Not Even In The Grave, And It Is Already All About Politics *Open Tread*

Well, President Obama wasted absolutely NO time in turning this tragedy, this attack by a deranged, racist (we know now from his own words), twisted young man against members of our city in a CHURCH, no less, about politics. Apparently, he just cannot help himself, though I sure wish he could. Taking the opportunity to focus on Obama’s political agenda and ideology on the backs of these victims is nothing short of abhorrent.

In case you missed it, here is Obama using these deaths to talk about gun control and fan the flames of race-baiting on the back of our city:

Yes, this is all because of guns in our society, Mr. President. That’s the problem not that we continue to struggle with major mental health issues in this country because it is not Politically Correct to commit people any longer. If we could, the children at Sandy Hook would still be alive, and so would Chris Kyle, among others.

And thank you so much for taking this opportunity when we are literally in the midst of our grief and mourning to make this all about your agenda. Thank you so much for turning this horrific occasion into your political platform before jetting off for yet more fundraisers and rounds of golf. We can tell that you “feel our pain” – NOT.

By the way, President Obama, you are so, so wrong with your claim that this kind of thing does not happen in other countries as this Federalist article highlights:

Parlez vous Hebdo? Because surely the president recalls that in January of this year two gunmen entered the office of a satirical magazine in France with an assortment of guns and murdered 11 people (and injured 11 more). After leaving, they killed a police officer. And in a marketplace catering to Jews another five were murdered and 11 wounded. France is, allegedly, an advanced country, is it not? Perhaps if Obama had attended the anti-terror rally in Paris like every other leader of advanced countries did, his recollection would be sharper.

It take only takes some quick research to discover that rampage killers, acts of terror (as the Charleston shooting most certainly is), school attacks, spree killers are not unique to the United States. […] (Click here to read the rest.)

But thanks for playing. Stop trying to tear down our country more than you already have, especially at such a sad time.

And the same goes for you, Secretary Clinton. You, too, jumped on the agenda-pushing after this horrific massacre:

Yeah, thanks for jumping on that liberal bandwagon of GUN CONTROL the day after this terrible attack, Hillary. Way to keep your eye on the ball there.

Oh, and of course, we have those on the Left determining right off the bat that this is because of hatred of President Obama, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. We have a SC Democratic Representative blaming FOX NEWS for the shooting (h/t Facebook friend). And so it goes. That is how the Left is choosing to address this very sad time for our city and state, byt laying blame based on ideology and ideology alone.

In contrast to President Obama and Secretary Clinton, let me show you what a REAL leader looks like, someone who is capable of putting politics aside in this moment of grief, shock, and disbelief. That would be our Governor, Nikki Haley:

Governor Haley does not constrain herself and her remarks to a Republican platform, but to a HUMAN response, to a response from a woman of faith. THAT is how a leader should respond in these upsetting times. She stands with us, she mourns with us, and she prays with us. In times of need, Gov. Haley is the one who evidences true compassion free of ideology. Sadly, that has become more the exception than the rule these days.

I want to touch on another aspect of this shooting. Yes, the shooter, Roof, has now acknowledged his intent was born strictly from a racist mentality and a desire to start a race war. But he chose a CHURCH in order to carry out his demented plan. That cannot be understated, I don’t think, and is something Gov. Haley touched upon, too. How do we feel safe even in our houses of worship after events like this?

What ministers and many churches have known for a while is that we DO have to prepare for breaches like this. People are people, and churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques, have not just healthy individuals, but unhealthy ones as well. That is the risk we take when we throw open the doors to those seeking a religious community.

But we have also seen a rise of violence in churches, certainly abroad, but here, too. Don’t take my word for it – take this Church Security authority’s word for it. From Townhall:

The gunman walked into the church sanctuary and opened fire.

He showed no mercy – firing more than 100 rounds and exploding a pipe bomb in the balcony. There was nowhere to hide from the carnage.

Seven people died that night. Seven others were wounded.

It was Sept. 15, 1999 – the day a madman slaughtered Christians inside Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

That was the year Carl Chinn began compiling statistic documenting violent attacks on churches and synagogues and other houses of worship.

Since 1999, he has recorded more than 1,000 such attacks – more than 150 so far this year.

Chinn tells me the attack on the pastor and parishioners at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church is the worst attack on an assembled congregation in American history.

[…]

“Violence directed against the church has been growing over the past decade,” said Tim Miller, the president of LionHeart International Services Group. “My fear is what we saw in Charleston is one incident of many more to come.” […](Click here to read the rest.)

Sadly, churches MUST consider security these days, and not just because radical Islamists are blowing up churches in places like Egypt. The statistics noted in the article are for the UNITED STATES. We cannot lose sight that both of these things can go hand in hand – a racist attack, and one purposefully inside a church.

One last thing: Charleston is known to be the friendliest city in the country. It is a warm, hospital place. We cannot, should not, and WILL not, be defined by the actions of this one madman. We are stronger, bigger, and better than that.

This is an Open Thread.

Tags: Charleston, Governor Nikki Haley, President Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton