ABC News' Jake Tapper posed a very direct question to President Obama at Wednesday's press conference.
Obama pressed for gun control policy changes in the wake of the Newtown shooting. On Wednesday, he announced that Vice President Biden will lead a task force to review gun policy, and set a January deadline for policy recommendations.
He took questions from White House reporters, and Tapper got the last question of the conference. "It seems to a lot of observers that you made the political calculation in 2008 and in your first term 2012 not to talk about gun violence," he said, noting that Obama has previously supported renewing the ban on assault weapons. "This is not the first incident of horrific gun violence of your four years. Where have you been?"
Obama responded, "Here's where I've been, Jake: I've been president of the United States dealing with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. An auto industry on the verge of collapse. Two wars. I don't thing I've been on vacation."
He said that this was the time for lawmakers to re-examine their priorities. "This should be a wakeup call for us to say that if we are not getting right the need to keep our children safe, then nothing else matters," Obama said.
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