President Obama: If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon
The President of the United States weighs in on the tragedy of the Trayvon Martin killing. Can you imagine a republican showing such compassion? They would worry that the controversy might affect their Disney stock.
President Barack Obama urged law enforcement officials involved with the case of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s killing at all levels – up through the federal government – to conduct a thorough investigation on Friday.
“If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” Obama said in answer to a question on the issue following his remarks in the White House Rose Garden Friday morning. “And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this.”
“I think all of us have to do some soul searching to figure out how something like this happened,” Obama added.
Obama prefaced his comments on the Martin case by saying, “I’m head of the executive branch and the Attorney General reports to me, and I’ve got to be careful about my statements to make sure we not impair any investigation that’s taking place right now.”
Obama and the White House have previously refrained from commenting on the case thus far. Following demands by the New Black Panthers and others on scene in Sanford, Fla. that the White House get involved, Obama jumped into the fight. When first asked about the case, White House press secretary Jay Carney essentially declined comment, offering a boilerplate statement of condolence to Martin’s family.
On Thursday, the New Black Panthers and other left-wing political figures including the Rev. Al Shartpon rallied in Sanford, Fla., demanding justice for Martin – and that police arrest the man who shot him, George Zimmerman. The Panthers, Sharpton and other left-wing political figures on scene invoked the racial components of the fight, with some alleging this was a “hate crime” and others claiming this was “racism perpetrated by violence.” They riled up the thousands in attendance, but urged them to avoid resorting to violence of their own.
In recent days, Martin’s death has also attracted the attention of Republican leader including Florida Rep. Allen West and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. “It is an incredible tragedy of huge proportions, and I’m glad it is being investigated and we’ll take a look at it as the investigation moves along,” McConnell said Friday.
Earlier this week, the federal government entered the fray as the Justice Department announced it was investigating to find out if a potential civil rights crime had been committed. That announcement came nearly a month after Martin was murdered. Mikhail Muhammad, the southern regional minister for the New Black Panther Party, told The Daily Caller on Thursday that he thinks that the DOJ’s decision to get involved came “a little too late.”
Another Panther, James Evans Muhammad, the national education director of the Black Power Movement, told TheDC on Thursday that he wanted Obama to speak up and — as one of his supporters — was upset the president had to that point refused to do so.
“I’m waiting, and I must say this, having been a manager of Barack Obama’s team, when is the president going to speak on this?” he asked. “The president of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, has failed to speak on the issue of the racial divide. He’s dealing with economics, he’s dealing with war, he’s dealing with foreign affairs, but Mr. President, I will say to you, as one of your supporters, you have not addressed the issue in America of racial divide.”
Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who represents a Martin’s southern Florida district, disagreed with the Panthers. The Obama administration’s investigation — via the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division — is a sign that the president is involved in the case, said Wilson.
“I think that the president is involved,” Wilson told TheDC. “I think by him sending his highest-ranking officials from the Justice Department to meet with us, to meet with the parents, to involve themselves in the investigation – they speak for the president. He appointed them.”
The Panthers told TheDC that it appears as though Obama and Holder are only getting involved now because they need the political support of the black community heading into the heat of election season.
During his rally in Sanford, Sharpton claimed he doesn’t believe in “drive-by activism” and plans to see this case through to the end.
Thanks to The Daily Caller for this article and video.
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