Gabrielle Giffords Wrote Email Calling For 'Centrism And Moderation' On Eve Of Shooting

WASHINGTON -- On the eve of the shooting that left her critically injured, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) wrote an email to Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R), asking his help in toning down the partisan rhetoric in the country.

"After you get settled, I would love to talk about what we can do to promote centrism and moderation," wrote Giffords. "I am one of only 12 Dems left in a GOP district (the only woman) and think that we need to figure out how to tone our rhetoric and partisanship down."

Grayson recently announced that he would be stepping down from his public position to become director of the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Giffords's note was a congratulatory email in response to the news.

In an interview with cn|2 Politics, which received the email, Grayson said that he and Giffords became acquainted as part of the Aspen Institute's Rodel Fellowship program, and they often discussed the divisiveness in politics.

"That is something she and I have been quite passionate about -- to run for office in the right way and for the right reasons," Grayson said. "I think Gabby was really sincere in that email .... And I am going to to redouble my efforts."

Grayon's office was not immediately available for comment.

Before the shooting, Giffords had often faced extreme divisiveness at her events and during her campaign, and at one town hall meeting, aides had to call the police after an attendee dropped a gun.

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik has been speaking out forcefully on the dangers of extremism, saying on Saturday, "When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And unfortunately, Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

Comments

[buddycor]

10:56 AM on 01/11/2011

We can't have that, the democrat party would end? The party that lives and survives and hate could not survive with moderation.

[lodger16x]

10:55 AM on 01/11/2011

With all due respect,  what  America calls "centrism and moderation"  is considered far right in the rest of the civilized world.  What we call "center right" is considered by the rest of the western world to be primitive and barbaric.
 Notice how our political leaders and mainstream media never inform the people about how other nations handle problems. All we get are jokes about the Canadians and the French. Well, Ha Ha, are we really doing well enough to ridicule the rest of the world?

[Totto]

12:24 PM on 01/11/2011

While the rest of the industrialized nations make just about everything we need, including components for our defensive systems, while gliding about on their high-speed rail systems.

[wijg]

02:08 AM on 01/11/2011

Incredible, this thread hasn't moved in hours.

[BBackSoon]

11:21 PM on 01/10/2011

Centrism with someone from the right is nothing short of appeasement.

I would love to believe Repubs could be reasonable but the ones that are, end up losing to more extreme Repubs the next time around. The Right does not want to wheel and deal they want it their way or no way at all.

I hate what has happened to her and so many others, but on this she is wrong.

[CivilDebate10]

08:33 PM on 01/10/2011

Civility dictates that we don't falsy accuse our political opponets of terrible things. Sadly, the left and many Democrats see what they think is political opportunity in this tragedy and are exploiting it. The shootings were sad enough, the left's response even makes it more sad.

[SPQR1775]

08:31 PM on 01/10/2011

There is a centrist way, which is really the AMERICAN WAY. It was what got OBAMA elected in2008 and will in 2012. Also, it will be the centrist way that will allow HRC to become VP! President OBAMA have got to redouble his efforts to ensure that on the 20th he speak out against this divisiveness next Thursda during the State of the Union. It is time for Americans to listen and find that LIGHT again. All this Virtriol started with the GOP and their disrespecting of the President and the office during the State of th Union in 2009 up until today. Americans need to ask NOT WHAT THE COUNTRY CAN DO FOR THEM, BUT WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR AMERICA, THE TIME IS NOW!

[AndyI52]

07:35 PM on 01/10/2011

I would hope that we could learn how tone down the rhetoric as Gillfords had asked..

The first thing we'd have to do is turn down the loud background noise of spin and talking points that's drowning out the straight talking, reasonable voices.

I feels like you have to yell out to be heard over the spinning talking heads that come out of every talk and news shows.

[ModerateVoiceofReason]

07:49 PM on 01/10/2011

When I was in HS, I was took a debate class. The teacher would introduce controversial subjects to debate. His rule was that after a position was offered there would at least be 30 seconds of complete silence, no applause or jeering, afterwards. When somebody offered a counter-position, the same rule. No response.

It kept the energy level down and it made for civil discourse.

[greysells2]

07:47 AM on 01/11/2011

The trouble with all spin doctors and talking heads is that they offer to do our thinking for us. It is quite condescending really, telling us the meaning of all things political as if we cannot figure things out for ourselves. Generally, we would all be better with more news and less opinion.

[janpradder]

07:26 PM on 01/10/2011

She didn't deserve this. I am thinking of her and hoping for her full recovery. And meditating for the other victims.

[ModerateVoiceofReason]

07:22 PM on 01/10/2011

One way to tone down the rhetoric is to give each member of congress his or her time at the dais to speak.
After speaking there should be a minimum of 30 seconds of silence. No applause, no groans, no cheers, no snorts. Complete and utter silence. Then if there is a rebuttal, the same rules apply for the person making the rebuttal. After speaking, a minimum of 30 seconds of silence.

It's amazing how much silence brings down the energy and creates a more civil and well thought debate.

[PoliSci2008]

07:03 PM on 01/10/2011

Mmm, now I really see the depths of why Obama feels compel to visit her district in this tragic aftermath; not only was Gifford a "friend" of President Obama, but she promoted his policy of centrism and moderation....

[EmmaDarian]

07:02 PM on 01/10/2011

Anyone remember back in March, when Democrats proposed a "joint civility statement" asking legislators to set an example of civility and Republicans refused to sign?

[Cynical Mind]

06:57 PM on 01/10/2011

Only a fo_ol would believe that the political warfare of the past 2 decades can be attributed to 1 side or the other. Giffords was correct in addressing our Party as well as the Right.

[beemerron]

06:45 PM on 01/10/2011

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
Ah

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
all right, all right, all right
all right, all right, all right

[DoesNotComputer]

06:33 PM on 01/10/2011

When Gabrielle Giffords recovers, she could be the catalyst that shallows the American partisan divide.

[Ken Roberts]

06:44 PM on 01/10/2011

We can only hope that's true! Thanks for saying it! F&F

[davcrock]

06:29 PM on 01/10/2011

Losing a voice of moderation and reason in these times is truly a sad event.  We should try to make the loss mean something.  Try to find common ground and make compromises so we can get our country back on track.  That means being civil to one another, affording our opponents the courtesy of assuming they are acting in good faith, that they hold their beliefs sincerely, whether we agree with them or not.

[buddycor]

10:58 AM on 01/11/2011

I hope that she didn't share her father's view that anyone who disagreed with her, were "her ememies". That is not the view of a moderate.

[davcrock]

05:05 PM on 01/11/2011

Why shouldn't we afford people the courtesy of good faith and assume, until conclusively proven different, that they believe what they say and do so sincerely?  To do otherwise only contributes to the lack of civility that we see so much now and discourages the search for common ground and for the compromises that make our system of government work and workable.

[BLKinNV]

07:49 PM on 01/11/2011

She had received threats from those particular people in AZ. Given the gravity of the moment I think her father's statement was perhaps not entirely appropriate, but entirely understandable