Photo Shows Grim Obama Hearing of Sandy Hook Shooting
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(Image Credit: Pete Souza/White House)
A new collection of White House photos includes an image of the moment on Dec. 14 when President Obama heard about details of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
A grim-looking Obama leans on a couch as his Homeland Security adviser tells him of the shooting.
“The President reacts as John Brennan briefs him on the details of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.,” according to the caption provided by White House photographer Pete Souza. “The President later said during a TV interview that this was the worst day of his Presidency.”
Later that day Obama made televised remarks from the briefing room at the White House.
“The majority of those who died today were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old,” the president said of the 26 victims, pausing to collect himself. “They had their entire lives ahead of them, birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own.”
The shooting at Sandy Hook began an ongoing national discussion about gun violence that has led the president to go from largely ignoring the issue to now listing gun control near the top of his second-term agenda.
See more photos from the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting.
See more photos from the new White House collection of pictures from 2012.
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“The President later said during a TV interview that this was the worst day of his Presidency.”
“Suppose the Navy SEALs had gone in there and it hadn’t been bin Laden? Suppose they’d been captured or killed? The downside would have been horrible for him.” -Bill Clinton
No matter who just died, it’s always about Obama.
Posted by: Dalmation | January 4, 2013, 11:12 am 11:12 am
What’s the purpose of this story?
Of course it’s grim.
How does centering on NoBo’s reaction honor the victims of the Sandy Hook?
Posted by: Noz | January 4, 2013, 11:43 am 11:43 am
NOONE disputes the fact hat this is tragic, but why does he not speak out for the 260 children who DIED from gun shoots in the last 3 years in CHICAGO?
Posted by: Lizzie | January 4, 2013, 11:58 am 11:58 am
There have been multitudes of stories about the children and the killer and his mom, now there is one story about Obama reacting to the news, and the Obama-haters appear to criticize the story.
Posted by: RISKO | January 4, 2013, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
he didn’t skip a beat in calling for gun control either. Never pass up an opportunity to capitalize on a crisis.
Posted by: Bob Your Uncle | January 4, 2013, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
He was given the news and he felt saddened! Ah chucks, this is the kind of guy I want as my president – someone with a heart. I love this guy, he actually feels. And, he knows how to use any tragedy to his advantage, too. Nice guy……What’s the point of the story, ABC? No need to answer, we already know.
Posted by: Gonz | January 4, 2013, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
It was an horrific act. One has to ask where this sort of inhuman behavior was learned. The media is clearly complicit – movies, tv, and video games. This kid learned that behavior somewhere.
A very sad day for America and the world.
Posted by: welldirected | January 4, 2013, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Very dignified Mr. President. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: ProgressivesRinformed | January 4, 2013, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
Uh…you pathetic right wing morons…just keep up that ‘low life mentality’ and those comments, I guarantee that you will continue to lose…and lose…and lose.
Posted by: CND FOX | January 4, 2013, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
what an actor,kinda like when bush was told of the first plane hitting the twin towers.Totally staged,try again guys
Posted by: patriot | January 5, 2013, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
Just another staged white house photo-op. It saddens me to think people are dumb enough to fall for this crap.This is all about gun control, just like the failed “fast & furious”. stunt that back fired on them. Your not fooling us all BO…
Posted by: J. Emerson | January 6, 2013, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
progressive spin, you pathetic moron just keep up your name calling low life mentality, and your mindless comments, and I guarantee that you will lose. In fact you are so brain washed by your utopian BS and fake photo-op’s that if Obama win’s you lose and are to stupid to know what you are doing. I sure as hell hope I’m around when you get hauled off to some camp kicking and screaming, I’m on your side please don’t take away my rights…
Posted by: J. Emerson | January 6, 2013, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm