In the wake of Wednesday’s San Bernardino shootings that left at least 14 people dead, the day ended with the shooting of two suspects by police. We still don’t know the motives of those who wrought carnage upon people at the Inland Regional Center, which primarily serves children with developmental disabilities. After a briefing, President Obama wearily addressed the nation with a renewed call for reformed gun-control laws (after the latest in a seemingly endless river of mass shootings).
On Twitter, a number of presidential candidates (along with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan) expressed “thoughts and prayers” sentiments for the victims and families of the tragedy.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families, and brave first responders during this unspeakable tragedy.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 2, 2015
Thoughts & prayers are with #SanBernardino
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 2, 2015
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
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 2, 2015
We all are thinking about what happened in California today. Please keep the victims & their families in your prayers.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) December 2, 2015
The New York Daily News took these four politicians to task for what some people see as hollow words without action. We’ll get to that part in a moment, but first, Thursday morning’s NYDN cover says a lot with a “God Isn’t Fixing This” headline, which is flanked by the tweets of Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Lindsey Graham and Paul Ryan.
An early look at tomorrow’s front page…
GOD ISN’T FIXING THIS: https://t.co/KEXewd1mJi pic.twitter.com/xDsGzTP9hf— Tom Durante (@TomDurante) December 3, 2015
The paper isn’t messing around at all, and there’s one very vocal Twitter user, Igor Volsky of Think Progress, who is retweeting countless politicians who offer thoughts and prayers. He’s also adding financial data that reveals how much each of them received from the NRA in campaign contributions.
NRA spent 1.9 MILLION in independent expenditures in 2014 to win the Colorado seat for @SenCoryGardner
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
Got $1,651 from NRA during the 2012 election cycle. Unlikely to address gun problem beyond "heartbreaking" tweet https://t.co/uhfsiBmegm
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
Got $1,000 from NRA during the 2014 election cycle to address gun violence using his "thoughts and prayers" https://t.co/N8kFbaajCN
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
Good think you're praying because you're against even RESEARCHING gun violence https://t.co/OYyVpnQijM https://t.co/geXCXRDHDS
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
Got $1,000 from NRA during the 2014 election cycle to address gun violence epidemic using "thoughts and prayers" https://t.co/O35CIihf9b
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
NRA spent $30,650,008 in independent expenditures during the 2014 election cycle.
You read that right. $30,650,008.
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
In 2012, NRA spent *$19.7 MILLION* on independent expenditures for candidates to only tweet #thoughtsandprayers in response to gun violence
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
Those are just a few examples from Volksy’s ongoing stream of tweets on the subject. Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump have expressed thoughts and prayers.
I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now. -H https://t.co/SkKglwQycb
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 2, 2015
#TeamTrump. Police and law enforcement seem to have killed one of the California shooters and are in a shootout with the others. Go police
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2015
Heading to Manassas, Virginia, for a rally. Will have a moment of silence for the victims of the California shootings. So sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2015