Shortly after President Obama spoke out for the first time on the killing of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin, former Massachusetts Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney followed suit, issuing a statement, through a spokesperson, which read “What happened to Trayvon Martin is a tragedy. There needs to be a thorough investigation that reassures the public that justice is carried out with impartiality and integrity.”
Romney’s statement was similar to comments made by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who told CNN’s Piers Morgan, last night, that “I think that Americans can recognize that while this is a tragedy, and it is a tragedy, that we’re going to relentlessly seek justice. And I think that’s the right thing to do.”
In his remarks this morning, President Obama also stressed the need for a thorough investigation, adding “But my main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. You know, if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon. And, you know, I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and that we’re going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”
Romney’s chief rival for the Republican presidential nomination, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, also commented for the first time on the Trayvon Martin killing today, telling a reporter that it was a “horrible case, chilling.”
While Trayvon Martin was killed nearly a month ago, the case has become the dominant national news story this week. While today’s remarks were the first direct comments by the President on this story, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney responded to questions about it on Monday, telling reporters that “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Trayvon Martin’s family.
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