On Sunday, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who nearly lost her life in a tragic shooting in Tuscon last January, announced that she would step down from Congress for the time being.
Giffords made a remarkable recovery after being shot in the head and left in a life-threatening coma. Although she was able to return to the House of Representatives several times last year, she announced Sunday that she needed to take more time to focus on her recovery.
"I'm getting better, every day," she said in a statement. "My spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country."
Many of her congressional colleagues and other politicians, including President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, released statements following Gifford's announcement, expressing their admiration for the congresswoman and her determination to reach a full recovery and return to office.
Read their comments below:
President Barack Obama
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"Gabby Giffords embodies the very best of what public service should be. She's universally admired for qualities that transcend party or ideology - a dedication to fairness, a willingness to listen to different ideas, and a tireless commitment to the work of perfecting our union. That's why the people of Arizona chose Gabby - to speak and fight and stand up for them. That's what brought her to a supermarket in Tucson last year - so she could carry their hopes and concerns to Washington. And we know it is with the best interests of her constituents in mind that Gabby has made the tough decision to step down from Congress.
"Over the last year, Gabby and her husband Mark have taught us the true meaning of hope in the face of despair, determination in the face of incredible odds, and now - even after she's come so far - Gabby shows us what it means to be selfless as well.
"Gabby's cheerful presence will be missed in Washington. But she will remain an inspiration to all whose lives she touched - myself included. And I'm confident that we haven't seen the last of this extraordinary American."
"Gabby Giffords embodies the very best of what public service should be. She's universally admired for qualities that transcend party or ideology - a dedication to fairness, a willingness to listen to different ideas, and a tireless commitment to the work of perfecting our union. That's why the people of Arizona chose Gabby - to speak and fight and stand up for them. That's what brought her to a supermarket in Tucson last year - so she could carry their hopes and concerns to Washington. And we know it is with the best interests of her constituents in mind that Gabby has made the tough decision to step down from Congress.
"Over the last year, Gabby and her husband Mark have taught us the true meaning of hope in the face of despair, determination in the face of incredible odds, and now - even after she's come so far - Gabby shows us what it means to be selfless as well.
"Gabby's cheerful presence will be missed in Washington. But she will remain an inspiration to all whose lives she touched - myself included. And I'm confident that we haven't seen the last of this extraordinary American."
"Gabby Giffords embodies the very best of what public service should be. She's universally admired for qualities that transcend party or ideology - a dedication to fairness, a willingness to listen to different ideas, and a tireless commitment to the work of perfecting our union. That's why the people of Arizona chose Gabby - to speak and fight and stand up for them. That's what brought her to a supermarket in Tucson last year - so she could carry their hopes and concerns to Washington. And we know it is with the best interests of her constituents in mind that Gabby has made the tough decision to step down from Congress.
"Over the last year, Gabby and her husband Mark have taught us the true meaning of hope in the face of despair, determination in the face of incredible odds, and now - even after she's come so far - Gabby shows us what it means to be selfless as well.
"Gabby's cheerful presence will be missed in Washington. But she will remain an inspiration to all whose lives she touched - myself included. And I'm confident that we haven't seen the last of this extraordinary American."
On Sunday, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who nearly lost her life in a tragic shooting in Tuscon last January, announced that she would step down from Congress for the time being.
Giffords ma...
On Sunday, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who nearly lost her life in a tragic shooting in Tuscon last January, announced that she would step down from Congress for the time being.
Giffords ma...
Just in case you think hate speech is not harmful...I direct your attention to the Holocaust museum and the pile of shoes left behind by the Nazis who were driven by hatred of the Jews to exterminate them. Just in case you think hate speech is not harmful... I direct your attention to the Zagruder film of Pres. Kennedy's head exploding. Just in case you think hate speech is not harmful...I direct your attention to the burning of the church in Selma. Violent rhetoric falls on the mentally healthy and the mentally ill ears. Once again, thanks for the crosshairs, Sarah.
reyam: Just in case you think hate speech is not harmful...I
Just remember those swine Boehnor and Cantor who held up the naming of a room for the poor aide who died protecting Gifford with his own body. They stood in the way for a year, just out of spite. Disgusting.
Tom_Sito: Just remember those swine Boehnor and Cantor who held up
Giffords Opponent Had M16 Shooting Event, ‘Help Remove Gabrielle Giffords From Office’
Back in June 2010, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’s (D-AZ) Republican opponent Jesse Kelly had an event at which voters could shoot an assault rifle with the candidate, promoted as thus:
Get on Target for Victory in November Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office Shoot a fully automatic M16 with Jesse Kelly.
In another example, Kelly’s website had also cross-posted a local news article that carried the headline “Kelly places the crosshairs squarely on Rep. Giffords.
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AP/Huffington Post First Posted: 01/23/2012 11:55 am Updated: 01/23/2012 11:55 am