Monday, April 16, 2007
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On Internet Condolences: Republicans Drop the Ball on Va. Tech Shootings
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Posted by:
Mary Katharine Ham at
5:07 PM
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Heart-ache?
To be clear, I'm not saying that Obama, Hillary, and Edwards care any more about the suffering on the ground in Blacksburg, Va. today than Mitt, McCain, and Rudy. But to look at their websites, you wouldn't know a thing about what Mitt, McCain, and Rudy think about this national tragedy. It's doesn't mean they're terrible, selfish men, as I'm sure the Left will infer. On the contrary, I'm sure all of their thoughts and prayers are with the kids of Blacksburg, just as all of ours are. But the fact is that the Big Six in the presidential race are huge, public figures who are required, for better or worse, to have a public position on every issue, ever. Today is certainly no exception. Political web operatives on the Left understand that websites move with the news, and are sometimes the fastest way to move those messages. Today, the Dem candidates' sites reflect that and the Republicans' do not. Here are the front pages of the three Dem front-runners' websites today:
Obama: 
Edwards:
Hillary:
 Simple. It's what everyone is talking about today. It's both sensitive and sensible to recognize that. And, it's not exploitative unless you're attaching it to a fundraising letter about gun control or something, which they're not.
On the other hand, check out the Republican Big Three's sites today. McCain: 
Romney:
 Giuliani:  (All screenshots are from around 4 p.m., which should have been plenty of time to get something updated on any modern website after the story broke.)
It's not a huge deal. I'm sure all three Republicans will release statements on the events of today, if they haven't already, but not recognizing a major national event on your website makes you look, at best, out of the loop, and at worst, insensitive. This is the worst shooting in American history, for goodness' sake.
Guys, just consider this some gentle advice for how to get better. And, yes, I'm aware that I'm open to accusations of pettiness for blogging about this when there are, quite obviously, bigger matters at hand than the political implications of the web condolences offered by '08 candidates. But the fact is that these sites are reflections of the candidates they represent. I'm sure every one of these Republican candidates wishes the people of Va. Tech the best today, and wishes them to know it. Why not use their sites to get out the word? Anyway, a little something I noticed, as I'm a web politics nerd at all times. Needless to say, my prayers and thoughts are with all the people of Virginia Tech.
UPDATE: Jonathan Martin at Politico has the Republicans' response. Rudy has also added a statement to his website.
Update: That last update courtesy of Matt Lewis, not me, by the way. I was away from the computer, and Matt pinch-hit for me. Thanks, Matt!
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Who's going to be reading 2008 campaign websites today? Certainly not the families and friends of Virginia Tech shooting victims. The first issue for political leaders is to make sure it doesn't happen again elsewhere. |
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Not one of the 6 websites states that this problem would have been much, much smaller if any of the students and/or teachers were armed.
You can condole all you want, but until you're willing to be the solution, you are a large part of the reason the problem gets much worse.
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It just makes them look clueless not to somehow acknowledge a MAJOR national tragedy-- the biggest shooting in American history. The American president did a presser on the occasion, and these guys can't put up a paragraph on a website? It's worthy of some comment, and the sites don't reflect that. Not a huge mistake, but a mistake. |
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By posting this message, the Democrats are showing that they care more.
When a tragedy happens, who do you like better, the guy who calls you to wish you condolences -- or the person who doesn't want to bother you (out of respect)?
Whether sincere, or not, the candidates who posted a message today are the ones who won the day.
It is also interesting that, across the board, Republicans ignored this event on their websites (while Dems posted messages).
I think this speaks to some deep-seated beliefs that Republicans and Democrats have about what is appropriate.
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Why does everyone keep referring to this as a tragedy? It is not a tragedy.
A fire is a tragedy. A car accident is a tragedy. An earthquake is a tragedy. No, this is an atrocity.
An event is tragic when it is either a natural occurance or an accident. This is neither. |
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anytime innocent people - especially young people - die. Prayers for all involved. |
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MKH,
I'll concede that the public wants to know that their presidential candidates are at least paying attention. That's good. But my guess is that victim families want answers first, and sympathy last.
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since you posted something about Edwards $400 haircut after your original posting (which you do get credit for) ..that shows in your mind, the Va Tech shooting was not the only event - else you would not have even thought of posting the haircut post |
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Tragedy implies that it is accidental. This was not. It was intentional. It was evil.
It was certainly sad and horrible. But not a tragedy.
Let's look at some of the synonyms of tragedy (from dictionary.com): bad fortune, bad luck, bummer, curse, downer, misadventure, misfortune, mishap, unluckiness, woe.
