For those wondering whether or not Rep. Giffords shooting has a Tea Party connection Raw Story is reporting that Rep. Giffords was on the so-called hit list of Dems ‘targeted’ by Tea Party Queen Sarah Palin.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who was shot Saturday during a public event in Tucson, was among 20 other members of Congress who were on a so-called hit list published by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
Palin, who has never publicly advocated violence against fellow US politicians, has often employed rhetorical attacks that leverage imagery and terminology familiar to gun owners and evocative of firearms. She said in March that her supporters should “reload” and “aim for” Democrats, ostensibly with their votes.
A map of the US, published on Palin’s Facebook page, featured targeting crosshairs over individual congressional districts Palin had targeted for intense campaign efforts. While her note called for “pink slips,” she added that supporters should fire a “salvo” at those lawmakers. Rep. Giffords was on the list.
Hours after Giffords was shot, that list was still available on Palin’s Facebook page. (Screenshot.)
Read the complete story here.
I’m surprised that the Media hasn’t started speculating on the motive for the killings.
She is an Arizona Congresswoman with an “A-“ and a “F-“ grade on immigration issues, from http://www.NumbersUSA.com an anti illegal immigration organization, (Bottom right for “Congressional Immigration Grade Cardsâ€).
The Congresswoman received the “A-“ grade on “Reduce Illegal Jobs & Presence†and a “F-“ grade on “Reduce Amnesty Enticementsâ€.
The “A-“ grade means she is anti open borders;
the “F-“ grade means she is for open borders.
An immigration issue might not have been the motive.
I would not be surprised if the Media focused on the “F-“ grade while ignoring the “A-“ grade.
grow up people!. As belong to NRA ,I do not agree to signal as guilty people who exercise our SECOND ASMENMENT.. Long Life to America!!!!!!!!
Mary,
Thanks for demonstrating exactly why hateful, violent rhetoric is so dangerous, the people who are inspired by it, aren’t playing with a full deck.
Even though conspiracy theories are part of the Tea Party base, the shooter’s political rhetoric, garbled and unstable as it is, belongs to an extreme far right fringe of thought beyond that.
There is a second suspect…an older man. I wonder what his apprehension will add to understanding this tragedy.
With that, is Palin’s rhetoric immature and irresponsible? Well, if there was nothing wrong with it, she wouldn’t have practiced auto-censorship yesterday…
The Democrats have also used “targeting” as a political metaphor; see e.g., http://www.verumserum.com/?p=13647
Nick, There is a significant difference in symbolism. While the image you referenced did show the targeting of districts with a target, the Sarah Palin site used a gunsight as a targeting symbol.
HAHA! What danger does that map signal? Drunken dart throwers!