Edit:

President Obama's WORDS were not only beautiful, they were powerful!

Yes, Feisty, the important thing is to assure Trayvon's family that we, as a nation, support them and we will see justice done.

The more details come out about this case, the more evident it becomes, the "crime watcher" was unhinged, paranoid, and attracted to violence.

I have to ask myself, if the victim had been a white teenager, would the shooter still be at large, or would he have been taken into custody immediately, while his claim of being attacked was being investigated?

Well folks, the President didn't say it like that at all.

He broke off from the message to Trayvon's parents just for a moment, to make an empathic comment about him.

" But my main message IS to the parents of Trayvon Martin... you know if I had a son he'd look like Trayvon...And I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and that we are going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened."

Every day that goes by without an arrest is justice denied. The Martins family deserve justice now.

As a country, we cannot go back to the times when it was open season on young black men!

Amen Feisty!

I want to add a little more.

1st: From everything I have heard, the man who shot and killed Treyvon sounds guilty as hell.

2nd: I am hearing bits and pieces from the media regarding this with very little being said from the man who pulled the trigger. But from what he did say, I based my initial judgement that it doesn't sound as if his story is factual. I can't see any evidence at this point that he was acting in self defense. But that is not for me decide.

When you say that we can not go back to the days when it was open season on a young black man and I agree whole heartidly. But.................

We have a set of laws in this country and we should not veer from them. A person is supposed to be presumed innocent in our country. Let's allow our judicial system to run it's course. I hope that the man is questioned, charged (if deemed necessary) and if charged the case goes to trial. Allow a jury to decide the outcome based on all the facts. We may not have a perfect system of justice, but I believe we have the most comprehensive and fair system in the world. Let's allow the system to work completely before we, as a nation, convict a man.

1st: From everything I have heard, the man who shot and killed Treyvon sounds guilty as hell.

The more details come out about this case, the more evident it becomes, the "crime watcher" was unhinged, paranoid, and attracted to violence.

As a country, we cannot go back to the times when it was open season on young black men!

I always knew the looney left thought the First Amendement sucked based on the collapses around here but now you even wanna throw out the Fourteenth Amendment!

Awesome!...What great American citizens!

i'm sorry but it seems to me as if zimmerman needs justice as well. i think it was self-defense. but you know everybody immediately jumps to race crimes when a black person is involved and they are never the guilty party, no, never.

If the rolls were reversed would we see so much publicity now lets me honest with ourselves the answer is no way! And they say it's not a racial thing yeah right!!

beautifully said IR !!

It's just a senseless murder of this young Trayvon.

IR,

Yes, wonderful words of Wisdom, unfortunately there are yahoo's from both sides that will make political hay out of this.

When will the killing stop!

My prayers go out to the family

So Kathryn, are you implying that President Obama only made these statements as a Political tactic to fire up the African American vote?

Cuz, if I said that I would be called a racist here.

So Kathryn, are you implying that President Obama only made these statements as a Political tactic to fire up the African American vote?

I guess the question is, "Is that what YOU really think?"

White Collar - The Republicans did not cause the event. But the event has motivated African Americans (and others) to take a stand against a wrong. Once people are fired up about an injustice,they don't usually go away.

I didn't say they would all vote Democrat - I just said they would vote.

Katheryn,

Take off your racist blinders for a moment and realize...

This is not a race issue

This is not a democrat v republican issue

This is an issue of MURDER... plain and simple

So get you head out of your a-- and stop offending people you don't know!!

Damn Racist!!

Well done, Katheryn.

You ever play poker WCA, becuase you kind of tipped your hand, Katheryn did not even mention President Obama, or his comments in her post.

You know somethings have got to transcend politics, this is every parents worst nightmare, losing a child, and it is a never ending nighmare you can never wake up from. The president was not the least bit political from what I read of his words, he was simply speaking as a parent, a decent human being, and a leader of a nation that should damn well be better able to protect it's children.

Wron Forrest. She is commenting on a story regarding President Obama's comments. So yeah, that is what she is talking about.

I didn't say his comments were political in nature, Kathryn did.

You guys fall into this trap all the time.