My point is that tragedy does not BEGIN to describe the gravity of the situation. This is not merely "bad luck" this is something much worse. This is the intentional taking of innocent life. This is a monstrosity. |
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The official White House website wasn't updated immediately because GWB was reading a book to some second-graders, and didn't want to alarm them. |
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... this is why so often Republicans are seen as not caring. Sometimes we have only ourselves to blame. |
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My daughter's boyfriend Jacob, attends VaTech, go to the link below and read his account of the shootings at the school. Thanks to Michelle for posting his email.
Needless to say, but our prayers go out to those who had loved ones and friends killed in this insane incident.
Pointedly, I must note that people are actively condemning the legislators who refused to allow students to carry guns on campus. I think if students had been shooting back, few would be dead.
http://www.michellemalkin.com/ |
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Your comment ("this problem would have been much, much smaller if any of the teachers and/or students were armed") is, well, bull.
If lots of people were armed when the guy started shooting, all the gun nuts would have run amok shooting one another, and the tragedy (yes, tragedy) would have been even greater.
You should familiarize with crime statistics in England. |
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Rudy has put a statement on his website.
jb |
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I liked the post about the $400 haircut. On my blog, I called Edwards "a sissified pretty boy." Is there a rehab for me?
I generally agree with MKH on this one. However, I'd like to add that I heard Barack Obama on TV re: VA Tech, and every phrase that came out of his mouth was a cliche. Barack is one vast emptiness. It was also scary, the man's total lack of authenticity or any sort of individual feeling.
There are many reasons why these things happen so often in America. Since I am constantly in opposition to most of those reasons -- deriving as they do from liberalism and its tolerance of everything imaginable (except Ann Coulter) -- I don't feel personal guilt about the shootings.
In one of Tom Clancy's books, there's a story about Islamic terrorists (working with Mex. drug dealers) shooting up shopping centers in four cities, including Richmond, VA and Provo, UT. I don't know what kind of terrorism this was, but it makes me angry. We must stop it.
steve maloney |
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If a blogger posts something ridiculous, and nobody ever reads it, does he need rehab?
Its a rhetorical question. I'll wait while you google that. :o) |
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Now John McCain has put a statement on his website.
jb |
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Let's see, there's got to be a way to stir up a headline here and get some mileage out of the horrific tragedy that has come upon so many families. I know--I've got an idea--let's compare websites and weigh who did a better job. Great idea. We can learn who cares the most by who posts first, and who appears to be the most genuine. Yep, that is the first thing I would want to do. Run to my website to prove I cared.
MKH, you lost much face today. I am embarrassed for you. |
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Kingsman, I agree 100% with your comment. |
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If it's needless to say, MKH, then why should the Republican candidates say it? The Dems are quick to jump on the issue not because they care, but because they want to show voters that they care. Political opportunism? Of course. |
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I am so angry I can't stand it. Linking this tragedy in any way to political issues is absolutely, 100% inexcusable.
Perhaps I am from a different planet, a different time. These precious lives have been degraded to the status of political pawns by someone seeking to be first with a political twist. What? WHAT???
Absolutley disgusting. What other agendas are waiting to be pushed? Not to worry, they are already here.
Next will be the idiot reporters who stick a microphone in a grieving family member's face to ask that always brilliant question: "How does this make you feel?" If I were chased down by a reporter and asked that question he would be eating that microphone. That's how I would feel. |
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Maybe it is not that they are less sensitive but less likely to exploit things for political gain.
that is probably not the case, but if i were a candidate, i am not sure that i would feel comfortable puttign on my campaign for president website condolences to the families of this tragedy. by nature those website are there to promote their presidency, it would appear to me that I was doing it for political reasons given that everythign else on there is there for poltiical reasons.
Just a thought. I am not accusing them of doing that, more just a possible interpretation. |
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Couldn't some one find a copy of "My Pet Goat" to hand over to the President? |
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I would think that this is more of a time to pray for the families than to use it as an opportunity to make mockery out of the situation as Elisabeth has. But then that's just me.
Woman, your words say much about you. I have no use for certain political candidates, but nothing they say in attempts to console these families in the next several days will earn my criticism.
My criticism in my first post was strictly for MKH who should never have raised this issue in this fashion at this time.
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dsmith: "since you posted something about Edwards $400 haircut after your original posting (which you do get credit for) ..that shows in your mind, the Va Tech shooting was not the only event - else you would not have even thought of posting the haircut post."
Um, dsmith, I never said it was the only thing going on in the world and, therefore, the only thing anyone should be allowed to comment on. I simply said it is something important enough to make a point of commenting on, if you're a national figure.
