Twitchy first noticed a downright antagonism to the words “thoughts and prayers” after Sen. Ted Cruz offered his prayers to the victims and first responders at the Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs. The backlash against prayer was so intense after today’s mass shooting in San Bernardino that The Atlantic was able to put together a piece called “Prayer Shaming After a Mass Shooting in San Bernardino.”
Prayer shaming reached as high (or low) as Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who tweeted that those who have done nothing to reduce gun violence should save their prayers for their own forgiveness. But there was someone else with whom it really caught on like a high.
Excited for GOP proposal to repeal and replace Obamcare with "thoughts and prayers"
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 2, 2015
Excited for GOP proposal to reform the tax code with #thoughtsandprayers
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 2, 2015
Excited for GOP proposal to fight ISIS with "thoughts and prayers"
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 2, 2015
Or the president’s suggestion of “better ideas”? Not to mention boots on the ground, i.e., guns?
Igor Volsky of ThinkProgress was so enamored of prayer shaming that he devoted his day to calling out politicians who offered thoughts and prayers rather than “actual gun reform,” whatever that entails.
My thoughts and prayers are with lawmakers actually passing gun reform in my lifetime.
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 2, 2015
Sending my heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the people of #SanBernardino
— Jackie Walorski (@RepWalorski) December 2, 2015
Your "thoughts & prayers" won't cut it, Congresswoman. Vote for sensible gun reforms to stop this madness https://t.co/IVgdOTxckN
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 2, 2015
Praying for those impacted by today's shootings in #SanBernadino.
— Patrick McHenry (@PatrickMcHenry) December 2, 2015
We've seen 352 mass shootings so far this year, but you just keep on praying and doing nothing else. https://t.co/EEUOAFKTYu
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 2, 2015
I agree with my friend and AZ colleague @RepKirkpatrick that now is a time for healing. #SanBernardino
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) December 2, 2015
Please let me know exact date for when you think it's time to talk about gun reforms. https://t.co/oHWnnk0XyG
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 2, 2015
Very disturbed by the reports out of #SanBernadino. Praying for the victims, their families, and local law enforcement.
— Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) December 2, 2015
Yet your campaign website calls for "consequences" for mass killers, "not unconstitutional gun control" https://t.co/MQDffa7rhN
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the #SanBernadino attacks and their loved ones.
— U.S. Rep. Billy Long (@USRepLong) December 2, 2015
Got $3,000 from NRA in 2014 election, so all he can do is send "thoughts and prayers" — nothing actually useful https://t.co/wt5hZznTKQ
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
Praying for the victims and all those affected by today's senseless violence in San Bernardino.
— John Shimkus (@RepShimkus) December 2, 2015
Got $2,000 from NRA during the 2014 election cycle to address "senseless violence" using prayer https://t.co/Kxh384mATD
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
The tragedy in California today is heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with the #SanBernardino community during this difficult time.
— Senator Deb Fischer (@SenatorFischer) December 2, 2015
Got $1,651 from NRA during the 2012 election cycle. Unlikely to address gun problem beyond "heartbreaking" tweet https://t.co/uhfsiBmegm
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015
That’s only a fraction of Volsky’s effort today, but you get the idea. It’s too bad that much work was based on the mistaken assumption that prayer precludes action. It also ignores President Obama’s message to today’s victims and his failure to convince the American public to buy into his ever-nebulous “actual gun reform.”
"Our hearts go out to the victims and the families," says @POTUS on San Bernardino shooting https://t.co/ghl6M4iKT4 pic.twitter.com/YRzrMmkcCr
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 2, 2015
.@POTUS calls for gun reforms in wake of #SanBernardino shooting https://t.co/ohKXHsXvf1 pic.twitter.com/5iZiciWolI
— CNN (@CNN) December 2, 2015
Sean Davis was good enough to point out how Democrats used to offer their own thoughts and prayers, until the shame became too much, apparently. Hillary Clinton will fight for gun control but do nothing to deter terrorism, if this “prayer shaming” theory means anything.
I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now. -H https://t.co/SkKglwQycb
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 2, 2015
Now, or 2017?
The reports from Paris are harrowing. Praying for the city and families of the victims. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 13, 2015
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