Clinton: We Must Face 'Hard Truths' About Race, Guns After Charleston Shooting

[Nye Bevan]

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Thursday that the country must face "hard truths" about race and gun violence in the wake of a mass shooting at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina that left nine people dead.

.....

"The shock and pain of this crime of hate strikes deep," she said, as quoted by National Journal. "Nine people, women and men. Cut down at prayer, murdered in a house of God. It just broke my heart."

Like President Barack Obama did earlier in the day, Clinton also urged Americans to address gun violence after failing to act in the wake of past mass shootings like the 2012 Aurora, Colorado movie theater massacre. She said that the country must "face hard truths about race, violence, guns and division" in order to make sense of the latest tragedy, according to National Journal.

"How many innocent people in our country—little children to church members to movie theater attendees—how many people do we need to see cut down before we act?" she said, as quoted by National Journal. "So as we mourn and as our hearts break a little more, and as we send this message of solidarity that we will not forsake those who have been victimized by gun violence, this time we have to find answers together."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/hillary-clinton-charleston-shooting

I'm very glad that she brought up the guns issue. It's a principled stand that may well cost her votes in early primary states like NH with lots of hunters, but I disagree with those who maintain that we should ignore gun control as a "losing issue".

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Gun Control isn't the issue, Media generated Hatred is the problem .

[Nye Bevan]

2. When any Adam Lanza or Dylann Roof has easy access to a gun,

I have to disagree that gun control should not be part of the conversation. And I think it is good that both President Obama and Hillary Clinton concur.

[sylvanus]

11. sorry smedly butler,

you can't get rid of crazy.
you can get rid of guns.
guns are the problem.
and if you can't get over your guns,
than your the problem.
And i think your avatar would agree,
since he was the first to talk about the military industrial complex
in so many words. Gun nuts are war mongers.

[orpupilofnature57]

12. He was vilified for exposing the ' Good old boy network ' And you CAN

get rid of televised racism, and giving air time to Hate toward Any group .

[scarletwoman]

3. It's a very good statement. I'm glad she called it a "hate crime", and that she brought up guns. nt

[HereSince1628]

5. No. It isn't. It's a recognition statement. It says NOTHING about what actions should be taken.

She calls for ????? something. What????

Her statement says the absolutely obvious and offers NOTHING.

[scarletwoman]

7. Look, I'm not a Hillary supporter, but I figured I'd give her credit for bringing up

a couple of good points. I don't expect full-blown policy prescriptions in anyone's initial statement after a horrific event.

[HereSince1628]

8. It's ok to admit it's BS play into todays news, all candidates must do this.

It's an assault on critical thinking. But it turns out critical thinking isn't what's as important as emotional connection with potential voters.

[scarletwoman]

9. Okay. Whatever.

I'm sorry I dared to post something nice.

[Evergreen Emerald]

4. We have proven ourselves as a society incapable of managing them

Media is not the problem, it is the result of the problem.

The issue is gun control.

It is time to get rid of the guns...we have too many that are too easily accessible and we as a nation have proven that we are incapable of responsibly managing them. We tried to allow everyone to have them without the confines and parameters that reasonable gun control laws would provide. It did not work.

We have got to stop the gun-lovers from running our nation and making decisions that are so obviously not working for our society.

[orpupilofnature57]

13. I hate guns, MSM hates us more .

[Evergreen Emerald]

6. Wow. She was excellent--so impressive

What a moving statement. And a signal...that she will act with us to do SOMETHING about stopping these terrorist acts that are occurring too often.

[Bonobo]

10. I agree.

Whoever wrote that statement deserves a raise.

[Sheepshank]

15. So you don't think Hillary agreed with the content of the statement?

You think Bernie writes all of his own public statements?

What an odd thing to snark about.

[Bonobo]

16. I'm sure she agrees. I'm almost equally sure it was written for her.

As for Bernie, I am confident he writes his own statements.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026832969

[Evergreen Emerald]

19. Dang....make shi** up out of whole cloth

just to find a weapon to use for another baseless and odd attack.

[RiverLover]

20. Did I miss where she said what she wants to do about it? More than face it that we have a problem?

As a leader, what are her ideas to change things?

[Evergreen Emerald]

21. Ummm...what did Bernie and O'Malley say they wanted to do about it?

Why do you hold Clinton to a higher standard? You appear to be twisting yourself into a pretzel to find something wrong with what Ms. Clinton says.

[RiverLover]

22. O'Malley said its a tough problem with no obvious solution. He was honest & this OP is bragging on

Hillary as if she had done something profound. Did she? Or was it just a slicker version of what O'M said?

[Evergreen Emerald]

23. So...you have a thread attacking O'Malley?

Or are you saving your wrath for Clinton?

[Sheepshank]

14. She spoke up and she spoke out

That so many here want to find fault in that, is so transparent into the petty nasty side of politics. How many times will she bashed for making a stance on social issues, that she has stood up to for 40 years. This is not new...it along an existing continuum. Good too her for vilifying that which needed to be vilified, and for speaking plainly about race that too many other politicians want to "whitewash"

[orpupilofnature57]

18. Talking and doing aren't even remotely related, and only Republicans " White wash " Racisms, AND

Bernie Sanders has taken an unchecked stance for 40Yrs and can answer question unequivocally, she can't ,This is a no brainier, to speak out, now while running for president, it's not altruism .

[seveneyes]

17. With a pick and spade, I'm digging my grave