BTW if the President is worried about protecting children he should start with his own and not send them to countries that the State Dept has told the rest of us to avoid.

I see Maxx is a lousy poker player as well, so is Katheryn a racist because her post mentions African Americans, or is she FemNazi because she mentions women, or is she a Latino racist because she mentions Latinos, or maybe she is a union thug because she mentions workers and the auto industry. You can fold, call, or raise the bet, but there was nothing racist whatsoever in her post.

You know what White Collar - I have to offer an apology here to you.

Until my comment - there was no post that dealt with politics on this topic.

I should never have even alluded to it and that was wrong.

I have gotten upset before when people do the very thing I have done.

Mel cuppa... and I do mean that sincerely

Maxx Power -

I have to politely disagree, this is a racial issue. If this was a white boy walking through the neighborhood I don't think he would have been shot. We can try and deny it all we want, but some people ARE treated differently because of the color of their skin.

It ain't no secret
(It ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
Your American skin

American Skin (41 Shots) - Bruce Springsteen

So you going all in with that hand WCA, because she DID NOT even mention Obama and she DID NOT say his comments were political in nature, I can read and those words are not there in her post. I'm pretty sure the president and his family are afforded a little more security than the average tourist traveling abroad. You got a weak hand WCA, and if you want to keep raising I will call you all day long.

TNSEVOL

I have to politely disagree, this is a racial issue. If this was a white boy walking through the neighborhood I don't think he would have been shot.

And if it had been a white boy that was shot... I don't think any of you would be so upset.

(sorry... that's the attitude you all project.)

SickOfTheBickering-

Untrue. It is just seems to me that the tragedy of a young boy being murdered is magnified by the fact that it was a senseless killing.

He probably wouldn't have been shot if he was not black.

I just don't see why you can't see that.

Katheryn, no need to apologize to me.

Any time a young person is shot and killed it is a tragedy. Here in Detroit it happens far to often. 5 times in the past couple of months.

It is easy to get caught up in politicizing every thing that happens in this world. I'll be honest, I get frustrated when the President says He looked like my son would look. If he wouldn't have looked like your son, Mr. President, would it have been any less of tragedy or crime?

Forrest, you ready to go all in with you pair of two's? Since based on Katheryn's comment, I clearly inferred correctly what she meant?

You, my friend, just got cleaned out.

I am not saying the murder/killing was racially motivated, necessarily. I simply don't have enough facts to tell; but the police handling of it is an atrocity.

I am having a hard time finding straight facts on the timeline; but I did just read where the family pursued him as MISSING and only found him in the morgue after three days! If any of this is true, it is beyond scandalous! I have read so much hateful, ugly stuff around it, such as he was trespassing in a gated community, what did he think was going to happen, etc. etc. And here we are in our post racial society, right?

I think not,...

No WCA not at all she said she alluded to politics she did not say anything specific about racism, or Obama being political in his statement I'm still calling your bluff because you are claiming to have cards you don't have. You can pretend you don't know what you said and she said, but it is right there in plain english you brought the idea of racism to the thread not her. She made a political comment on a politcal blog you had your own idea where you wanted to take it. I still got plenty of chips if want to keep playing buddy.

Wow Forrest, the owner of the comment admits she was wrong and you continue to try to spin it.

Now that is thick, my friend.

Very, very thick.

Kind of explains your support for our President.

I'm not the one spining it WCA, she did not make it anything to do with race and she mentioned 4 different demographics she said she was wrong to talk politics on this thread, she did not say Obama made it political, that is your spin, I am not the one being thick about exactly who said what, it is clear as at can be, it is written on the page, she does not mention Obama you are the one that tried to imply he made a political speech and how if you said that it would be considered racist. Well you did say that, she never mentioned Obama or racism in her post, now you are trying to blame that on Katheryn but the words are not in her post they are in yours.

I'm not going to double down on either side in this debate, it's pointless.

I just wish the Rev Al had also decided to stay out of it....

I was just making that point,...vigilantism is illegal in much of the country as is impersonating an officer,...

But in the spirit of this article, I do hope the family will someday be able to find solace and comfort. It will be a long road to heal, for sure. My thoughts are will them.

