[Chi019]

Surprised his office or someone from the administration couldn't at least arrange a brief letter of sympathy.

The parents of two British students murdered in Florida have criticised President Barack Obama for his lack of compassion over their sons' deaths.

His failure to respond to three letters sent to the White House was because there was no "political value" and not worthy of a few minutes of his time.
They spoke out as teenager Shawn Tyson began a life sentence after being found guilty of the murder of James Cooper and James Kouzaris last April.

The 17 year old, who shot the men as they begged for their lives, will die in prison.

Later speaking after Tyson was jailed Davies and Hallett lashed out at Mr Obama saying the deaths of their friends was "not worthy of ten minutes of his time."

Davies said:"We would like to publicly express our dissatisfaction at the lack of any public or private message of support or condolence from any American governing body or indeed, President Obama himself.

"Mr Kouzaris has written to President Obama on three separate occasions and is yet to even receive the courtesy of a reply.

"It would perhaps appear that Mr Obama sees no political value in facilitating such a request or that the lives of two British tourists are not worthy of ten minutes of his time."

The rebuke follows Mr Obama's personal intervention into the shooting in Florida of a young black teenager by a white-Hispanic neighbourhood watch captain.
The death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin has sparked nationwide protests with his supporters claiming he was victim of a racist attack.

Mr Obama entered the controversy last week by saying if he had a son he would have looked like Martin.

[Aack]

Why would Obama care? Not like they were black.

[ifstatement]

[Silent--ly]

(Original post by Chi019)
Surprised his office or someone from the administration couldn't at least arrange a brief letter of sympathy.

America's a big country... it would be unrealistic to expect him to apologise/offer sympathy to every single victim of crime, foreign or otherwise

[Tudball]

Just focus on your children.

[ckingalt]

I my loved one was murdered in the UK I would expect to see the perpetrators prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I would not expect a christmas card from David Cameron.

[Made in the USA]

(Original post by Silent--ly)
America's a big country... it would be unrealistic to expect him to apologise/offer sympathy to every single victim of crime, foreign or otherwise

He is a very racist man so he only involves himself when the victim is black. He doesn't give a damn about whites dying

[Angry Spartan]

You can't compare this incident to the Trayvon Martin case. They're two very different murder cases.

[Beebumble]

If Obama responded to every parent of a child who was murdered in the USA he'd have no time for anything else.

I can understand the parents reaction though. They are obviously going through a lot of grief and must also have the thought of their sons begging for their lives during their last moments to deal with. So they're going to want to focus their grief and anger at whoever they possibly can.

[Sharri5]

This isn't anything for Obama to get into. He can't comment everytime tourists get shot. He'd be commenting all the time. Perhaps the family of the slain should take the time to speak out about drunkenness and being more aware of one's surroundings.

[Chumbaniya]

It's understandable that the parents are upset, but sending a letter to the president in the expectation of a response is an act driven purely by grief. Obama has no personal involvement in the case, nor is there any distinct political issue which was brought into question by it. I think it is unrealistic to expect public figures to devote their time to sympathy in the way that family and friends of the victims would.

His remarks on the earlier murder that is mentioned appear to be those of a man pressured into providing some sort of input, and weren't particularly wise.

[victoryshinesonus]

I think America should look at themselves and their retarded constitution and realise it's not fit for the 21st Century. Thank God, Britain has an uncodified constitution where we can change laws fit for the present. Yes, there are some silly conventions, like elections should be on a Thursday, but bearing arms...

[rae_]

Barack Obama mother is white and she was the one who raised him... So the race card shouldn't be in play

[Sharri5]

(Original post by Made in the USA)
He is a very racist man so he only involves himself when the victim is black. He doesn't give a damn about whites dying

aahhh look at you, spouting ****. Aren't you late for a klan meeting?

[Made in the USA]

(Original post by Beebumble)
If Obama responded to every parent of a child who was murdered in the USA he'd have no time for anything else.

I can understand the parents reaction though. They are obviously going through a lot of grief and must also have the thought of their sons begging for their lives during their last moments to deal with. So they're going to want to focus their grief and anger at whoever they possibly can.

The point is that Obama DOES respond when the victim is black and ONLY when the victim is black. When blacks are killing whites Obama doesn't respond.

In the Henry Louis Gates, Obama immediately came out against the white cops before knowing all the facts. In the Trayvon Martin case, Obama immediately came out saying "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon" and "Obviously, this is a tragedy...I can only imagine what these parents are going through. And when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids."

The parents of murdered British students are criticizing Obama because he only speaks out when the victims are black. If white kids are murdered by blacks, well, too bad, Obama is a racist man who only cares about Blacks!

[Made in the USA]

(Original post by Sharri5)
aahhh look at you, spouting ****. Aren't you late for a klan meeting?

I've never been caught listening to racist sermons at a black liberation theology church.

[Ferdowsi]

Why would the president send them a letter?

[TheHansa]

It's not his fault he has nothing to apologise for, the Trayvon Martin case on the other hand was a great opportunity for him to win votes both white and black.

[hughcapet]

(Original post by ckingalt)
I my loved one was murdered in the UK I would expect to see the perpetrators prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I would not expect a christmas card from David Cameron.

When two British tourists are murdered in the USA, there's nothing to say that the American president has to make a public declaration about the murders, any more than the leader of another country would have to if the situation were reversed.

But when the parents of the tourists write to Obama, three times no less, is it really so hard for him to send the families a private message of condolence?

I'm getting the impression that Obama really, really dislikes the UK.

[blu tack]

(Original post by Made in the USA)
The point is that Obama DOES respond when the victim is black and ONLY when the victim is black. When blacks are killing whites Obama doesn't respond.

In the Henry Louis Gates, Obama immediately came out against the white cops before knowing all the facts. In the Trayvon Martin case, Obama immediately came out saying "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon" and "Obviously, this is a tragedy...I can only imagine what these parents are going through. And when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids."

The parents of murdered British students are criticizing Obama because he only speaks out when the victims are black. If white kids are murdered by blacks, well, too bad, Obama is a racist man who only cares about Blacks!

Obama talked about Trayvon because there was a national outrage that the police hadn't arrested the murderer.
The police have arrested the guy that killed the Britons, justice was served; what else is there to say?