Rep. Gifford's Father: "The whole Teaparty" an enemy of his daughter.

[sabrina 1]

Shot Congresswoman survives surgery, doc cautiously 'optimistic'

The wounded include US District Court Judge John M. Roll, Gifford’s district director Ron Barber and staffer CJ Karamargian, local media reported.

The congresswoman’s father Spencer Gifford, 75, was rushing to the hospital when asked if his 40-year-old daughter had any enemies.

"Yeah," he told The Post. "The whole Tea Party."

He added that politicians constantly faced danger.

"They always get threat," Gifford said, sobbing. "We don’t really have any information. The police department was supposed to call us but they didn’t."

Since the article was written, news reports say that Judge John M. Roll has died. Judge Roll was, like Rep. Gifford, also the target of threats:

Judge John Roll Dead: Killed In Arizona Shooting

Arizona Central talked to Gonzales in 2009 after Roll allowed a $32 million civil-rights lawsuit to proceed against a local rancher. The case was filed by illegal immigrants and drew the ire of local talk radio hosts, who "spurred audiences into making threats."

In one afternoon, Roll logged more than 200 phone calls. Callers threatened the judge and his family. They posted personal information about Roll online.

"They said, 'We should kill him. He should be dead,' " Gonzales said.


Both Roll and his wife were given a U.S. Marshals Service protection detail at the time. Roll called the month-long protection experience "unnerving and invasive." According to Arizona Central, authorities identified four men believed to be responsible for the threats, but Roll declined to press charges at the recommendation of the Marshals Service.

R.I.P. Judge Roll, he was doing his duty according to the law, but the violent and ignorant rhetoric from rightwing talk show hosts against judges who do not rule their way, incites the ignorant to take matters into their own hands.

I know we do not know what the motive was for these horrific killings yet, but it is a fact that both of these public servants were targeted by the right.

[sabrina 1]

1. This was the release for the 'Congress on your Corner'

event where the tragedy took place:

U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS TO HOST FIRST "CONGRESS ON YOUR CORNER" OF THE YEAR ON SATURDAY

January 7, 2011

TUCSON - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will host her first "Congress on Your Corner" of the year on Saturday, Jan. 8 at a supermarket in northwest Tucson.

"Congress on Your Corner" allows residents of Arizona's 8th Congressional District to meet their congresswoman one-on-one and discuss with her any issue, concern or problem involving the federal government.

Giffords has hosted numerous "Congress on Your Corner" events since taking office in January 2007. As in the past, the congresswoman's staff will be available to assist constituents.

Previous "Congress on Your Corner" events in Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Sierra Vista, and Douglas have attracted between 75 and 150 people.

For the media, "Congress on Your Corner" is an excellent opportunity to view the congresswoman interacting with constituents or ask questions about any topic.

This Saturday's "Congress Your Corner" comes at the conclusion of the first week of the 112th Congress. Giffords took the oath of office for a third term on Wednesday and on Thursday she participated in a reading of the U.S. Constitution on the floor of the House.

Among the congresswoman's first official acts this week was a vote for Speaker of the House and theintroduction of legislation to cut congressional salaries by 5 percent. Giffords was interviewed about her bill this morning on Fox news.

WHAT: "Congress on Your Corner" with U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords WHEN: 10-11:30 a.m., Saturday, January 8, 2011
WHERE: Safeway, 7110 N. Oracle Road (southeast corner of Oracle and Ina)

It is ironic that Congressmembers had stopped holding Town Hall Meetings after they became disruptive and opted for these kinds of events instead. I am not sure why they would have thought that they might be safer.

[David Zephyr]

2. "The whole teaparty"

From her father. Will the news media show that?

[sabrina 1]

3. I hope so. But this was from the NY Post so at least

Murdoch's rag did publish it.

[H2O Man]

7. Right.

It needs to be reported, heard, and understood. I've been making note of this on a number of threads.

[nmbluesky]

8. yes.. ABC News did mention it..

[sabrina 1]

9. Good, these people have to be stopped. Shamed or however

it can be done without them claiming their first amendment rights are being violated. If someone is too stupid, like Sarah Palin and Rep. Gifford's opponent in the Congressional race, Glenn Beck et al, to understand that their rhetoric can be used by people who are time bombs ready to go off, then maybe some adults need to step in and do something before more people are harmed.

They should be made to feel the impact of their own actions now by the outrage of decent everywhere at their hateful and violent rhetoric.

[johnnie]

4. But the shooter is sick

The whole msm is making sure we all know that the shooter is a sicko and didn't mean to do it because he is sick and this isn't political. And the shooter is psychotic and is sick and he probably didn't do this because of any other outside influence because he is sick and psychotic. Oh yeah..the shooter is psychotic.

[sabrina 1]

5. I know. However since we all know that there are many sick,

psychotic individuals who read websites, like Sarah Palin's, and listen to the radio, most responsible people do not use the kind of rhetoric that they should know would be like signals to them to go out and act on the words they hear.

Do people have to be told this? Or, do they know it, and count on it? Maybe that is the question.

