White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Monday expressed sympathy for the Parkland father removed from a Rose Garden ceremony marking the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, though there was little hesitation to eject him from the event.
Manuel Oliver, whose son Joaquin was killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, interrupted President Biden as he touted the passage of a bill that in all reality accomplished little in the eyes of those who want more stringent gun control laws. Oliver spoke out when Biden claimed the legislation “proves, despite the naysayers, we can make meaningful progress on dealing with gun violence.” Urging the president to do more, he clearly took exception to the “pointless” celebration.
“Our hearts go out to Manuel Oliver who has suffered a deep, deep loss,” Jean-Pierre said, according to Fox News. “The president met with him earlier today before the event. And as you know, the president understands what loss feels like.”
This being a reference to the death of Biden’s son, Beau, which he falls back on often when responding to events that involve the loss of life.
Initially, Biden told Oliver to sit down, but then told the White House official who approached the father to let him speak.
“The president agrees with him. He agrees we need to do more,” Jean-Pierre added. “That’s why in his speech, he called on Congress to pass legislation that would ban assault weapons… high capacity magazines, strengthen background checks and enact safe storage laws.”
“He knows and understands that he is frustrated and he is hurting, and rightfully so, his life was upended when gun violence took his son,” she said.
Appearing earlier on CNN, Oliver said of the Rose Garden celebration, “There was no need for this event. At all.”
“Well, it’s been a while that I’ve been calling out that using the word celebration, getting together, is like we’re going to a party, to a wedding today,” he said. “Meanwhile, you can see these mothers in Uvalde that just saw how their kids were massacred inside a school. So, for me, it’s not only not enough, and you know very well what I’ve been preaching for.”
“Even the president asked for more and it’s not happening,” Oliver continued. “So, I really wish there was more in this package of bills. And I will do whatever I can to get more in this package of bills.”
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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