Pete Souza, Official White House photo

President Obama calls Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan

President Obama called Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan on his way to Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, following the tragic shootings that left 59 injured and 12 dead.

Pete Souza, Official White House photo

Kathryn Ruemmler, Counsel to the President, and FBI Director Robert Mueller speak with President Obama and VP Biden in the Oval Office

Upon arriving back at the White House he sat down with senior advisors in the Oval Office to discuss the events.

In the aftermath of the shootings, both President Obama and Mitt Romney are pulling ads off the air in Colorado. Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “We have asked affiliates to pull down our contrast advertising for the time being. It takes time for stations to be able to do this, but we are making every effort.” They later clarified that they were pulling down all advertising, not just the negative.

Check out this Huffington Post article. During a radio interview on The Heritage Foundation's "Istook Live!" show, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) was asked why he believes such senseless acts of violence take place. Gohmert responded:

You know what really gets me, as a Christian, is to see the ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs, and then some senseless crazy act of terror like this takes place... Some of us happen to believe that when our founders talked about guarding our virtue and freedom, that that was important. Whether it's John Adams saying our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people ... Ben Franklin, only a virtuous people are capable of freedom, as nations become corrupt and vicious they have more need of masters ... We have been at war with the very pillars, the very foundation of this country.

Rep. Gohmert also questioned if the tragedy would have been as bad if someone else in the theater had been carrying a gun and shot back:

It does make me wonder, with all those people in the theater, was there nobody that was carrying a gun that could have stopped this guy more quickly.

Warning: may be disturbing to some listeners.

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President Barack Obama takes a moment of silence for the events in Colorado during a campaign stop in Fort Myers, Florida.

HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY IN AURORA, COLORADO

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on July 20, 2012, in Aurora, Colorado, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, July 25, 2012. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

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A gunman opened fire on moviegoers attending a midnight showing of the latest installment of "The Dark Knight" trilogy in Aurora, Colorado; killing at least 12 (KCNC is reporting that a 13th victim has died, this is still otherwise unconfirmed) and injuring dozens more (59 injured, including a three-month-old that has already been treated and released from the hospital). The suspect, 24-year-old James Holmes, entered the Century 16 theater through an emergency exit at Aurora Mall, threw a gas canister, and opened fire. At this time there is no word on motive.

President Obama was at a campaign stop in Fort Myers, Florida and had this to say of the shooting:

I know many of you came here today for a campaign event. I was looking forward to having a fun conversation with you about some really important matters that we face as a country and the differences between myself and my opponent in this election.

But this morning we woke up to news of a tragedy that reminds us of all the ways that we are united as one American family. By now many of you know -- many of you have heard that a few miles outside of Denver, in a town called Aurora, at least 12 people were killed when a gunman opened fire in a movie theater, and dozens more are being treated for injuries at a local hospital. Some of the victims are being treated at a children's hospital.

Now, we're still gathering all the facts about what happened in Aurora, but what we do know is that the police have one suspect in custody, and the federal government stands ready to do whatever is necessary to bring whoever's responsible for this heinous crime to justice. And -- we will take every step possible to ensure the safety of all of our people.

We're going to stand by our neighbors in Colorado during this extraordinarily difficult time. And I had a chance to speak with the mayor of Aurora as well as the governor of Colorado to express, not just on behalf of Michelle and myself, but the entire American family, how heartbroken we are.

Now, even as we learn how this happened and who's responsible, we may never understand what leads anybody to terrorize their fellow human beings like this. Such violence, such evil is senseless. It's beyond reason. But while we will never know fully what causes somebody to take the life of another, we do know what makes life worth living. The people we lost in Aurora loved and they were loved. They were mothers and fathers, they were husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. They had hopes for the future and they had dreams that were not yet fulfilled.

And if there's anything to take away from this tragedy, it's the reminder that life is very fragile. Our time here is limited and it is precious.

