FAITH’S NOT ENOUGH!
GoP offers pious talk, no action Dems: Stop this madness
PHONY REPUBLICAN hardliners and GOP presidential contenders offered empty prayers instead of meaningful dialogue or — God forbid — lifesaving action following another mass shooting in America.
The hard-hearted NRA faithful chose to preach about prayer rather than discuss stricter gun laws in the wake of the shooting in San Bernardino that left at least 14 dead.
“Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the first responders in San Bernardino who willingly go into harm’s way to save others,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) tweeted.
Conveniently, he was able to recycle that line from his remarkably similar response after the shooting at a Planned Parenthood office in Colorado Springs last week.
“Praying for the loved ones of those killed, those injured & first responders who bravely got the situation under control in Colorado Springs,” Cruz tweeted at the time.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), whose fellow GOP House members blocked a debate on Tuesday about closing a loophole allowing suspected terrorists to buy guns, took to the pablum pulpit as well.
“Please keep the victims of #SanBernardino, California in your prayers,” he tweeted.
Presidential hopeful Rand Paul (R-Ky.) offered a similar simpering sentiment.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families, and brave first responders during this unspeakable tragedy,” Paul wrote.
Lindsey Graham kept his response to the tragedy sparingly short.
“Thoughts & prayers are with #SanBernardino,” the South Carolina senator tweeted.
Democrats — even those not running for office — slammed the Republican presidential candidates for offering prayers instead of action.
“Your ‘thoughts’ should be about steps to take to stop this carnage,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn) posted on Twitter. “Your ‘prayers’ should be for forgiveness if you do
nothing — again.”
Some critics accused Murphy of religious insensitivity, but he didn’t waver in a statement later Wednesday.
“My heart aches for the people of San Bernardino,” he said. “I cannot express the profound sadness I feel each time a new community grieves and endures the same pain that brought Newtown to its knees three years ago this month.”
Murphy’s tweet was retweeted 7,600 times in less than six hours.
Other GOP presidential wannabes also followed the tired script.
“Praying for all those victimized by the shootings in San Bernardino, California today,” tweeted New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Jeb Bush’s message was nearly identical.
“Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting,” he tweeted.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino,” wrote Ben Carson.
Donald Trump, not surprisingly, offered a response with a bit more attitude — but it still said nothing about guns.
“California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!” he tweeted.
His camp later gave police props for killing two suspects, a man and a woman.
The Democratic hopefuls struck a strikingly different tone.
“I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now,” Hillary Clinton tweeted.
“Mass shootings are becoming an almost everyday occurrence in this country,” Bernie Sanders tweeted. “This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop.”
Martin O’Malley called out the National Rifle Association by name. “Horrifying news out of #SanBernardino. Enough is enough: it’s time to stand up to the @NRA and enact meaningful gun safety laws.”