Life
Obama offers ‘love, prayers of nation’ to Newtown
“What choice do we have?” Obama said. “Are we really prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard?”
As Obama read some of the names of victims early in his remarks, several people broke down, their sobs heard throughout the hall.
He closed his remarks by slowly reading the first names of each of the 26 victims.
“God has called them all home. For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on and make our country worthy of their memory,” he said.
For Obama, ending his fourth year in office, it was another sorrowful visit to another community in disbelief. It is the job of the president to be there, to listen and console, to offer help even when the only thing within his grasp is a hug.
All the victims were killed up close by multiple rifle shots.
The toll: six adults. Twenty boys and girls, all of whom were just 6 or 7 years old.