We'll be following the story as it develops.

UPDATED:

Mitt Romney was at a campaign event in Bow, NH and had this to say of the shootings:

Our hearts break with the sadness of this unspeakable tragedy.  Ann and I join the President and First Lady and all Americans in offering our deepest condolences for those whose lives were shattered in a few moments, a few moments of evil in Colorado.  I stand before you today not as a man running for office but as a father and grandfather, a husband and American.  This is a time for each of us to look into our hearts and remember how much we love one another and how much we love and how much we care for our great country.  There is so much love and goodness in the heart of America.  In the coming days we'll surely learn more about the lives that have been lost and the families that have been harmed by this hateful act.

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Ann Romney has proven herself to be one of Mitt’s most valuable surrogates. So, as the pressure mounts for Mitt to release his tax returns, Ann made an appearance on Good Morning America to give her take. Well, her answers seem to have everyone asking even more questions. Karen Finney, MSNBC Political Analyst and Former DNC Communications Director and Hogan Gidley, Former National Communications Director for the Rick Santorum Campaign join us to talk about Ann’s answers and why the Romney camp continues to push a distorted version of what the President said about small businesses (yes, that’s still happening).

How much money do you have in your IRA/401K right now? We’re guessing it’s not between twenty and ONE HUNDRED AND ONE million dollars. That’s what the Wall Street Journal estimates Mitt Romney’s is worth. But why would you keep that much in a retirement account? Tax savings. David Cay Johnston, columnist for Reuters, Pulitzer Prize winner, author of "Perfectly Legal" and "Free Lunch" will join us to talk “everything you wanted to know about tax havens but were too afraid to ask.”

Rep. Michele Bachmann and four other House Republicans sent a letter to the State Department, suggesting that Huma Abedin, one of Hillary Clinton’s top aides, has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The attack is so entirely baseless, that prominent Republicans like Rep. John Boehner and  Sen. John McCain are coming out in Abedin’s defense. So, what does Bachmann do? DOUBLE DOWN on her claims. Chris Kofinis, Democratic Strategist, joins us to discuss.

In the big panel we’ve got John Fugelsang, Political Comedian, Jimmy Williams, Former Democratic Senate Staffer and MSNBC Contributor, and Guy Benson, Townhall’s Political Editor.

Republicans keep saying that government doesn’t create jobs and we need to make cuts. But former Vice President Dick Cheney may have changed their minds. At least when it comes to saving jobs in the Department of Defense… (you know, just so you “can plan for the next war” as Cheney reportedly said.)  Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Former chief of staff at the State Department during Gen. Colin Powell's term.  He is currently the Pamela Harriman Visiting Professor at the College of William & Mary will join us for the big finish tonight.

It's going to another packed @EdShow at 8pET on @msnbctv.

Join the conversation now or during the show by commenting on Facebook and/or tweeting (with the #edshow hashtag) so we can share your thoughts on the show.

The @TweetTron9k is powering up the circuits to put yer tweets on the teevee!

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In its desperation to change the topic from taxes, Bain, outsourcing and Sununu’s no-no’s, the Romney campaign has officially let the dogs out. Bob Shrum, Democratic Strategist, and Richard Wolffe, MSNBC Political Analyst, join Ed to talk about the new attacks they’re launching on President Obama and why they won’t work.

The Republicans will not stop talking about President Obama’s remarks last week regarding small businesses. Problem is, they’re pushing a lie. And Romney, still desperate to get us talking about ANYTHING other than his taxes, has joined in on the game. (And you won’t believe how many segments Fox News has aired pushing the deceptive edit) E.J. Dionne, a Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution and Washington Post columnist, joins us to (ONCE AGAIN) sort out the lie.

