"As a Father, I’m Spending A Lot of Time Just Thinking About the Families”

[Clio the Leo]

President Obama: As President “But Also As a Father, I’m Spending A Lot of Time Just Thinking About the Families”
January 10, 2011 2:16 PM

“As president of the United States -- but also as a father -- I’m spending a lot of time just thinking about the families and reaching out to them,” President Obama told reporters in the Oval Office, where he was meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The president’s youngest daughter, Sasha, is 9 years old, the same age as Christina-Taylor Green, killed in the attack.

“Obviously all of us are still grieving and shocked from the tragedy that took place” in Tucson Saturday, he said. “Gabby Giffords and others are still fighting to recover. Families are still absorbing the enormity of their losses.”

The president said that “we have a criminal investigation that is ongoing. Charges no doubt will be brought against the perpetrator of this heinous crime.”

Mr. Obama said that he believes it “important to also focus on the extraordinary courage shown” during the shooting.

“A 20 year old college student who ran into line of fire to rescue his boss,” he said. “A wounded woman that helped secure the ammunition that might have caused more damage. The citizens who wrestled down the gunman. Part of that, I think, speaks to the best of America even in the face of such mindless violence.”

The president was referring to University of Arizona student and brand new Giffords intern Daniel Hernandez, 20, who helped his boss immediately after she was shot; Tucson resident Patricia Maisch, 61, who grabbed the shooter’s magazine; and 74-year-old retired army colonel Bill D. Badger, Roger Salzgeber, and Jospeh Zamudio who according to the sheriff’s department, helped tackle and restrain the shooter.

The president said that “in the coming days we’re going to have a lot of time to reflect,” but now’s the time to “offer thoughts and prayers” and to “make sure we’re coming together and pulling together as a country.”

She's almost three months to the day older than Christina was.

[Phx_Dem]

1. It's still hard not to cry.

That's such a beautiful picture of the President and Sasha.

[Number23]

2. This site has been blanketed over who does "it" worse, more etc. since the shooting

But all I can think about is that poor child who died because she was interested in her government and her country. I feel so sick for her family and the families of the other people who's lives will never be the same.