TUCSON - Summoning the soul of a nation, President Barack Obama on Wednesday implored Americans to honor those slain and injured in the Arizona shootings by becoming better people, telling a polarized citizenry that it is time to talk with each other "in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds." Following a hospital bedside visit with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the target of the assassination, he said: "She knows we're here, and she knows we love her."
In an electrifying moment, the president revealed that Giffords, who on Saturday was shot point-blank in the head, had opened her eyes for the first time shortly after his hospital visit. First lady Michelle Obama held hands with Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, as the news brought soaring cheers from thousands gathered for a memorial service.
Obama bluntly conceded that there is no way to know what triggered the shooting rampage that left six people dead, 13 others wounded and the nation shaken. He tried instead to leave indelible memories of the people who were gunned down, and to rally the country to use the moment as a reflection on the nation's behavior and compassion.
"I believe we can be better," Obama said to a capacity crowd in the university's basketball arena and to countless others watching around the country.
"Those who died here, those who saved lives here - they help me believe," the president said. "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
In crafting his comments, Obama clearly sought a turning point in the raw debate that has defined national politics. He faced the expectations to do more than console, but to encourage a new day of civility, all without getting overly political in a memorial service.
Obama settled on a theme of challenging the country to have a debate that is worthy of those who died. He tapped into the raging debate about the role of incendiary rhetoric without dwelling on it. "Let's remember that it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy. It did not," the president said. After offering personal accounts of every person who died, he challenged anyone listening to think of how to honor their memories, and he was not shy about offering direction. He admonished against any instinct to point blame or to drift into political pettiness or to latch onto simple explanations that may have no merit. The president said it was OK, even essential, for the country to suddenly be debating gun control, mental health services and the motivations of the killer. But then he added: "At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized - at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do - it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds," the president said.
The shooting happened as Giffords, a three-term Democrat who represents southern Arizona, was holding a community outreach event in a Tucson shopping center parking lot Saturday. A gunman shot her in the head and worked his way down the line of people waiting to talk with her, law enforcement officials said. The attack ended when bystanders tackled the man, Jared Lee Loughner, 22, who is in custody.
Obama's speech, by turns somber and hopeful, at times took on the tone of an exuberant pep rally as he heralded the men who wrestled the gunman to the ground, the woman who grabbed the shooter's ammunition, the doctors and nurses who treated the injured, the intern who rushed to Giffords' aid. The crowd erupted in multiple standing ovations as each was singled out for praise. The president ended up speaking for more than half an hour, doubling the expected length of his comments. Memories of the six people killed dominated much of Obama's speech. The president, for example, recalled how federal Judge John Roll was on his way from attending Mass when he stopped to say hello to Giffords and was gunned down; Dorothy Morris, shielded by her husband, but killed nonetheless; and Phyllis Schneck, a Republican who took a shine to Giffords, a Democrat, and wanted to know her better. He spoke at length of 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, the only girl on her Little League team, who often said she wanted to be the first woman to play in the major leagues. She had just been elected to the student council at her elementary school and had an emerging interest in public service.
"I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it," Obama said. The little girl was born on Sept. 11, 2001, and had been featured in a book about 50 babies born that day. The inscriptions near her photo spoke of wishes for a happy child's life, including splashing in puddles.
Said Obama: "If there are rain puddles in heaven, Christina is jumping in them today."
Obama hit an emotional high point when he told of Giffords opening her eyes for the first time not long after his visit to her bedside.
"Gabby opened her eyes, so I can tell you: She knows we are here, she knows we love her, and she knows that we are rooting for her through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey," Obama said.
The lawmakers who were in Giffords' hospital room when she opened her eyes were three of her close female friends in Congress: House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. "The doctors couldn't believe it," Wasserman Schultz later told CNN. "It was the most incredible experience that I have ever had."
Giffords is expected to survive, although her condition and the extent of her recovery remain in doubt.
As finger-pointing emerged in Washington and beyond over whether harsh political rhetoric played a role in creating motivation for the attack, Obama sought to calm the rhetoric.
"Bad things happen," he said, "and we must guard against simple explanations in the aftermath."
He spoke of decency and goodness, declaring: "The forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us."
Obama's appeal for civility played out against a deepening political debate. Earlier in the day, Republican Sarah Palin, criticized by some for marking Giffords' district with the cross hairs of a gun sight during last fall's campaign, had taken to Facebook to accuse pundits and journalists of using the attack to incite hatred and violence.
Obama spoke to a crowd of more than 13,000 in the arena and thousands more listened on from an overflow area in the football stadium. About a mile away, at University Medical Center, Giffords lay fighting for her life. Other victims also remained there hospitalized.