Yesterday, Ed brought you the story about the town of Freeport, IL and the 170 jobs at the Bain-controlled Sestana Technologies that are at risk of being outsourced to China. The community is asking Mitt Romney to help save their jobs. While the Romney camp (amazingly) claims to be for the middle class—it’s his business model that is responsible for situations like the one threatening the local economy in Freeport. James Hoffa, President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, joins Ed to talk about the effects of outsourcing and how bills like the “Bring the Jobs Home Act” proposed by Senate Democrats, would encourage insourcing.

Susan Del Percio, Republican Strategist, MSNBC Contributor, Krystal Ball, Democratic Strategist and Former Candidate for U.S. Congress, and Keli Goff, Author of “The GQ Candidate” join Ed for the big panel tonight—we’re talking about former President George W. Bush’s “AWESOME” interview with the Hoover Institution and about whether or not his legacy is equally “AWESOME”.

**EXCLUSIVE** You won’t want to miss this! Tonight, Ed has an EXCLUSIVE interview with Wayne Powell, the Democratic Congressional Candidate from Virginia who is running for Congress in Virginia’s seventh congressional district… against Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor. And with the polls showing that only 41 percent of people in Cantor’s district say he should be re-elected (and 43 percent saying he should be replaced) Wayne Powell has the chance. Join us tonight to hear where he stands on the issues.

It's going to another packed @EdShow at 8pET on @msnbctv.

Join the conversation now or during the show by commenting on Facebook and/or tweeting (with the #edshow hashtag) so we can share your thoughts on the show.

The @TweetTron9k is powering up the circuits to put yer tweets on the teevee

Community meeting on Sunday, July 8th in Freeport, IL

Romney, his taxes and his time at Bain. His campaign continues to play defense, despite a new poll showing that 61% of independents believe that he should release his tax returns from the past 12 years. In the meantime they’re trying to distract the public by distorting what President Obama said about small businesses on Sunday (click here for a refresher from last night’s Ed Show). Oh, and there's also Romney surrogate John Sununu saying "I wish this president would learn to be an American." Katrina Vanden Heuvel, Editor and Publisher of The Nation and Michael Steele, Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee and MSNBC Analyst join Ed.

Workers at Bain-controlled Sestana in Freeport, IL are calling on Mitt Romney to save the 170 jobs that are at risk of being outsourced to China. See some of their testimonials here. Shelly Griswold, Director of Community Development for the city of Freeport, IL and Dot Turner, Worker at the Sensata Plant in Freeport, IL for 43 years, will join Ed to talk about what this could mean for the future of their community.

Senate Democrats are proposing a bill called the “Bring Jobs Home Act” that would end the tax break for moving jobs overseas and give businesses a 20 percent tax credit for bringing them back to America. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), sponsor of the bill, joins us to talk about what it would do for the country— and why Republicans won’t support it.

Mitt Romney told a group of wealthy Republicans at a Mississippi fundraiser that they’re doing “relatively well” compared to the waiters and waitresses serving them at the event. But if the wealthy, or “job creators” are doing well, then—where are the jobs? And why does his tax plan include a tax increase for people making less than $40,000? Ari Melber, Correspondent for The Nation, Alex Wagner, MSNBC Host, Michael Medved, Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host join Ed in the big panel tonight to discuss.

Finally, Howard Fineman, NBC News Political Analyst and Editorial Director of the Huffington Post Media Group, will join Ed to talk about Mitt Romney and Republican backlash.

It's going to another packed @EdShow at 8pET on @msnbctv.

Join the conversation now or during the show by commenting on Facebook and/or tweeting (with the #edshow hashtag) so we can share your thoughts on the show.

The @TweetTron9k is powering up the circuits to put yer tweets on the teevee.

Bain Captial continues to outsource jobs: citizens of Freeport, IL are calling on Mitt Romney (who is STILL trying to explain his “retroactive retirement” from the company) to help save the 170 jobs at Sensata that are slated to be outsourced to China. A few of the people, whose jobs are at risk, have taken to YouTube to share their stories and ask for help.

