Political reactiOns to the Dallas Ambush Shootings Is Coming From All Fronts.
LEMON: Political reactions to the Dallas ambush shootings is coming from all fronts. President Barack Obama called the attack vicious and calculated. And comments he delivered in Warsaw, Poland, where he's meeting with European leaders.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We still don't know all the facts. What we do know is that there has been a vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement. Police in Dallas were on duty doing their jobs, keeping people safe during peaceful protests. I believe that I speak for every single American when I say that we are horrified over these events and that we stand united with the people and the police department in Dallas. Justification for these kinds of attacks. Or any violence against law enforcement. The FBI is already in touch with the Dallas police, and anyone involved in these senseless murders will be held fully accountable. Justice will be done.</s>LEMON: So let's talk about this now with CNN political commentator and former South Carolina lawmaker Bakari Sellers. Bakari, hello to you on this really, really sad afternoon here. The president used the word horrified after an attack on major U.S. cities, a major U.S. city's police force by an American vet politically. What happens next?</s>BAKARI SELLERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: That's an interesting question. I think that over the past three days, our country has been gut punched, not once, not twice, but three times. And we have to do what we have been known to do, which is stand up right. But w, have to deal with some of the troubling issues that we have in this country. I was speaking to a good friend of mine who is a lawyer, a Republican in Pennsylvania, who said she felt like we were sliding back into 1968. And that's not where we need to be going. You know, for me, I'm of the impression that we have seven funerals over the next week. And if you can't mourn for Alton Sterling, I mean, excuse me, if you can't mourn for Alton and Philando and the five officers, all, then you're a part of the problem.</s>LEMON: Yes. Each of them is just as tragic as the next, and all appears just unnecessary. Unnecessary. In the wake of this Dallas ambush, Bakari, the congressional black caucus held a news conference today. Paul Ryan, also, the house speaker, commenting from the house floor. Let's listen to it.</s>REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D), TEXAS: My heart is broken and we will pray this weekend in Houston, marching for peace, nonviolence, and the action of the United States Congress to take violent guns and violent people off the streets of this nation.</s>REP. CEDRIC RICHMOND (D), LOUISIANA: We again today call upon Speaker Ryan, chairman Goodlatte, to convene an adult conversation about the use of deadly force, the need for AR-15s on our streets, the needs for high capacity magazines, no fly no buy.</s>REP. PAUL RYAN (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: A few perpetrators of evil do not represent us. They do not control us. The blame lies with the people who committed these vicious acts and no one and no one else.</s>LEMON: Bakari, I thought the speakers, his speech was very compelling. And I thought, to me, you know, I felt like he was sort of reaching and trying to appeal to people on the other side of the aisle. And the congressional black caucus, is this a direct appeal to him? And do you see any common ground between these two sides worked out? Any policy solutions that can be worked out?</s>SELLERS: Well, I'm hopeful. I think we all are hopeful. And I think that, you know, the black caucus and I think speaker Ryan have all realized that it's time for leadership in this country. It is not time for politics but time for true leadership. As a Democrat, I have been on your show many times and I have blasted Paul Ryan. I have blasted Donald Trump. I have blasted the NRA. But even today, just recently, the NRA came out with a statement talking about the shooting in Minnesota. Paul Ryan's comments from the floor today. Donald Trump's statement this morning. All of those things struck a tone.</s>LEMON: Let me read the statements. This is what Donald Trump tweeted. He said prayers and condolences to all of the families who are so thoroughly devastated by horrors. We are all watching take place in our country. And this is what Hillary Clinton said. I mourn for the officers shot while doing their sacred duty to protect peaceful protesters and for their families and all who served them. By the way, we are waiting for an interview with her just moments away. But again, continue. I'm wondering if there is any consensus that could be met from the two side.</s>SELLERS: Well, I think there is consensus, Don because at the end of the day, look. I'm tired of the violence at theaters in Aurora. I mean, I'm tired of the violence at schools in Sandy Hook. I'm tired of African-Americans getting gunned down at traffic stops. And I'm tired of officers who were out there protecting our sacred first amendment right and getting gunned down by snipers. I mean, it's all been too much. I mean, this last day, I saw you last night on TV. And the anger that you felt. I mean, I was hopeful that white viewers who were looking at that were able to understand that anger. I mean, I understand my passion last night when talking about these issues. I was hopeful that white viewers would be able to understand that because this morning when I woke up and realized that five police officers were gunned down and 12 total were shot, I mean, I cried those same tears and I'm hopeful that if you did not cry those tears for those officers this morning, you were part of the problem as well. I mean, we have to begin to come together in this country. We have to.</s>LEMON: I've got to go. But I was just as angry and it was breaking news last night, though, about the five officers but hi to keep it together. But, today, I find myself just being its just sad and this is just sad. Thank you, Bakari. I appreciate it.</s>SELLERS: Thank you, Don.</s>LEMON: Listen. At any moment now, Hillary Clinton is going to be weighing in on the issues live today in an interview just moments away so don't go anywhere. We will have that for you.