’I’d check the podium for onions’: Fox pundit questions Obama’s ‘raw’ emotions
President Barack Obama teared up as he announced his plan to use executive action to expand background checks for gun ownership. However, Fox News host Andrea Tantaros was more interested in theatrics than the substance of his speech.
During the announcement on Tuesday, Obama brusquely brushed away tears as he mentioned Chicago’s gun violence problems as an example of the need for tighter background checks.
However, the Fox panel was not buying it.
“The tears that he wiped away, again and again, you want that – I mean, we feel frightened about what’s going on with ISIS,” said Fox News co-host Melissa Francis.
“He’s almost at the end of his term and you haven’t heard him go to Chicago and really speak out about this issue,” said co-host Andrea Tantaros.
At the end of October, Obama traveled to Chicago to discuss gun control and the importance of extending background checks. Between January 1, 2015 and May 30, 2015, there were 161 murders in 151 days in Chicago and 2,783 illegal guns recovered during that six-month period, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Tantaros said that she would “check that podium for like a raw onion or some No More Tears.”
Obama did not appear to be slicing onions on the podium, however. No More Tears is a Johnson & Johnson line of bath products designed to prevent babies from crying if they get soap in their eyes.
Tantaros and Fox News were not the only ones who weren’t impressed with Obama’s plan. A lot of the internet didn't seem to get the message, with presidential candidates, the National Rifle Association and gun owners alike taking to Twitter and getting all “up in arms.”
Fight back against @BarackObama's unconstitutional #2A executive actions! #ComeAndTakeIthttps://t.co/I8x387Rviipic.twitter.com/w0HfFtScnD
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 5, 2016
In the wake of Obama’s announcement, gun rights supporters began using the #comeandtakeit hashtag, which has its origins in the Battle of Gonzales in 1835, when Texas was part of Mexico.
👀POP QUIZ on #GunControl‼️
#2A🔫
#MolonLabe😡
#2ADefenders 🇺🇸
#PatriotsUnderAttack 🎯#ComeAndTakeIt ☠
#DeathByDemocratpic.twitter.com/NUvLmslkhz
— Dr Lee Vliet MD (@healthandcents) January 5, 2016
Gun sales hit record highs in the lead-up to Obama's announcement, the Washington Post reported. While the gun lobby protests against stricter regulations, people’s fears that their continued ability to purchase such weapons is under threat leads to an upsurge in gun sales.
this is legit terrifying from Ted Cruz, holy hell pic.twitter.com/KRV484F9pB
— Tim Dickinson (@7im) January 5, 2016
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and other Republican presidential candidates promised that, if elected, they would reverse any executive orders.
Today Obama proved again why he’s 1 of most liberal & divisive presidents in history. I’ll repeal his exec orders & protect 2nd Amend.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) January 5, 2016
Carly Fiorina called for Obama to enforce existing gun laws. The former HP CEO has said those on the Terror Watch List should be able to buy guns. “If somebody is a suspected terrorist on a watch list, they can be indicted at any time, and once you’re indicted, you cannot own a firearm,” she told MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ following the San Bernardino attack.
Another lawless, unconstitutional overreach. The 2nd Amendment is an individual right. Mr. President, how about enforcing the laws we have?
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) January 5, 2016
The National Rifle Association boasted about its good work. The NRA's Chris W. Cox released a statement on Tuesday accusing Obama of attempting "to distract attention away from his lack of a coherent strategy to keep the American people safe from terrorist attack."
No other organization in the world has done more to promote firearm safety than the #NRA#2A#Obamapresser
— NRA (@NRA) January 5, 2016
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) issued a statement saying that Obama's word does not trump the Second Amendment.
My statement on President Obama's Executive Order to Undermine Second Amendment → https://t.co/C3UpiNiDop#2Apic.twitter.com/RSBF4Cif29
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) January 5, 2016
Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton praised the president and reminded everyone to vote for her.
Thank you, @POTUS, for taking a crucial step forward on gun violence. Our next president has to build on that progress—not rip it away. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 5, 2016
. James Woods to the #American People: 'Buy More Guns and Learn How to Use Them' https://t.co/ZNW2guLkKp
#NRA#2Apic.twitter.com/3hmdTtrC5M
— Less Gov. More Fun. (@LessGovMoreFun) January 4, 2016
I'm a lifetime #NRA member - I support more #backgroundchecks for gun ownership. Stupid simple. #Gunsensehttps://t.co/eJRrYmEFWj
— Cliff Vegas (@Spinoff55) January 5, 2016
There have been 147 gun-related deaths in the US in the first five days of 2016.
Four more gun related deaths in US in the last hour - bringing latest figure of fatalities in 2016 to 141. pic.twitter.com/Y8V6GqOnlS
— Hayley Barlow (@Hayley_Barlow) January 5, 2016