I thought this blog post summed it up nicely:
Obama Finally Issues Statement on Pvt. William Long
by La Shawn on June 4, 2009
Update (6/5): Still no statement from DOJ about Pvt. William Long’s murder by an American Muslim (as of 7:30 a.m. PT), but the AG released a statement about protecting American Muslims. Cruel irony. Cold irony. Can’t decide which fits.
Later…My non-political sister just pointed out that Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad’s attack on the military recruiters was an attack against the entire U.S. military. STILL no response from AG (as of 11:39 a.m. PT).
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Update (6/4): The U.S. Attorney General issued a statement on private citizen Tiller’s murder the day it happened:
“The murder of Doctor George Tiller is an abhorrent act of violence, and his family is in our thoughts and prayers at this tragic moment. Federal law enforcement is coordinating with local law enforcement officials in Kansas on the investigation of this crime, and I have directed the United States Marshals Service to offer protection to other appropriate people and facilities around the nation. The Department of Justice will work to bring the perpetrator of this crime to justice. As a precautionary measure, we will also take appropriate steps to help prevent any related acts of violence from occurring.”
So far, there’s no statement posted about the murder of Pvt. Long (as of 10:34 a.m. PT), a member of the U.S. armed forces, three days after it happened.
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Well, what do you know? Two days after military recruiter Private William Long’s murder (as opposed to hours after abortionist George Tiller’s murder on a Sunday, no less) by a Muslim convert, President Barack Obama finally released a statement, though it’s not posted on the White House web site yet (as of 9:26 a.m. PT):
“I am deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence against two brave young soldiers who were doing their part to strengthen our armed forces and keep our country safe. I would like to wish Quinton Ezeagwula a speedy recovery, and to offer my condolences and prayers to William Long’s family as they mourn the loss of their son.” (Source)
Obama’s statement about Tiller:
“I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.”
This is how Obama’s statement about Long should read:
“I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Pvt. William Long as he performed his duty. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as sending our men and women overseas to preserve our freedom, protect others from tyranny, and contain global Islamic terrorism, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.”
Our military men and women serve and protect. One of the commander-in-chief’s own men was killed by a follower of Allah while on duty. Relevant in the age of Islamic terrorism, don’t you think? That’s the murder that should have been responded to within hours. But why quibble? I suspect the only reason Obama released a statement at all was because conservative bloggers kept daring him to.