minimizing the massacre, starting with the good old "tragedy" trope. Like a schoolbus crash. Not like Dr. Tiller's death at all, which was an ideological assassination.

Haven't yet seen it presented right, i.e., rammed down his throat, but Obama reportedly had a "My Pet Goat" moment after being briefed on the killings. He returned to the podium where he'd been speaking, and like you, cracked a couple jokes, called for a "shout-out" to somebody or another, then after a minute or two, almost as an afterthought, announced the attacks, which he found Horrifying.