Just the Facts -And it's not about guns or the NRA.

It's solely about a vigilante who pursued a young man and ended the young man's life and the seemingly shoddy police work that was done.

Regardless of what the evidence might show later - the shooter should have been arrested at the scene.

Just the Facts Maam!,

I haven't seen anything on the NRA or the right wing rushing to defend anything. I hope that's your opinion and not a fact.

thetotas

Their silence speaks volume. NRA is smiling to the banks cause another bullet was shot. Shame on them all.

Imagine that... damned if you do... damned if you don't.

The NRA pushed through the "Stand Your Ground" legislation that may let Mr. Zimmerman off the hook. They also support his right to drive around carrying a 9mm.

The NRA helped put that gun in his hand and made him believe he had the right to pull the trigger if he appeared threatened. I think they deserve some of the blame for this tragedy.

I will be called for blaming Bush, but he cowardly shrank to the Gun crowd lobby. Jeb didn't stand his ground he wilted to extremists in the NRA and approved this law that vigilates can so easily manipulate.

Terrible, senseless loss and I pray for the family. I hope and pray for the country so that this law is changed. I'm all for self defense, but this does not appear to be self defense, per my hearing of the police calls between killer and police. At the least it needs to be changed so that the accused is detained until it is decided if a grand jury is called.

____________

MIAMI (Reuters) -

The law, approved under former Governor Jeb Bush after a big push by pro-gun advocates led by the National Rifle Association, was passed over numerous objections from the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association and state law enforcement officials. Florida's Republican governor, Rick Scott, announced the formation of a task force on Thursday to "thoroughly review" the law in the wake of the Martin shooting.

"Basically it's a law that fixed something that wasn't broken, and then it created a lot of problems," said William "Willie" Meggs, veteran state attorney for the 2nd Judicial Circuit in Tallahassee, the Florida capital.

"I have been an outspoken critic of the law since it came into existence and I would suspect we may be doing something about it after all the interest we're seeing in it now," he said.

According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, at least 23 states have passed laws similar to Florida's since 2005.

I did not realize this Yellowdog.

While I feel that in recent times it seems that the criminals have been given a pass card

they say that the number of people shooting other people and then using this law is very high in Florida.

So now we have the case of vigilantes using this to justify their actions.

I hope this causes some changes.

It's always a balance.

Kath,

Yes, its always a balance, and there are a lot of people on both sides that have their fingers on the beam trying to push it to one side or the other.

The evidence of just that sentiment is plainly evident right in the comments on this article.

Just so everyone knows I was listening to this two days ago on the radio in my car. The MSM and Newsvine (FR) didn't pick this up until the Rev. AL decided to get involved and stage a 70's like public racial demonstration. Because Rev AL got involved, the President had to get involved.

The only ones I see bringing up racism are the people who always bring such things up. One of these days people are going to learn that color has nothing to do with it, A Young person is dead, tragically, and another is going to be paying for it his entire life. Would it have been any different if the skin colors had been reversed? No it would NOT!

The more you bring up and cast issues in the rhetoric of color, the more racist hate lingers on in the small minds of the haters.

One of these days, the politicians will learn this.

Well said, thetotas. Agreed.

Voted.

thetotas--of all the troubling aspects to this terrible situation, that inaction by the police just breaks my heart the most.

Just to echo on Matthew's post, Well said, theotas. They are in my prayers as well.

Having a young son, myself, I would be devastated if he were shot by some gun toting Barney Fife wannabe. As Don Corleone said ... and that, I do not forgive. I can only imagine their pain. I have one child, my son and he means the world to me.

I pray for them as well theotas. It's tragic, heartbreaking and senseless what happened to this young man.

Agreed, totas. Well said.

He's played his last game of cops and robbers.

I certainly hope so! Seeing as how he robbed Trayvon of his life, his parents, friends and family of his presence.

Joel, it may be impossible to convict Zimmerman, but I don't think ballistic evidence is as critical as you suggest. My understanding is that he never disputed shooting Trayvon - it's his justification that's in question. But he'll have a clever lawyer who will do the spin.