Kingsman: While I understand your concern about politicization of the issue, I really think you're taking it up with the wrong person. I'm simply pointing out that it's a good idea for national figures to comment quickly and obviously-- on their websites-- on an extremely important national issue.
In fact, if you're a politician, this is your one and only chance to be actually genuine about your sympathies before you start pushing for your pro-gun-control or anti-gun-control legislation-- LAME. The statements we got from politicians today are as genuine as we'll get from them, and Republican candidates, who undoubtedly have sincere sympathies to communicate did not do so as well as they could.
Like it or not, this is a national issue-- one on which national figures must necessarily comment. It would have been simply and sensible for Republican candidates to communicate their sympathies on their websites, just as most everyone with a political website did today. You're being a bit melodramatic on me.
Patrick: "If it's needless to say, MKH, then why should the Republican candidates say it? The Dems are quick to jump on the issue not because they care, but because they want to show voters that they care. Political opportunism? Of course."
My bad. "Needless to say" was just an expression. I was just adding my prayers and condolences to the end of the post, in addition to what I wrote earlier in the day. It's not really political opportunism for national figures to comment on a national issue. As I said above, this is the most genuine take we'll get from politicians before we get to the dreaded legislation-pushing. Why not step out and just say "sorry" before you start pushing your political viewpoint? It's an opportunity to be a real human being, missed. |
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When hearing of this tragedy, the last thing on my mind was wondering about a politician's website.
There are 33 people dead, numerous wounded. Who really cares which political party is "perceived" as the most sensitive.
I really don't know who's worse - the madman who perpetrated this mass murder, or the politicians who are trying to exploit the deaths for their own purposes, or the "journalists" and bloggers who attempt to generate some sort of media frenzy over the thing.
Show some compassion and leave politics out of this. Why not start a blogasphere equivalent of a moment of silence for the victims by keeping your calloused fingers off your keyboard for a at least a day. |
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As for elisabeth and soothsayer...typical posts for them. Not worth a response. Unfortunately they come here to spew a little venom and then move on once they get ignored.
MKH, I am not so sure why you felt it necessary to point out that the Republicans did not act fast enough to your liking and then claim that the Democrat candidates "care more" because they did. Last I checked there wasn't a contest on who cares the most. Just maybe the ones who did not post a message immediately wanted the true facts before putting information up on their sites? Either way, your column just brought out more negativity and Dem/Pub hate, which I figure is something we could use a little less of right now. Just my opinion.
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These candidates have internet teams and employees, in part for days like this. If this had been a shuttle disaster, or the death of a public figure, you would or should expect these candidates to have a response, both publicly and for their web sites. Whether or not you feel a message posted on a web site is meaningful, it shows the campaigns are not run in a vacuum – and by extension, the candidates are engaged in national and world events. Even if this isn’t true, it’s about perception.
If I was to go to a candidate’s web site and find no mention of today’s shootings, I might not think anything of it. Yet, a simple message that can be easily digested gives me the impression the candidates and their campaigns are aware and at the ready to respond to current events.
R.J. |
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MKH wrote: “Kingsman: While I understand your concern about politicization of the issue, I really think you're taking it up with the wrong person. I'm simply pointing out that it's a good idea for national figures to comment quickly and obviously-- on their websites-- on an extremely important national issue.”
No, I am not taking it up with the wrong person. It was you who tastelessly turned this into a political forum. In case this doesn't register yet, re-read the posts that your column generated.
Futile though this attempt will be, let me try once more:
It is about the precious lives lost. It is about the mothers and fathers who will never see their children again. It is about the empty pages in photo albums where grandchildren would have been. It is about brothers and sisters who have had theirs hearts torn in two. It is about grandparents who will never again smile. It is about friends who will never get the sight of the blood out of their minds. It is about marriages that will fail because the grief is too overwhelming. It is about loves that will never know intimacy. It is about people who will second-guess themselves for a lifetime regarding what they did or did not do. It is about tears, lots of tears. It is about untold agony. It is about respect, a respect that you are apparently unable to fathom.
It is not about starting the stopwatch to see who responds first or best and using the subject to be first to get an article out their to stir up discussions. You won. And as I said earlier, you lost much face today.
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to this story. Not the least of which is the tragic loss of life. That fact isn't lost on anyone, certainly not the author of this site. She shows compassion and consideration as well as anyone, as she did for me (a person whom she's never met) when the tornado hit my town and my high school alma mater on March 1:
http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/93492016-4b0a-42f4-992a-c3147fbc34ad
I'll never forget that.
