Senate fails to get the 60 votes necessary to protect the Manchin-Toomey amendment from filibuster. Updated with President's response.

We learned today that THESE are more important than our children.

Courtesy of the Washington Post: 

As the Senate began voting Wednesday on nine proposed changes to a gun control bill, the centerpiece proposal on background checks quickly failed to win enough support, despite broad public backing. 

The vote on the so-called Manchin-Toomey amendment was 54 in favor, 46 against — failing to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to move ahead. Four Republicans supported it, and four Democrats voted no. 

The Senate also failed to move ahead with a GOP-backed amendment to permit “national reciprocity” of concealed carry permits, on a vote of 57 in favor to 43 against. All amendments under consideration required 60 votes to survive Senate procedural moves and ensure final passage. 

The raw emotion of the defeat played out in the Senate gallery just after Vice President Biden read the vote count on the background check amendment. 

“Shame on you!” at least two women were heard shouting. 

As they were escorted from the Capitol, Patricia Maisch and Lori Haas said they shouted in anger. Maisch successfully knocked a large ammunition magazine out of the hands of Jared Loughner in Jan. 2011 after he shot former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and other bystanders. 

“They are an embarrassment to this country, that they don’t have any compassion or care for people who have been taken brutally from their families,” Maisch said as officers attempted to remove her from the building. “I hate them,” she said of the senators. 

“We’re sick and tired of the death in this country and these legislators stand up there and think it’s a bunch of numbers,” said Haas, whose daughter, Emily, was wounded in the April 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech. 

“It’s a shame, it’s appalling, it’s disgusting,” she added.

How many more must die?

I am just heartbroken over this.

The Senators who did not vote for this, and yes I include the two cowards representing Alaska, should be ashamed of themselves.

Update: Politico is the first ones that have video of the President's remarks. (They also have the transcript.)

I don't think I have EVER seen the President this angry. And I don't blame him one little bit!

Update 2: Well look who is dancing on the graves of Newtown.

Politicians' expanded gun control effort fails in the Senate today. Count this a victory for the 2nd Amendment and law-abiding citizens.
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) April 17, 2013

I heard that Mitch McConnell was dancing a little jig today on the Senate floor as well.

Update 3: This photograph, of the President hugging a Sandy Hook parent directly after his remarks, pretty much says it all.