6 DEAD, JEWISH CONGRESSWOMAN CRITICAL FOLLOWING APPARENT AASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN ARIZONA

ALLEGED SHOOTER LISTED MEIN KAMPF AMONG HIS FAVORITE BOOKS

"In San Diego, we stand together today and say that violence has no place in politics, not here, and never again." --  Jess Durfee and Tony Krvaric, chairs of the San Diego Democratic and Republican parties, in a joint statement

Former ECM manager now in Tucson recalls meeting Giffords, says she was outspoken on need to `tone down' rhetoric that could incite violence

 

January 8, 2011 (Tucson) Updated 5:45 p.m. -- Democratic Congersswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona's first Jewish representative,  has been shot through the brain and is in critical condition following surgery, according to a hospital spokesperson. A federal judge and a nine-year-old-baby are among the dead; ten others were wounded when a gunman opened fire in Tucson on a street corner where Giffords was hosting a meeting with constituents.

The gunman, now in custody, has been identified as Jared Lee Loughner, CNN reports.  A My Space page belonging to Loughner has been removed from the Internet; however Huffington Post published an archived copy that listed Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and Karl Marx's A Communist Manifesto among his favorite books. You Tube videos posted by Loughner included a Dec. 15 video titled “My Final Thoughts.”

A bio on his site indicates he has served in the U.S. military and attended schools in Arizona. Witnesses described him as young, white man who looked like a “fringe” character wearing dark clothing.

Whether his motives were motivated by politics, anti-semitism, or another reason is unclear. He also espoused anti-government and anti-taxation sentiments (“No, I won’t pay debt with a currency that’s not backed byg old and silver! No! I won’t trust in God!”) , as well as support for the 2nd Amendment Constitutional right to bear arms.

 

Giffords was among several Congressional Democrats targeted on Republican Sarah Palin’s “hit list” website with a live target symbol drawn over her district on a U.S. map. She has also drawn opposition from the T.E.A. Party. Giffords had been discussed as a potential U.S. Senate candidate. Several members of her staff are among those seriously wounded. Media reports conflict on the type of weapon used in the assault.

It is unknown whether the shooter has any affiliation with the T.E.A. party or other organizations. He has been described by former classmates as "disturbed."  An Arizona Star News report includes describes frequent outbursts in class, over and veiled threats to kill a policeman or himself: http://azstarnet.com/article_91db5db4-1b74-11e0-ba23-001cc4c002e0.html

 

The mass shooting has been condemned on both sides of the political aisles.

 

Former Republican Presidential candidate John McCain of Arizona said he was “horrified by the violent attack on Representative Gabrielle Gifflrds and many other innocent people by a wicked person who has no sense of justice or compassion.” He offered prayers to heal those who are injured.

 

President Barack Obama called the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy” and added that such a “senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society.”

Speaker John Boehmer said "An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve."

San Diego Democratic and Republican Party Chairs Jess Durfee and Tony Krvaric issued a joint statement condemning the attack.  "Regardless of political ideology, we are united in our horror over the violence against those who are called to serve at any level, and members of the general public who participate in the Democratic process," the statement said.  "In San Diego, we stand together today and say that violence has no place in politics, not here, and never again."

Giffords has been a target of violence before. In March, after voting for healthcare reform that passed Congress, Gifford had her office in Tucson vandalized by someone who kicked or shot out a glass door and window, USA Today reports. In 2009, a gun was dropped at another Giffords event.

Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego)  issued a press statement remembering his fallen colleague.  “Gabby Giffords is a good legislator and a good friend. We work closely together as U.S./Mexico border Congressmembers. We pray for her full recovery."

Filner faulted incendiary talk radio programming as contributing to a climate that may have encouraged today's violence.  "I cannot help but believe that the violent context of the recent election is responsible for this tragedy," he said. "Many of us were physically threatened by those who believed they were “right” and we were “wrong” – we were “enemies,” rather than sincere people with different opinions.  Their incendiary talk – given legitimacy by equally incendiary talk shows – make violence an acceptable political tactic. Violence as acceptable – bolstered by easy access to guns – made this tragedy almost inevitable. Let us all resolve to recommit ourselves to what is truly exceptional about America – that we conduct our politics with debate and respect, not violence.”

Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-El Cajon), told San Diego's NBC affiliate that the shooting was "a horrific and disgusting crime and the nation is poorer for it." He added that his office has also received threats, but that there is no way for a representative to avoid risk since members of Congress make many public appearances.

 

Former ECM business manager Leon Thompson, who moved to Tucson from Santee, sent an e-mail to ECM after the shooting.  "I met Gabrielle Giffords at a rally last October in Tucson," he recalled. "She was engaging and charming. Her supporters told me she was remarkably accessible - returning from Washington nearly every weekend to meet with constituents at 5 to 10 events like the one she held this morning."

Ironically, Thompson noted, "She was particularly vocal about the need to `tone-down the rhetoric' that has become so volatile in recent years." Thompson said a local Democratic office was nearly empty as supporters held a vigil outside the hospital. 

 

Early reports by CNN indicated that the Congresswoman died, however a correction was issued soon after. While a hospital spokesman said he is “optimistic” about her survival and other reports quote a staffer stating she was responsive to commands after surgery, her long-term prognosis remains unknown.

 

Capitol police responded to the shooting by advising lawmakers and their staff to take reasonable and prudent precautions regarding their personal security.