Obama, Romney express condolences on Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting

CBS

(CBS News) In the wake of the news that at least 7 people were shot at a Sikh temple outside of Milwaukee, both President Obama and Mitt Romney expressed their condolences Sunday.

"Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the shooting that tragically took so many lives in Wisconsin. At this difficult time, the people of Oak Creek must know that the American people have them in our thoughts and prayers, and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded," the president said in a written statement.

"My Administration will provide whatever support is necessary to the officials who are responding to this tragic shooting and moving forward with an investigation. As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family."

A White House official said Mr. Obama was notified of the Wisconsin shooting shortly before 1 p.m. by his Homeland Security Advisor, John Brennan.

Meantime, the Romney campaign released a written statement from Mitt Romney.

"Ann and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims of today's shooting in Wisconsin. This was a senseless act of violence and a tragedy that should never befall any house of worship. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Oak Creek Sikh community. We join Americans everywhere in mourning those who lost their lives and in prayer for healing in the difficult days ahead."

Related: 7 dead in shooting at Wisconsin Sikh temple

[truthfairy1]

Mitt Romney hasn't admitted yet that he is a major shareholder in RW hate radio - hate-spreading shows like Rush Limbaugh, a fav of White Supremacists!

Bain Capital owns Clear Channel, which owns the biggest radio network in US, including Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Savage, and Mitt is an investor.

Perhaps Mitt should tell his hate radio buddies to ease off the race-baiting attacks on the President, Muslims, et al.

Remember - Mitt just supported crazy Rep Michele Bachman's McCarthy-esque attack on Hillary Clinton's top aide, a Muslim who happens to be married to a Jew. All this GOP & radical RW demonization of non-white Americans is at the root of a very disturbing trend of escalating racial hatred & bigotry in our 'melting pot' nation.

[BOB-C]

And the band played on.... It's the American Way of Life.

The president said: "At this difficult time, the people of Oak Creek must know that the American people have them in our thoughts and prayers...."

Mr. Romney said. "We join Americans everywhere in mourning those who lost their lives and in prayer for healing in the difficult days ahead."

The best I can come up with on these "presidential" pronouncements is Richard Tillman's (brother of Pat Tillman, the football star killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan) statement on his brother's death, "He's not with God, he's [expletive] dead. Thanks for your thoughts, but he's [expletive] dead."

Mr. Romney called the shootings "a senseless act of violence and a tragedy" that he said should never befall any house of worship."

How about "befall" any college campuses and movie theaters?

Mr. President, Mr. Romney, with all due respect: "AN ATHEIST BELIEVES THAT A DEED MUST BE DONE INSTEAD OF A PRAYER SAID. An atheist strives for INVOLVEMENT in life and not escape into death." as Madalyn Murray O'Hair plainly put it.

[seabass6251]

And your point is...

[BOB-C]

Can you read?

[SimonBau]

This is so sad. Not just the fact that 7 innocent people were killed, but even more so that the American people and the leaders alike cannot seem to realize the problem. Every time there is one of these shooting, all people can say is that "this isn't the time to discuss gun control". Is this really the wild west society we want?
http://simonbau.blog.com/?p=44

[seabass6251]

Criminals commit crimes. What particularly do you believe gun control will do to stop criminals from committing crimes? Are you even an American?

[TimeToEvolve]

It seems like every week now there is one of these. And both corporate owned and run candidates are sorry. I am sorry that we have a corporations run, mentally deranged, failing country for, by an of the rich. The rest of us are just cannon fodder. Or workers to be exploited.

[whozzzzure]

I am sick and tired of hearing the stuff about "prayers to the victims and families, blah blah blah." How much longer does a supposedly civilized country need to endure this kind of violence. Shut up and do something!

[seabass6251]

And you suggest what?

[cattiej]

What the heck are the press giving credit for anything or writing anything in the press that the corrupt, greedy Romoney says...talk about taking advantage of a terrible situation for these people involved. I hope they denounce Romoney in public...It is normal for the President of our United States to make comments concerning American citizens when something terrible happens to them but a jerk who is running for President like Romoney is just stupid...and it's stupid for them to have to read this on CBS.... I think many of the people and owners of these communications stations, TV, Radio and newspapers just want to see strife between Americans..they think it makes good press but it just turns Americans against Americans. Some of the hate of people in the what they like to call the Consertative Right are all WRONG...The NRA are all wrong and they like to inflame the public and they make money off all this press..I am sure that donations have probably stepped up just because of these shootings..The NRA is a terriorits organization here in America..the sooner people realize it the sooner it will be closed down as a terriorits organization. I know people who can't pass a drivers test but they own guns...people who don't even know what day or year it is, own guns...something is very very wrong with our country and it is being lead by the lobbyist from the NRA. You can thank you local politican who takes money from the NRA and if you or your loved ones are shot dead,you can thank you local politicans and the NRA.

[Kestrel88]

The NRA needs to start being billed for the messes they make.

[seabass6251]

What did the NRA have to do with this criminal's actions?

[Kestrel88]

Shorter Willard Romney: "I'll tell you what I think as soon as Grover Norquist and Karl Rove tell me what to say!!"

[Eriverq]

Nothing Romney does or says comes across as sincere and I have a hard time Believing anything this guy has to say and all I can think about is this guy will do and say anything to win and none of it is real.

[GlobalWarOnPoverty]

What I think is Romney will do and say anything to try to win the election, and if he wins he will destroy the middle class and below. If you aren't apart of the 2% that has wealth, if Romney gets in the presidential seat, you can kiss a decent way of living good buy. To me Romney has "I don't give a **** about the middle class" and below written all over his face.

[seabass6251]

Your opinion is very much refuted by the fact that Democrats have swelled the deficit and will continue to to the point that your meager middle-class income will have no purchasing power at all.

[knewsreply]

My prayers are with the families of those who have died and those who are injured. It's not a time for promoting agendas It's a time to promote religious freedom for all Americans.