Check out John Nichols' (Washington Correspondent for The Nation and friend of The Ed Show) piece on this, watch more of the testimonials below and be sure to tune in tonight at 8pmEST for more on this story!

Robert Reich, Former U.S. Labor Secretary, UC Berkeley Professor and friend of The Ed Show, breaks down the "truth about taxes" in a mere two minutes and thirty seconds. Trust me, you should spare the time to hear his reasons for raising taxes on the rich.

Check it out and tell us what you think!

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President Obama speaks in Roanoke, VA (7/13/12)

Did you hear the one about “retroactive retirement”? It seems like the more Mitt Romney and his surrogates try to explain his Bain record, the more confusing it all gets. Rick Tyler, Republican strategist and former Communications Director for Newt Gingrich, and Richard Wolffe, MSNBC Political Analyst, join Ed to sort out the weekend’s developments.

You’ve seen the ad (click here for a refresher)—the Obama team is officially playing offense, highlighting the outsourcing that occurred at Bain during Romney’s tenure with the tagline “Mitt Romney is not the solution. He’s the problem.” Chuck Rocha, Executive Director of the American Worker Latino Project, joins Ed to talk about the ad, the message and what it means for the rest of the campaign.

The right-wing is desperate to change the subject from Romney’s recent Bain pain—Fox News joined in by selectively editing a speech President Obama gave in Roanoke, VA to make it seem as if he insulted small business owners by saying “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made it happen.” Of course, the conservatives went wild. We’ll show you their deceptive edit AND the clip in context. Van Jones, President and Co-Founder of the Rebuild the Dream, will join Ed to straighten out their lie.

Catherine Crier, Attorney and best-selling author of “Patriot Acts: What Americans Must do to Save the Republic”, Jon Bramnick, NJ Assembly GOP Leader, and Keith Boykin, CNBC Contributor and Democratic Strategist join us in the big panel tonight to talk about reactions to Obama’s latest ad.

Sheldon Adelson armed the YG (Young Guns) Action fund, the super PAC backed by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, with a $5 million donation. Tom Perriello, Former Democratic Congressman, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, joins Ed to talk about this latest donation from the notorious GOP backer.

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As the days go by, more questions arise about the timing of Mitt Romney’s employment at Bain— Michael Steele, Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee and MSNBC Analyst, Eugene Robinson, MSNBC Analyst and Associate Editor and Pulitzer Prize winning Columnist for the Washington Post, will join Ed to talk about what it all means.

President Obama was on the campaign trail in Virginia today, a key battleground state in this year’s election—and the home of Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Gov. Bob McDonnell (remember the mandatory ultrasound bill?). Tonight Ed will talk with Madeleine Stowe, Actress and the Keynote Speaker at the Women’s Strike Force event in Richmond, VA, about whether the Republican war on women has mobilized voters, and discuss her support for Wayne Powell—the Vet who’s challenging Eric Cantor.

Tonight, Ed is going to tell you the truth about the Affordable Care Act and how it’s already helping small businesses. Kimberly Newman and Cathy Cook, both small business owners, will join Ed to get into the ways in which the ACA will actually affect them and their employees.

Mitt Romney’s camp is doing whatever it takes to distract us from his Bain problems—a well-timed story came out last night claiming that Condoleezza Rice is at the top of Romney’s VP list. Keli Goff, Author of “The GQ Candidate”, Ari Berman, Contributing Writer for The Nation and Rolling Stone, and Michael Medved, Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host, weigh in.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is calling, yet again, for filibuster reform as Republicans continue their campaign of obstruction. Richard Wolffe, MSNBC Political Analyst, joins Ed to talk about what lies ahead.

It's going to another packed @EdShow at 8pET on @msnbctv.

Join the conversation now or during the show by commenting on Facebook and/or tweeting (with the #edshow hashtag) so we can share your thoughts on the show.

The @TweetTron9k is powering up the circuits to put yer tweets on the teevee.