[eagertolearn]

16. All their rhetoric is aimed for the sick and undereducated...

people who are easily influenced and can't see through their bullshit. Beck,Limbaugh, Palin are in this category to with their leaders being Rove and Murdoch and then they pass it on. Everyday I meet people who voice what is said by these people not realizing that if they followed them they are the ones who will get hurt...while their guru's make more money. Very, very sad what our country has turned into :cry:

[sabrina 1]

20. This is a fact:

Beck,Limbaugh, Palin are in this category to with their leaders being Rove and Murdoch and then they pass it on.

And every time something like this happens, eg, after Abu Ghraib they were silent for a while, until Rush Limbaugh went on the air and gave them their talking points, mitigating the horror by claiming all that happened was a few guys made them wear 'underwear on their heads.'

He is no doubt getting his talking points ready for tomorrow and any remorse felt by their followers, will be turned into anger at 'liberals' once again.

Unless this time the media and every political leader drowns out the rhetoric that is sure to come and this incident, like all the others, fades into the memory hole along with the reasons for it.

[eagertolearn]

25. It's not a wonder why Limbaugh needs prescription pills to

wipe out any feelings of remorse that any normal person would have. I guess he would need them to sleep too. The sad part is that he will die of a heart attack during one of his rampages and never feel remorse.

[sabrina 1]

28. Yes, he seems devoid of empathy. I hope some day

that will be a subject for the medical profession. The complete lack of empathy that is so prevalent in so many people in this society. I think it is a sickness, the missing element that makes a person a human being.

[LawnKorn]

12. The sick shooter is just the kind of person Palin is looking for the carry out aggressive acts

The whole right wing teabag movement is geared to push they loyal followers into action. The teabaggers are counting on a few nut jobs to take it to the next level.

[russspeakeasy]

14. The msm will hide behind "it's just words"....

[sabrina 1]

6. I meant to add to the OP, but Rep. Giffords was one of the three

democrats Keith Olbermann was suspended for donating to.

Keith Olbermann Donations to Democrats May Have Violated NBC Ethics Policy

Olbermann acknowledged the contributors - to Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords - in a statement to Politico, which first reported the donations.

Good choices ~

[Turborama]

10. "Roll declined to press charges at the recommendation of the Marshals Service" What?

Why would they recommend he didn't press charges?

Thank you for the articles, Sabrina.

:kick: & R

[sabrina 1]

11. They might have been afraid it would only incite more violence

against the judge? I think it's come to a point where people ARE afraid of these rightwing terrorists.

Supposing he had pressed charges? It would have been the topic of conversation on every rightwing board, how 'activist' judges are letting 'illegals', 'who should not have ANY rights in this country', sue a U.S. citizen (meaning a superior human being). It would have inflamed them even more. I probably would not have either. These people are dangerous, as he already knew. And the subject of illegal immigration is a hot button issue for them. They talk about going to the border and shooting immigrants themselves, all the time.

[barbtries]

21. i wondered the same thing.

maybe a few days in a cell would have given them some time to actually think. and maybe knowing there would be consequences for such behavior would stop some of it going forward.
when he was killed it appears that he was not the target. i wonder how those who wished for his death and promoted a violent death for him feel today.

[sabrina 1]

22. Yes, that is a sad irony of the judge's death.

They threatened and wished for it and someone else accidently made their wishes come true.

I do think they should have been put in jail for a while to cool off though. They really are winning this 'war' of intimidation because they are given a pass by the media and law enforcement is more likely to lock up a pot smoker than one of them, who are often friends of law enforcement personel. A threat to a judge warrants some jail time, imho.

[LawnKorn]

13. The Tea Party is an enemy of the whole of America

[sabrina 1]

17. Dick Armey's name should be mentioned often also. He

promoted the violent Tea Party actions during the summer of the HC debate. And he founded it basically. It was because of those Town Hall disruptions that politicians stopped doing them and began doing what Rep. Giffords did, meeting with people in local areas. Not sure why they thought that was safer though.

[TBF]

15. Good for her dad for speaking out. nt

[Stagecoach]

18. The thing is

All these supporters of the Tea Party are just trying to say the right things right now. Once the dust settles down (after about a month), they'll be right back to their hateful rhetoric.

[MrMickeysMom]

19. Next question: Who's the "Darling" of the Tea Party?

Anyone? ................. Buhler?

If Tea Party = Enemy of Assassin's bullet

....... ( + )

Sarah Palin = Darling

Then, Sarah Palin is head of enemy list behind Assassin's bullet.

It's that obvious.

[sabrina 1]

29. They are working really hard to save her reputation.

But no matter how they try to spin it, she will forever be associated with this tragic event and her crosshairs map will go down in ignominious history.

[blackspade]

23. The Tea Party are the enemy of all Americans.

Along with the Republican Party, which are basically the same thing.

[sabrina 1]

24. Dick Armey's hateful army. And a lot of people have

fallen for the scam. I hope these horrific events will wake some of them up.

[Swamp Rat]

26. Yep, it is a total scam, paid for by a couple of billionaires and their millionaire lackeys

[sabrina 1]

27. Lol, that's a good one! Looks just like him, his inner self!

'Armey of Dickheads'~ :rofl: