In the wake of the shooting in Arizona this weekend that critically injured Rep.
“„It is facile and mistaken to attribute this particular madman’s act directly to Republicans or Tea Party members. But it is legitimate to hold Republicans and particularly their most virulent supporters in the media responsible for the gale of anger that has produced the vast majority of these threats, setting the nation on edge. Many on the right have exploited the arguments of division, reaping political power by demonizing immigrants, or welfare recipients, or bureaucrats. They seem to have persuaded many Americans that the government is not just misguided, but the enemy of the people.
“„That whirlwind has touched down most forcefully in Arizona, which Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik described after the shooting as the capital of “the anger, the hatred and the bigotry that goes on in this country.” Anti-immigrant sentiment in the state, firmly opposed by Ms. Giffords, has reached the point where Latino studies programs that advocate ethnic solidarity have actually been made illegal.
“„Its gun laws are among the most lenient, allowing even a disturbed man like Mr. Loughner to buy a pistol and carry it concealed without a special permit. That was before the Tucson rampage. Now, having seen first hand the horror of political violence, Arizona should lead the nation in quieting the voices of intolerance, demanding an end to the temptations of bloodshed, and imposing sensible controls on its instruments.
“„“In the wake of this stunning tragedy, my prayers are with Rep. Giffords, her husband Mark and the rest of her family. May God’s strength comfort her as we pray together for her recovery. We mourn for those who lost their lives in this horrible act.
“„Senseless acts of violence such as this have absolutely no place in American politics.”
“„“I am shocked and saddened by today’s extraordinary tragedy in which my friend and Congressional colleague Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was gravely injured. My thoughts and prayers are with Rep. Giffords and her family, as well as with her dedicated staff and the others brutally attacked this morning. As the events of this national tragedy unfold, I know my fellow Coloradoans and all Americans join me in those prayers.”
“„Whatever the motive, the toxic tone of the national debate is certain to draw greater scrutiny.
“„“We do know that politics has become too personal, too nasty and perhaps too dangerous,” said Jonathan Cowan, president of the centrist Democratic group Third Way. “Perhaps out of this senseless act some sense can return to our public discourse.”
“„In Tucson, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik inveighed against what he sees as issues that contribute to violence like that which left U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords with a massive brain injury, six people dead and 13 others wounded. During a Sunday morning news conference, he called Arizona “the tombstone of the United States of America.”
“„“I have never been a proponent of letting everybody in this state carry weapons under any circumstances that they want, and that’s almost where we are,” Dupnik said.
“„He complained that gun laws are too lax, ripped the state Legislature for currently considering legislation to allow firearms on college campuses and lamented that the mentally ill are not institutionalized as often as in the past.
“„On Saturday, Dupnik said talk radio and some in television have contributed to the overheated politics in the nation today.
“„U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., criticized Dupnik “for politicizing this thing in such a tragic moment.”
“„Franks said that he doesn’t see gun-control measures as a solution and that strong families remain the best way to identify mental problems early on.
“„“It’s not the gun that was the problem. It’s whose hands it was in,” Franks said. “The central cause is that an unhinged degenerate with no respect for innocent human life has assaulted our Constitution, our freedom and killed and wounded many children of God.”
“„Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., called Dupnik’s comments Saturday inappropriate.
“„“I didn’t really think that that had any part in a law-enforcement briefing (Saturday) night. It was speculation,” Kyl said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” in regard to the shooting suspect’s motive. “It’s probably giving him too much credit to ascribe a coherent political philosophy to him. We just have to acknowledge that there are mentally unstable people in this country.”
“„Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., appearing on the same program, maintained that politics has turned toxic in the media.
“„“Far too many broadcasts now and so many outlets have the intent of inciting people to opposition, to anger, to thinking the other side is less than moral,” he said. “I think that is a context in which somebody who is mentally unbalanced can somehow feel justified in taking this kind of action. I think we need to . . . be aware that what we say can, in fact, have consequences.”