<p>For some reason new posts in the thread about the UCSB shooting are backdated to June 2, so I am reposting my comment from that thread here:</p>
<p>VP Biden offers heartfelt condolences to graduating UCSB students in this video:
<a href=“Vice President Biden's Message to UCSB on Vimeo”>http://vimeo.com/97881903</a></p>
<p>not sure why the students should care what a politician trying to score political points has to say?</p>
<p>Do you really think a 71 year old sitting Vice President is trying to “score political points” on the graves of six slaughtered students? Or is it just possible that he is sincere in reflecting upon his own tragic loss of a wife and child to console those who are suffering in the wake of the murders? This is now the second snide post belittling the sentiments offered to grieving students. At least someone had the decency to remove the previous comment. Perhaps if you actually watch the video and listen to his comments you will see past partisan conspiracy agendas.</p>
<p>Agree with soccerguy. What makes a politician so special that we need to see a videotape of him pontificating about this tragedy. There are plenty of people in our town (I live in Santa Barbara) or alumni of the school who could of spoken to the students, if that was important to them. I do believe the few students who solicited this tape are trying to politicize this tragedy by gratuitously having Biden speak about a school and a town which he knows nothing about. </p>
<p>“Do you really think a 71 year old sitting Vice President is trying to “score political points” on the graves of six slaughtered students?”</p>
<p>Well, I probably wouldn’t put it quite that way but yes politicians do things for political reasons. As do students who solicit politicians. I watched the tape and heard nothing new or particularly interesting. </p>
<p>We have a representative government. Politicians are elected to represent citizens. It is very appropriate for the Vice President to express the grief of the nation following a tragic event. Speaking at the public memorial for the Columbine community, then Vice President Al Gore said, “You are not alone. The heart of American aches with you.” President Clinton spoke to the students of Columbine a month after the shooting and two days before the commencement ceremony for the class of 1999 saying, “…when you hear those people cheer for you, I want you to hear the voice of America, because America will be cheering you on.” </p>
<p>Vice President Biden was expressing his support and encouragement to the graduating class of UCSB, and by doing that he expressed the support of the nation. Our leaders are called to express their personal grief and the grief of the American people when tragedy strikes. President Obama spoke at a Newtown memorial service saying, “…you’re not alone in your grief, that our world too has been torn apart - that all across this land of ours, we have wept with you.” It’s also not partisan. President Reagan spoke on the Challenger Disaster saying, “We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.” President Bush spoke at the Virginia Tech University memorial saying, “…it is a day of sadness for our entire nation.” </p>
<p>I find it sad that there is so much cynicism today that people believe Vice President Biden is trying to “score political points” and is involved in an effort to “politicize this tragedy”. I chose to believe his motives were not selfish.</p>
<p>C’mon, every gun tragedy is politicized within 10 minutes these days. That’s just a fact. But, we agree people are cynical and there are some very good reasons for that. Not being cynical is being unaware. </p>
<p>Thank you @csfmap, you’ve perfectly expressed my sentiments. I had begun to think intellectualism was extinct until I read your post. </p>
<p>My daughter moved out of her Isla Vista home yesterday, where her roommates lay on the floor on the evening of May 23 listening to gunfire as the shooter drove twice past their house. It was the most traumatic experience that many kids and their families will ever experience and knowing that their trauma is understood and acknowledged by one of our highest elected representatives is reassuring. </p>
<p>Oprah was spotted on campus the other day. She has perhaps risen to the same level in popular culture as the President and Vice President have achieved in public service. I suppose she would be a better spokesperson for the cynics who don’t believe politicians have anything but personal and political gain in mind when they express sympathy for victims. And @goldenpooch, she is even local! (unless Montecito is not close enough for you). </p>
<p>“Oprah was spotted on campus the other day. She has perhaps risen to the same level in popular culture as the President and Vice President have achieved in public service.”</p>
<p>You mean Oprah had a few minutes to leave her 30-room $50 million estate in Montecito to go to Isla Vista in her chauffeur-driven limousine to console the students. How touching!</p>
<p>The last time Biden was in Santa Barbara (maybe the only time), he was driven straight from the airport (right past Isla Vista) to a mansion in Montecito for a fundraiser with millionaires and billionaires, mostly from Hollywood. The next morning he was gone. Never visited UCSB. Apparently, there was no money there.</p>