That she chose to shed light on a different angle of this story than you deem appropriate does not make her tasteless in the least. Like it or not, this is a political forum. She's offered her prayers and condolences, and leaders do need to step up.
No doubt this is an emotionally-charged event and that is why folks need to take a step back, process things and not pop-off with their first gut reaction. |
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Kingsman, as your post states, the events of today are about the loss of life and loved ones. It is precisely because of this, that it is important for our national leaders to acknowledge the tragedy. It isn’t about these politicians pontificating on today’s happenings or running for president. But, because they are already running, they need to show empathy towards the victims and their families. It’s not about votes, but about showing they are part of us, aware of what took place and somberly offering their condolences and prayers.
The perception – one I happened to agree with – is that Republican politicians have yet to grasp the power of the web. In this dynamic age, updating the campaign web sites to reflect the events at VT should have happened shortly after the news broke. If you don’t want the politicians to steal the attention away from the victims, survivors and their families, it should be preferable for them to use their web sites to pay their respects, instead of running to the nearest TV camera. It should not have taken all day for the Republican candidates to offer a simple, elegant response to the VT shootings on their web sites.
R.J. |
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First, I am not blind to the broad implications of this issue. If it did not affect me I would not have posted.
Second, this is not a blanket indictment of MKH, and has nothing to do with her root character. If she had acknowledged that it was tasteless to so quickly make this a political issue I would have responded with great warmth and thanked her for her humility. I repeat: read the postings and see where this all led as people still are shamelessly talking political talk.
Third, it is far, far, from simply being an emotionally charged event. To “rise above emotions” at a time like this is not the moral high ground. The shortest sentence in the Bible is: “Jesus wept.”
Fourth, do we value our own personal opinions so much that we must run to the forefront with them before the bodies are even identified? In this sense I am of course as guilty as anyone else, but my posting was in response to what I thought was something that was very, very wrong. Accordingly, I sought unsuccessfully to turn the focus back onto the families. I failed.
Fifth, without apology I stand my ground. This was and is in the most awful sense a great personal tragedy for the individuals involved, and I shake my head in absolute dismay that others want to claim it as their issue before the families can even realize what has happened to them. The national implications are several steps down the list. In that sense it is none of my business, and none of anyone else's except in that how we might in some small way extend comfort to those affected. Turning that comfort into a competition is a seriously misguided compassion. No amount of rationalization can hide the fact that that is what has been done. I end now and will post on this sad subject no more. |
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If you don't recognize the Dems pandering in this situation, well its too bad. They'll be blaming Bush soon, mark my words. |
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I am sure the Photoshop guys hired by these camps will save their respective "sympathy images" ready to replace "Virginia" with wherever the next event occurs. |
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not ashamed to be right: I expressly SAID it did NOT mean that Democrats care more, so I'm not sure where you get that. It's just a simple consideration that national figures such as '08 candidates should have taken care of.
Kingsman: "It is about the precious lives lost. It is about the mothers and fathers who will never see their children again. It is about the empty pages in photo albums where grandchildren would have been. It is about brothers and sisters who have had theirs hearts torn in two. It is about grandparents who will never again smile. It is about friends who will never get the sight of the blood out of their minds. It is about marriages that will fail because the grief is too overwhelming. It is about loves that will never know intimacy. It is about people who will second-guess themselves for a lifetime regarding what they did or did not do. It is about tears, lots of tears. It is about untold agony. It is about respect, a respect that you are apparently unable to fathom."
It is apparently also about Kingsman being repeatedly sanctimonious and showing off his righteous indignation in comments, lecturing anyone who would be brazen enough to recognize that national events don't happen in a vacuum. Kingsman, you came to a political website to read about an issue that you believe should be discussed at the exclusion of ALL political considerations. Not your best call ever, I'd wager.
My apologies for offending you. It was a politically tinctured post. I am a POLITICAL writer. And, while I'm concerned about the politicization of the issue, I noticed a difference in the way Republicans and Democrats approached the matter and chose to point it out without vitriol or condescension. I didn't hawk legislation (or, get on my high horse, as you have repeatedly used the occasion to do). I maintain that you're making a bit too much of my alleged callousness, and insodoing, wasting a lot of time in a thread you claim is below you instead of focusing on the grief and shattered lives you say we all should be focusing on exclusively.
But, to each his own. I will continue to post on the matter, and will mourn with the parents and friends of those who were lost, during the ceremony today. When it inevitably turns into a national tussle over a bunch of bad legislation, I will post on that, too, because it's my job. It's entirely possible to do both, as incapable as you may be of imagining it.
