Making good on his threat promise that he's not going away, ex-Congressman Joe Walsh reared his head Friday morning to blast the first lady for traveling to her hometown of Chicago to attend slain 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton's funeral.
In a series of tweets first reported by DNAinfo Chicago, Walsh ripped Michelle Obama's attendance at the funeral of the teenaged inaugural performer as "political."
Walsh said via Twitter Friday:
"Heartbroken" Michelle Obama attending funeral of Hadiya Pendleton. I guess the other 553 murder victims didn't break her heart. (1/2)
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) February 8, 2013
Most of the 553 Chicago murder victims in 2012 & 2013 were young black males. Is she attending this funeral to make a political point? (2/2)
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) February 8, 2013
News of Pendleton's Jan. 29 shooting death struck a chord nationwide, prompting outrage over the honor student's senseless slaying, gun control and the epidemic of shooting violence in Chicago.
After the King College Prep student was shot by a still at-large perp while standing under a park canopy to escape the rain, a petition was started urging President Obama to attend the teen's funeral.
Thursday, a White House official said Michelle Obama would attend the funeral, along with senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will also attend the funeral.
"As a mother and Chicagoan, the first lady was heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of Hadiya Pendleton due to senseless gun violence," Kristina Schake, Michelle Obama communications director, told the Tribune Thursday.
According to WGN, a Friday visitation for Pendleton will be held at Calahan Funeral Home, 7030 S. Halsted St., from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. The wake and funeral follow on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. at the Greater Harvest Baptist Church at 5141 S. State St.
Walsh's criticism of the first lady attending the Pendleton service is not the first time the Tea Party favorite has lashed out on the topic of Chicago violence following a headline-grabbing tragedy. Last spring, after the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin inspired Walsh's then-congressional colleague Bobby Rush to don a hoodie on the House floor, Walsh said he hoped Rush would "be as outraged with all of the black on black crime going on in the city of Chicago weekend after weekend" as he was with Martin's death.
rest at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/08/joe-walsh-michelle-obama-_n_2646699.html
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