Newt Gingrich's Trayvon Martin Comments Were 'Reprehensible,' David Plouffe Says

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's Senior Adviser David Plouffe called former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's comments on the shooting of Trayvon Martin "reprehensible" on Sunday, saying they came from a man who was "clearly in the last throes of his political career."

On Friday, Obama broke his silence on the shooting of the unarmed African-American teenager in Florida, a case that has launched a national movement.

"If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," Obama said, underscoring how the issue affected him on a personal level. "I think [Trayvon's parents] are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and we are going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened."

Gingrich took exception with Obama's comments during a radio interview later on Friday, saying they were "disgraceful."

"It's not a question of who that young man looked like," he said. "Any young American of any ethnic background should be safe, period. We should all be horrified, no matter what the ethnic background. Is the president suggesting that, if it had been a white who'd been shot, that would be OK, because it wouldn't look like him? That's just nonsense."

On ABC's "This Week," Plouffe said he thought the president had spoken out "very powerfully." He noted that there has been broad bipartisan agreement that there needs to be a thorough investigation of the incident, and of whether the shooter, George Zimmerman was truly acting in self-defense and whether race was at all involved.

"Those comments are reprehensible," Plouffe said of Gingrich's response. "And, you know, Speaker Gingrich is clearly in the last throes of his political career. And, you know, you can make a decision whether to go out with some shred of dignity or say these irresponsible, reckless things, and he's clearly chosen the latter path, and that's unfortunate for the country."

Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, has so far avoided arrest under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, which allows an individual who feels threatened to "stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force." Critics say that the law did not apply in this case, because Martin was unarmed and, according to the recording of a 911 call, Zimmerman pursued him.

Similar laws are in place in about 20 states. Plouffe said on Sunday that he expects that states will be looking at these laws as the controversy plays out.

"But right now, our focus ought to be on sympathy for the family and then making sure an investigation is done thoroughly," he said. "And there seems to be, you know, agreement on that across the partisan divide. You have Democrats and Republicans, independents, everybody, saying let's look into this. And I think that's what's going to happen."

UPDATE: 12:10 p.m. -- On CNN's "State of the Union," Plouffe criticized former Sen. Rick Santorum's reaction to Obama's comments on the Martin shooting.

Santorum said on Friday that the president should "not use these types of horrible and tragic individual cases to try to drive a wedge in America."

Plouffe called both Gingrich and Santorum's remarks "irresponsible," adding, "I think those comments were really hard to stomach, really, and I guess trying to appeal to people's worst instincts."

Comments

[Charn Robinson]

10:43 AM on 11/30/2012

Yo Mitt, I know it's hard to think outside your little box; but he meant it more philosophically-

[SLCampbell]

09:44 AM on 04/10/2012

He said a lot of good things, but messed up on that about white people. I don't think Obama meant that, at all.

[jpoze]

01:09 AM on 03/30/2012

Ha. says the man looking in the mirror

[floydwhtny]

05:51 AM on 03/28/2012

Racially profiling of the President of this country by Newte is something that happens on every occasion he gets.

[DynamicInfo]

09:15 AM on 03/28/2012

You on th eleftr have been so trained into a thinking hierarchy, starting w/racism, that it has you made you into racists. WE are so done w/this nonsense. YOU are the ones that color fanatics -- we aren't -- but if you think we aren't going to call you on it, you're worng.

[rp75]

09:46 AM on 03/28/2012

Those birthers are really post-racial.

[janmB]

04:29 AM on 03/28/2012

It seems to be a question of what Marin looked like since the HOODIE became the object of discussion.
How creepy is this......Zimmerman hanging out in a vehicle with a gun waiting for a victim.

[DynamicInfo]

09:22 AM on 03/28/2012

You might want to watch Fox News to get the right information. While facts are still emerging, thus far, Zimmerman's African American friend came forward to vouch for his character. Zimmerman was told by the police not to follow him, to which on the audio he said, okay. According to some information, he was returning to his car. The young man attacked him and had him on the bottom in a fight. An eye witness to this came forward who said Zimmerman was crying for help. Instead of getting involved he went to his home to call 911. He then heard a gun shot. This is my question why was this young man, wearing a hoddie, who did not belong to the GATED community, why was there? Why did he attack Zimmerman, who was a community watchmen? Let's get the facts before you lefties jump to conclusions as you did w/the LaCross situation. America is finding out about you so called leaders.

[rp75]

09:52 AM on 03/28/2012

Self appointed community watchman. Who has an extensive history of gratuitous 911 calls. And who was carrying a gun. Martin died 70 yards from his house, by the way. After telling his girlfriend on the phone that he was scared... because a guy was following him. Its a reasonable expectation that after fatally shooting another person a private citizen will be taken into custody.