Thanks for reading. |
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All I see are opportunists taking advantage of a tragedy for their own political ends. My inbox is full of 'condolences' from polticians whose newsletters I subscribe to. That's nice but don't send them to me ... send them to the families for they hold no weight nor favor with me. |
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This strikes me as absurd. What happened is not an "issue" that politicians need to have a position on or a response to. It was a violent crime. What's next? "Responses" to the heavy rains and flooding in the northeast? We'd all be better off if politicans would just keep their mouths shut on more subjects. The reality is that almost no one outside of Washington really cares what any of them thinks about much of anything. You folks in Washington need to get a life. |
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This tragedy isn't a Rep/Dem Lib/Con issue, it is something horrific, that should touch us all as Americans. Moments like this shouldn't divide us along ideological lines, but it is such times where we should leave all the crap behind and come together as a people.
I'd like to commend the Sen. Judiciary Com., both Dem & Rep, for canceling the Alberto Gonzales hearing. It would have really been a macabre piece of political theatre had it not been postponed.
My condolences and my thoughts are with all those that have been touched by this tragedy. |
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A story can be either big or small, and it can be either political or apolitical. This was a huge, apolitical story. Despite what some on both sides like to claim, there isn’t really a pro- spree killing party and an anti- party. When everyone reasonable can reasonably be presumed to be on the same wavelength regarding an event such as this, there’s no need for pols to go rushing about committing themselves to the only conceivable position.
As for the campaign websites, maybe one or two people did drop the ball, but that depends. I don’t frequent the candidates’ sites myself; does anyone know how often these sites are typically updated in the normal course of events? If a campaign’s webmaster is away or traveling, it may not be possible to get an instantaneous response posted. I don’t think anyone seriously expects septuagenarian John McCain to update his campaign website if his IT person is unavailable, or will hold it against him for not doing so. |
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Thank you for pointing out that some candidates are there to find your feelings and use those against you, while other candidates want to find out what can be done to make your life better.
This is a national event that should not be played as "the Big Game" for politicans. Everyone has the school in their thoughts and prayers. To post it on your Presidental Website, that clearly makes it such a more heart felt sympathetic statement. (Please raise your hand if you did not get the sarcasticness of the last sentence. Good now smack your forehead and get off the internet.)
"Needless to say, my prayers and thoughts are with all the people of Virginia Tech." - thank goodness you wrote this to end your story, otherwise you might be open to be shown to be less than caring about this tragedy. |
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While,according to your article,the Dem's were first to post condolences on their websites,I do not see them has sincere.Over the years I have found their sincerity to be hollow.Spoken from immediate reaction to calm turbulant circumstances.While I am sure they are saddened by the senseless loss of human life,they are also going to make hay when the crop is ripe.A crop planted,and fertilized,by a party that grew out of turbulance,and never sought to end it.To deal with turbulant situations they charge in with passions exhibiting concern,and calming with passion of self fulfillment.They know how to play human passion to fulfill their goals.Words are their weapon. |
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"If lots of people were armed when the guy started shooting, all the gun nuts would have run amok shooting one another"
I suggest that before you remove your foot from your mouth, you take a Concealed Carry Permit class, if for no reason other than to educate yourself to the fact that your claims here are very unlikely.
People with concealed carry permits are trained. They are trained both in a class room and at a gun range, and many go on to take other advanced self-defense trainings.
Your rantings here are the mumblings of complete ignorance.
Regarding the statistics coming out of England, again, these statistics are the best numbers at hand to argue against gun control.
Oops. Looks like you lose on both your points.
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are doomed to repeat it.
Does anyone remember a society in the recent past where nearly everyone carried a gun? |
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Perhaps the Republican candidates didn't have statements on their websites because they don't believe in using someone else's personal tragedy for political gain. Have we become so shallow and course that we don't understand this concept?
Btw, it looks like Hillary and Obama used the same writer. |
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"I expressly SAID it did NOT mean that Democrats care more, so I'm not sure where you get that."
Although your WORDS did not specifically say it, the full context/pictures of your blog did (at least that was the interpretation I came away with.) And I do not think it was necessary for ANY of the candidates to immediately post it on their web sites, but that is just my opinion. I still stand by my opinion that it was completely unnecessary to point it out and compare the Democrats to the Republicans in the first place given the scope of the tragedy and the friction between both parties that already exists in Congress and via the MSM.
I do think Kingsman was simply giving an opinion, and a rather eloquent one at that.
Stella Jay, Expoundtruth, Thaale, and Steven said it beautifully as well. |
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