What will be interesting to learn is what kind of report the police made of the incident. I recently served on a jury that acquitted a man for carrying a concealed weapon because the police reports were conflicting and inaccurate.

Thomas, which post contains Right Wing Bigotry and hate today? I am a right wing conservative and I am outraged at what happened to Trayvon. Did the police do their job? It sounds to me like they did not. Was the job they "didn't do" racially motivated. I can't read the hearts and minds of the decision makers in the police force, but I am pretty sure this will come out in due time. If they are a bunch of racist pigs, then they will be held accountable. Did Zimmerman kill this kid in cold blood simply because he was black? If yes, add the hate crime stipulation to the crime and add it to his sentence when he is convicted. If no, fine, just convict him of cold blooded murder.

I really don't see this as a political issue, however, I am surprised that the president choose to comment on this case specifically. Yes, I know a reporter asked him to comment, does he typically answer every reporters questions? What if they asked him about Casy Anthony? Would he respond? What if they asked him about Christopher McCuin? There are lots of terrible crimes that are committed in the country on a daily basis. Many are racially motivated, many are not. While our justice system can move very slowly, I hope they get this one right. If civil servants screwed the pooch along the way, I hope they are also held accountable also.

JC -

I don't think the President answered the question as a political issue, I think he answered it as a parent who could relate to what they were going through.

Oh, I did not realize that Barrack had lost a child to a sensless killing. In that case, I fully respect his response and am proud of him for making it.

JC- Nice sarcasm, you really added to this post.

You know, of course, that I meant that President Obama is a father of two young girls and could see his own children being in Treyvon's situation - judged solely by the color of their skin.

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!

- Lt. Joe Cable, South Pacific

Nice post Noid. Hate is almost as powerful as Love, it's just easier hate or so it seems.

It's because hate requires no courage...no leap of faith...no belief in what Lincoln called "the better angels of our nature."

doubting...

I am sorry... but I really don't see ANY right wing hate on this thread. As I post this... I really don't see any right wingers (other than myself) posting here.

As a matter of fact... the only hate I see here today seems to be coming from YOU.

The subject matter of this thread demands that you show a little respect so try to hold back on the hate. OK?

Da Noid,

Unfortunately, sometimes your right and sometimes your wrong.

Unfortunately, Mr. President, to some individuals out there who don't know any better you all look alike.

In this statement, you are WRONG!

If you keep perpetuating the hate, we will never have racial peace in this country. What was done, does not justify statements like this...

Larry, you get the prize for the least informed post today.

This whole thing is pathetic.... The kid was somewhere he shouldnt have been (a gate means stay out --

Larry,

You are what's pathetic!

Here's a hint the kid - who name if Treyvon, LIVED in THAT gated community! Now, I understand you can't wrap your head around the possiblity of a black person having the means to live somewhere you, yourself can't afford...

Lets move on....

People like YOU, Larry, who write off something like this make me SICK!

I thank my lucky stars you are a dying breed...

JUSTICE FOR TREYVON MARTIN NOW!

REMEMBER THAT 'KID' HAS A NAME!

Larry,

You certainly take the prize today for the least informed, most disrespectful, downright ignorant and hateful post.

TREYVON had every right to be there, he was walking back to his girlfriend's house. And even if he didn't have a right to be there, he had no right to be shot by someone who was NOT in a life-threatening situation. The shooter was IN HIS CAR!!! What was Treyvon going to do - crack open the windshield with his iced tea and throw skittles at him?

I offer NO excuse for being upset at the senseless killing of a child, no matter what color they are. The fact that he was shot just for being black is the part that makes it senseless and so upsetting.

Technically, from what I can tell, Feisty, he was an invited guest of someone living in the community; I guess they didn't know Zimmerman expected all guests to be registered at the desk?

Larry is BAAAAAAAAAAACKKKKKKKKK! Now that he's spent his Fema funds fixing up the place in Minot, he's got a little spare time to jump in the fray of a case that he hasn't followed to spew garbage about trespassers deserving to give their life for potentially stepping out of line? Nice, isn't it? And here I hadn't missed him at all.

Amen, TNSEVOL