[janmB]

10:40 AM on 03/28/2012

Zimmerman is a CREEP !!! Who sits in their car by the hour with a gun waiting for some victim ?
I could only watch FOX if I had a couple glasses of wine and a shot of Pepto Bismo in the house to take afterward that's how much I hate those people. In February 2003, a Florida Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with an assertion by FOX News that there is no rule against distorting or falsifying the news in the United States. Good reason to AVOID them.

[helenwheels74]

01:46 AM on 03/28/2012

i'm sorry... i'm a leftie all the way, even though i don't always agree with our democratic president on every point, but did this 'representative' of our esteemed president actually interject with 'you know' that many times? he sounds like a daft teenaged cheerleader, from what i read here.

[DynamicInfo]

09:24 AM on 03/28/2012

President Obama does the same thing w/o the teleprompter. Too many ahs, ers, ums -- you'd think these elite colleges would train speakers better. It drives me nuts.

[Sheila D Robinson Hodge]

12:30 PM on 03/29/2012

You know President Obama is an awesome speaker and person, don't hate cause you wish you could be like him!! That's what you really want to say...go ahead and admit it, that's alright I did it for you! Smile

[DynamicInfo]

06:51 PM on 03/29/2012

Sheilia -- I dare you get thru this whole video -- I know it'll be hard, but I love this one best!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4-AKcH3eC8

[JAT3]

11:58 PM on 03/27/2012

NO child or person deserves to be a target of assault or be murdered. Regarding race, its been all too long the issue of racial profiling which makes the issue standout even more as its a possibility that this may have happened. Unfortunately for many minorities in many places in the US they can be targeted. I'm not to say there isn't or can't be an incident of where Hispanics or Blacks attack a White person. The point is that it happen far more frequently to Blacks. Most of Black on Black/Hispsanic on Hispanic crime is hardly ever covered depending on the type of crime and the number of people involved say from a gangs or prison.

[Miami Don]

11:51 PM on 03/27/2012

One of the magnificent things about our nation is the rights we are given gratis as citizens. Has the thought ever crossed your mind that we are likely the only nation on earth where we are free to burn our own flag as a guaranteed freedom?

Many of you are correct that everything will come to light within its own time. However, in the text of attempts to vilify this child I am reminded that Tyron’s parents are only asking for something so basic to our rights that I stand in awe of their demeanor. They only are asking for justice.

[batulia73]

02:41 AM on 03/28/2012

I couldn't agree with you more. I haven't heard either parent vilify or condemn Zimmerman. That is what the media and many here have done. Martin's parents simply want the truth to come out. I think they will be satisfied with whatever the verdict is, as long as justice is truly served.
Fanned and faved.

[Miami Don]

03:46 PM on 03/28/2012

F&F TY

[novabird]

07:28 AM on 03/28/2012

Good point. They are actually exercising a great deal of restraint.

[Miami Don]

03:47 PM on 03/28/2012

F&F

[lmkarlson]

10:45 PM on 03/27/2012

First, Zimmerman is a self pronounced Hispanic. I guess for the media, that's white enough!

But my question is this....was anyone really there? Has anyone of you really SEEN what happened? No??? Then what happened to innocent until proven...oh but that doesn't fit into the blown out media rhetoric, and certainly won't fan the frenzied flames of the political agendas from all sides, Obama included.

And....what about that white kid doused with gasoline and set on fire by 3 black youths? hmmmm? Oh, I see. Wrong color combination! :-)

I'm black, and I see the reprehensible building of racial tension being strung as tight as an over used bow. So... who gets the arrow next time?

Ahhh the media is slick. And all of us little sheeple just follow the popular crowd for the moment.
Self defense is a RIGHT. Murder is NOT. Keep race out of it unless it's proven to be so....and if you are going to jump on the race bandwagon, then look at that poor white kid at least once in passing, ok?

[Propeity]

11:20 PM on 03/27/2012

Zimmermans' race has less to do with the media coverage than the fact, that this case is not advantaged by 21st century technology. The facts may come to light over time. In the meantime, I get the sense that Zimmerman is perceived as an angry hot headed man of color. He may see himself as white.

[lmkarlson]

12:53 AM on 03/28/2012

You use the word "perceived" as an angry hot headed man. That is exactly right. Perceived because that is what he's being colored to be.
Now...is it TRUTH? Only time will tell. In the meantime, we have no authority to claim knowledge of anything!
White? The media is painting him as white. Zimmerman is Hispanic. But using white or caucasion gets a lot more views, don't you think?
Yeah...they think so too.

