Why Obama teared up during the press conference.

[DanTex]

I don't think it was just the horrific reality of young schoolchildren being murdered. I think it was also the absurdity of our political system, in which the gun crazies have so much power that no steps can be taken to reduce the epidemic levels of gun violence. That he is the most powerful man in the world, but he has done nothing on gun control, no doubt his advisors told him not to touch it so as not to offend the gun nuts.

Who knows, maybe it was a smart political calculation. But tragedies like this serve as a reminder that it's not just all about the politics. There is a human toll. And when it comes to guns, the human toll is severe. 30 gun homicides each and every day -- that's one Sandy Hook massacre per day.

I'm hoping that he, and the other Dems, finally come up with the political will to put up a fight against the NRA.


Edit: to clarify, I'm not saying that tearing up was a political calculation. I'm saying that doing nothing about gun control during his first term was a political calculation, and that part of why he teared up was some feelings of regret.

[NYC_SKP]

1. "political calculation"??? No. He was probably thinking of Sasha and Malia...

And how devastated he would be, then felt endless empathy for the victims' families.

[DanTex]

3. Of course. But I think he also felt sick that this keeps happening over and over again.

And that he, along with the rest of the government, has done nothing about it, bowing to the pressure of the gun lobby.

[Permanut]

2. We don't know that he has done nothing..

There is very little that has been made public, but I'm willing to assume, based on the character of the Prez I voted for, that he has pushed hard in the background to move the dialogue in a better direction. I hear your point, though, not enough has been done.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. He teared up because he's human

it had fuck all to do with politics.

2cents