The memorial service was an important part of the mourning process for some of those who had lined up hours in advance to gain a seat.
"If we don't say goodbye and have a chance to say goodbye in an appropriate way, it will linger," said Patty Sirls, 62. "So, for me, it's a closure."
Cerulean posted at 8:58 pm on Wed, Jan 12, 2011.
As a memorial to those who were injured and especially to those who died, I thought the Presidents testimony was reverent and uplifting.
I especially liked the first blessing by the Pascua Yaqui representative.
Rich posted at 11:29 pm on Wed, Jan 12, 2011.
Turning a memorial service into a political rally with cheering, whistling and clapping is hardly respectful, to anyone. It is rather opportunistic, crass, and well about the worst of the American political process. Politicians looking for an advantage in media feeding frenzy. It was supposed to honor and quietly remember people who lost their lives. It was not supposed to be a strutting and preening contest for politicians, which is what Obama and the rest, on both sides, turned it into.
Slabside posted at 12:21 am on Thu, Jan 13, 2011.
This lousy excuse for a president has done nothing but campaign, play golf and basketball and run the country into the ground ever since he was handed the reins in 2009. I'm sure glad I didn't vote for him. Hurry up 2012!
Leon Ceniceros posted at 3:32 am on Thu, Jan 13, 2011.
Mr. President,
"WE", did not cause this tragedy. It was not caused by "overheated" political rhetoric on the Right or the Left. It was not caused by Glenn Beck or by Keith Olbermann. It was not caused by bloggers.
IT WAS CAUSED BY A MENTALLY ILL YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF...........JARED LOUGHNER.
Americans and especially Arizonians do not need a "LECTURE" on political deportment. Instead of playing 2012 Presidential Politics, Mr. President, you should have given short (not the 30 minute..."love to hear my own voice") message of support and condolence. Adversity tests a man. Shakespeare gave us wonderful tales of how a man, be he King or commoner, could "seize the moment" and "rise to the occasion".
Sadly, tonight in Tucson, Mr. President, you did not.
Irons1 posted at 7:16 am on Thu, Jan 13, 2011.
Rich, slabside and Leon, you people are the cause of the hate that is spewing out there. Your total hatred of anyone that does not share your views is astounding.
Dale Whiting posted at 8:26 am on Thu, Jan 13, 2011.
Hay you who point figures, either to the left or to the right. We in the middle do not point. Some whose consciences may have been bothering them appear to have read into what was said since Satureday things they imagined would be said. But they were not said by anyone in any significant level of responsibility.
Regarding toning down our speech, something many of the above appear not yet quite ready to do, Wednesday night from Tucson we heard an address from the Great Communicator II.
Think back in time. When have we had another President who could speak so appropriately, addressing not only what had to be said, but also what needed to be said and what ought to be said in as eloquent a style as this. The President of the United States is called upon to inspire the Nation. His address was inspirational.
Hopefully both the tone of the address and its substantive points as related to our building a society, One Nation Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All, as our children deserve, can be carried forward, not only by the White House, but also by our divided Legislature, knowing that not withstanding our divisions, what we share in common is and must be kept stronger that what divides us. Where so, that would be the Change We All Can Believe In.
President Obama just issued a call to us all to tone down the rhetoric.
DLC IN PHX posted at 8:32 am on Thu, Jan 13, 2011.
Irons1 your right, but you will never get through to them.
Hey did you see MCcian in the backgound?he's so angry he was
thinking, that should be me up there! can you imagine MCcain&
Palin in power.....................
Accuracy posted at 8:32 am on Thu, Jan 13, 2011.
Concerning debates that have stemmed from the violent shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and several others in Tuscon, Arizona; President Barack Obama told the crowd there's no way to know what triggered the shooting rampage by Jared Lee Loughner.
And Obama encouraged lawmakers and Americans to discuss ideas and refrain from the angry, petty politics.
Meaning - assigning blame for the shooting to our grass roots, Constitutionalist movement and Gov. Sarah Palin (by Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, the news media, and liberal political figures) was and an injurious, unfair, and unjust act.
ElPeneDeCaballo posted at 10:17 am on Thu, Jan 13, 2011.
Too bad Obama didn't immediately come out on Saturday and tell his minions to stop the personal, false attacks on Sarah Palin and others. He used the four days to let his minions bash Repubs.
He's a fraud and a fake. His call for unity and less vitriol is theheight of hypocrisy. He should do the world a favor and resign or he should be impeached and removed.
THAT RALLY WILL FOREVER BE KNOWN AS WELLSTONE II