[Syllogizer]

11:28 PM on 03/27/2012

"Keep race out of it unless it's proven to be so" -- I wish it were that easy. But knowing how quickly Floridians resort to the most shameful racial slurs to explain the horrible things that go on in their own society, I am not optimistic.

Now I know you say you are black, but I don't know what part of the county you are from, if you have any experience, direct or indirect of lingering Southern racism. But I have that experience. I know it is not as open as it used to be, nor even as all-pervasive as it was. But it hasn't gone away. So I find it very easy to believe that Zimmerman assumed that since Martin was black, he must be up to no good, and that the police made the same assumption and so exonerated Zimmerman. I al so know of the long, sordid history of police in the South hiding or destroying evidence that will expose their negligence and racism. This hasn't died out either.

[lmkarlson]

11:59 PM on 03/27/2012

I understand and have experienced racism. And this is why I deplore it from ALL angles. Zimmerman has not been exonerated...just the oposit. He's been villianized BEFORE the truth has even seen the light of day!

When will we all grow up and begin acting like human beings towards each other? When will we look for the TRUTH and not rise at the drop of sensationalism?

I see that Martin's mother is trade marking her son already! Good business strategy in my mind! It's one of the first things I'd be doing....ride the media wave, baby!

[cheojose]

10:42 PM on 03/27/2012

Image the Newt. president of this country !!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a nightmare.

[Syllogizer]

11:29 PM on 03/27/2012

All the more reason to remember our new slogan: help ban public Newtity!

[batulia73]

03:05 AM on 03/28/2012

I love that. Did you come up with that?

[novabird]

07:31 AM on 03/28/2012

That's the naked truth.

[Troop1028]

09:30 PM on 03/27/2012

Newt is right in the money. gimme a break.

[Syllogizer]

11:30 PM on 03/27/2012

No, Newt is NOT "right on the money". ON the contrary: Newt never speaks the truth, he always says the most cynical, manipulative lie his perverse mind can come up with.

[interject]

12:07 AM on 03/28/2012

It's Right "On" the money Einstein.

[Jim Kopetz]

09:28 PM on 03/27/2012

Ol' Reliable: Newt Gingrich At It Again - http://www.preludetotheendoftheworld.com/2012/03/50-maam.html#more

[moose etal]

09:19 PM on 03/27/2012

Gingrich is just plain STUPID!!!

[Syllogizer]

11:31 PM on 03/27/2012

Oh, no. Newt is very intelligent. But he chooses to use his intelligence only for the most intensely cynical evil. He doesn't believe a word of what he says, but he knows that his 'marks' are easily fooled. He also knows how to whip them up by appealing to their basest prejudices. Unfortunately, he does this very well.

This is why we MUST ban public Newtity!

[saganz999]

09:03 PM on 03/27/2012

New Gingrich IS reprehesible.

[Marcusarilius]

12:54 AM on 03/28/2012

And simply Factually inaccurate.

[Mike Q]

08:31 PM on 03/27/2012

Exactly what is it that has anybody upset at Newt, he didn't say anything terrible. Obama didn't imply shooting a white is okay but he did say Trayvon would look like his kid. How about the national security of our country? Obama DID let the Russians know he could be more flexible with the missle defense system. The entire country of all races should be very pissed of at him for making that statement. How do you like knowing he will tell you one thing and then deal with the Russians in a different way than he told people in this country. That doesn't make sense being Obama is supposedly half white. It's a pretty good chance his kid could turn out white. The bottom line is first of all people need to wait until ALL of the facts are out before they judge ANYONE! Trayvon may have been wrong just as Zimmerman may have been wrong. Just last week on "Cops" a black kid shot and killed another kid. He wasn't arrested and the D.A. found he shot the other kid in self defense so he was never arrested and never saw the inside of jail or court, just as it should have been. Just because Trayvon is black doesn't make him guilty but it doesn't make him innocent either, the same goes for Zimmerman or anybody else of any ethnicity, gender, religion etc.

[Syllogizer]

11:34 PM on 03/27/2012

"The entire country of all races should be very pissed of at him for making that statement. " NO, we should not. President Obama is quite right to say what he said. His only mistake was saying it when the microphone was on.

For what the President is trying to do is the right thing: we do NOT need that missile shield. It is a boondoggle. We certainly don't need something that irritates the Russians so much for no reliable, tangible benefit to us. We get too much "here's a stick in your eye" diplomacy from the RUssians as it is! We REALLY do not need something that makes it worse, like this missile 'shield' does.

[Miami Don]

11:35 PM on 03/27/2012

No we shouldn't be pissed at Obama for working with the Russians and Zimmerman had a hundred pounds on the kid. But the kid got him down and banged his head on the sidewalk so he had to shoot him?