to his much-anticipated speech in Cairo, because he did that himself by calling on Muslim to purge itself of radicals seeking violence as a means to an end.
In the Tiller statement, the entire thrust was to send a message to those who might be sympathetic or grateful to his killer that such action was not tolerable in civil society (although his words were actually more watered down than what I just wrote) and the effect on Tiller’s family was of no importance. The exact reverse was true of the Little Rock statement, leaving the public to wonder whether this was the cause of White House confusion and lack of organization (no clear policy on who approves communications) or if it speaks to a general disconnect from the realities of the war with Islamic terror.
Words have meaning, and oftentimes intent is embedded in them without the conscious will to do so. Each American will have to ponder what is meant by these two statements.
Comments
I think you are neglecting to consider that Tiller's murder was arguably more controversial because of the subject matter surrounding the shooting. People on both sides are obviously very passionate, but violence has been a concern for the left and for the pro-choice movement for quite a while (and with good reason). The murder needed to be immediately condemned in order to not add more fuel to the fire, so to speak.
What happened in Little Rock was a tragedy, but where is the controversy? For comparison's sake...enter "tiller" into twitter and you will read thousands of posts like "Thank God Tiller is dead" and reiteration of the catchy "Tiller the Baby Killer." Conversely, enter the name "William Long" into the search field. Do you see discourse celebrating his death? I think not. Both situations are horrible and deserve attention. All I can hope is that both tragedies serve as a vehicle for intelligent discourse rather than fuel for more violence.
Kristin: You are an idiot. There's nothing more to say. I can't even call your reasoning specious. You are just an idiot.
When was the last time a military recruiter was gunned down on US soil? One that a sitting CINC did not acknowledge for 3 days?
The act of violence towards innocent soldiers is a tragedy. Maybe all of the service men when in public should care a weapon to protect them from radical islamic like the one who shot those boys. They never saw combat and he shot them for their actions against muslums. Tell me Kristin were is the difference you are seeing because they are both fueled by religious believes and opinions. Sorry but as a wife of a soldier I really don't want him to get shot because he is standing outside in uniform.
Nothing like taking two horrific tragedies and spinning them into an us vs. them confrontational drivel. The article is one of the most ridiculous examples of bias based journalism I have seen recently.
It is incredibly irresponsible because it takes the deaths of two people and totally abuses the heartbreak incurred by two sets of families to blatantly promote the author's personal agenda.
Shame on the Examiner and the publishers of this website for not reviewing the content of their writers before publishing such a piece of insensitive, self serving idiocy.
Dan
What happened in Little Rock was more than "a tragedy", it was an act of terrorism on American soil. The administration waited 3 days to put this little message out as if it was an afterthought.
You wonder where the controversy is? How about the training of this Islamofascist murderer in our prison? What about his trip to Yemen and his Somali passport? The administration has done everything in its power to change the vocabulary on the war on terror. The very idea that the FBI was only "watching" this scumbag and did not haul him in might be directly connected to the actions of this administration and its stupidity on addressing terrorism. One could argue that the failure to address this immediately is an insult to our fighting men and women. Obama has already freed men connected with the Cole bombing and the US Embassy bombing to the hurt and anger of the victims families. No press. No public comment. Obama funds abortions, hires its advocates, but makes nice with terror.
Kristin you are a moron.
An islamic fascist killed an American soldier on American soil and that is controversial. Facts which the president failed to mention.
Good lord , the left is void of any grey matter whatsoever.
*sigh* lots of sensitive snowflakes lashing out at Kristin today.
No one's downplaying the tragedy of the US soldier, peanut-brains. Whine all you want, but there's no controversy in tragedy if the enemy is too pathetic and minute in size to be able to address anyway.
Meanwhile the abortion doctor shooter's compatriots actually DO live among us. There IS a demographic. Therefore, because they DO exist, Obama should address them, with anger. That's all.
Anyone who thinks Obama doesn't actually hate muslim extremists too is a brain-dead moron.
Calling me an idiot and a moron may make some of you feel better, but it doesn't seem as if you even read what I wrote. Both killings were senseless and horrible tragedies. I did not say anything to dispute that fact.
My point was that, among Americans, the Tiller killing has been more polarizing. I do not hear of people calling the man responsible for killing those soldiers a "hero." I do not see postings celebrating the death of soldiers in the name of pro-peace or anti-war rhetoric. The same cannot be said for the controvery surrounding Tiller's murder. This is the point I was making. You don't have to agree with me, but calling me an "idiot" or a "Moron" says more about your character than it does mine.
Opposing viewpoints can be good, and if you take the time to listen, you may just find that you learn something new.
My heart breaks for the families of all involved.
Another "say what" moment from our boxed in resident conservative. You are right, the President played politics with the death of a U.S. Service Man. What next "Adolf?"
@ Anna:
The word "idiot" may be too refined for Bryan Limbaugh Myrick, you know. People really should stop in-breeding, it inhibits brain development.
Bryan:
Would it be fair to say that the life of Quinton Ezeagwula (who is of Nigerian ancestry) also matters as he was also shot and is currently in the hospital. I pray the the Good Lord will grant the family of Private William Long the strength to bear the irreparable loss of their son, but I find it rather interesting that aside from the excerpt of the President's speech, you made absolutely no mention of the other young man (much less put his picture up) and this speaks to your hypocrisy and the underlying incendiary motive for this garbage of an article.
You sir, are a bigot and you know it.
Hi Bryan... don't forget about the statements from Obama's Department of Justice-- they're posted at Miami City Buzz Examiner.
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