Obama Arizona Speech: President To Be Nation's Consoler At Memorial Service

Democrats slam Boehner for missing Arizona memorial service (Daily Caller)
Read more stories from The Daily Caller Democrats slam Boehner for missing Arizona memorial service FNC's Hume praises 'pep rally' atmosphere of Obama Arizona Speech, but adds parts 'most peculiar' Obama urges Arizona and nation to be 'worthy of those we have lost' Historian Douglas Brinkley says Tucson will be a place in 'history like a Selma or Birmingham in the 1960s' Text of President Obama's speech at Arizona memorial service Democrats on Thursday criticized House Speaker John Boehner for...

Arizona challenge: Heal our divisions
TUCSON, Ariz. • With a plea to the nation to overcome its divisions, President Barack Obama paid tribute to the Victims and heroes of the weekend Shooting Spree in Arizona and sounded a call for Americans to heal themselves. Obama came to the University of Arizona, where he spoke to a cheering crowd of more than 26,000 - including 13,000 in an overflow area in Arizona Stadium - all seeking solace after days of tumult in the wake of the attack in Tucson that killed six and injured more than...

Obama leads memorial for Tucson shooting (AFP)
Tucson, Arizona (AFP) – President Barack Obama led a national outpouring of grief while calling for unity at an emotional memorial after a shooting that unleashed fierce debate about inflammatory political Rhetoric. In a Speech repeatedly interrupted by applause for those who tackled the gunman -- and the announcement that a US lawmaker who was shot in the head had opened her eyes -- Obama said the attack must not lead to new divisions. "At a time when our discourse has become so sh...

Democrats slam Boehner for missing Arizona memorial service
Jon Ward covers the White House and national politics for The Daily Caller. He covered the last two years of George W. Bush's presidency and the first year of Barack Obama's presidency for The Washington Times. Prior to moving to national politics, Jon worked for the Times' city desk and bureaus in Virginia and Maryland, covering local news and politics, including the D.C. sniper shootings and subsequent trial, before moving to state politics in Maryland. He and his wife have two Children and li...

Boehner: Attack won't silence 'sacred dialogue of democracy'
Addressing a Bipartisan prayer service in tribute to the Victims of Saturday's shooting rampage in Tucson, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) vowed that the attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and others at a constituent event would not deter lawmakers from carrying out their civic duties. "No assailant's bullet -- no twisted act of violence or cruelty -- can silence the sacred dialogue of Democracy," Boehner said, according to his prepared remarks. At the prayer service, ...

Democrat colleagues see Giffords open eyes
A trio of female politicians was visiting shot US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in an Arizona Hospital when she opened her eyes for the first time on Wednesday. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York had come to show support for Ms Giffords, who was gravely wounded in a Mass Shooting in Arizona on Saturday that claimed six lives and wounded 14. They were in the Arizona Democrat's hos...

Obama visits surviving victims in Tucson, plans to speak at memorial service
Tucson - Arriving in this shaken desert city Wednesday to speak at a public memorial service for Victims of the shooting rampage that left six dead, President Obama went first to visit hospitalized survivors, including a congresswoman, and their families at University Medical Center. This Story Tucson shootings: Let us heal together, Obama says at memorial event Sheriff releases past reports involving Loughner Obama: Gabby opened her eyes Hero intern Daniel Hernandez talks with The Post Obama...

In Arizona, Obama Prepares To Console Nation
President Obama flew to Arizona Wednesday and headed straight to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' bedside to pay his respects to the wounded lawmaker as he sought to unify a mourning nation. Obama and his wife, Michelle, were visiting privately at University Medical Center with Giffords and other Victims of the weekend shootings that killed six people and wounded 13. He was then meeting with family members of those killed before speaking at a nighttime memorial service in Tucson, Ariz. "The president wa...

Obama urges Americans to debate 'in a way that heals'
Reporting from Tucson and Los Angeles — President Obama, facing the challenge of consoling Arizona and uniting the nation, urged Americans on Wednesday not to point fingers of blame but to "expand our moral imaginations" and to "sharpen our instincts for empathy." Speaking at a memorial for Victims of the Tucson shooting rampage that left six people dead and 13 wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), the president said the gunman's motives were shrouded in mystery. "T...

Boehner turns down Air Force One ride to Tucson
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) turned down an offer by President Barack Obama to travel on Air Force One to Arizona for a memorial service on behalf of the Victims of Saturday’s shooting, a decision that has upset some Democrats. Boehner is instead scheduled to attend a reception on Wednesday night on behalf of Maria Cino, a former top House GOP aide who is seeking the Republican National Committee chairmanship. Boehner is backing Cino’s challenge to current RNC Chairman Michael Ste...

Congresswomen describe seeing Giffords open eye
ABOARD Air Force ONE (AP) — Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ friends say it’s nothing short of a miracle: Days after being shot in the head point-blank, the injured congresswoman opened an eye Wednesday for the first time. Two of her closest friends from Congress, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Fla., were in Giffords’ Tucson, Ariz., Hospital room at the time. Both had traveled to Arizona on Air Force One with President Barack Obama to attend...

Congresswomen describe seeing Giffords open eye
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' friends say it's nothing short of a miracle: Days after being shot in the head point-blank, the injured congresswoman opened an eye Wednesday for the first time. Two of her closest friends from Congress, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., were in Giffords' Tucson, Ariz., Hospital room at the time. Both had traveled to Arizona on Air Force One with President Barack Obama to attend a memorial service for the Victims of Saturday's sh...

Through the eyes of a child
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords President Barack Obama faced two tests when he spoke Wednesday night at a memorial service for the six people killed in the Arizona shooting — make an emotional connection and comfort a grieving community. Obama honored heroes and Victims, but his tribute to the youngest victim may have helped him connect with people who attended the service in Tucson or watched on television. “And then there is nine year-old Christina Taylor Green,”   Obama ...

Obama tells polarized nation: 'We can be better'
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Summoning the soul of the 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." After 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 pre...

Investigators probe Loughner's gun purchase, examine finances
TUCSON - Federal and local investigators are trying to determine how Jared Lee Loughner came up with the money to buy the weapon and ammunition he allegedly used to shoot Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 other people at a Tucson constituent event Saturday, Law Enforcement sources said Wednesday. This Story Americans contemplate toning down their Rhetoric Audio: Jared Loughner's 2007 court appearance Investigators Probe Loughner's gun purchase, examine finances Loughner family expresses sorrow f...

Pictures from President Obama's speech at the Arizona memorial (Slideshow)
Tonight President Obama delivered a Speech at memorial for the Victims of the shootings in Tucson, Arizona.  Six people were killed and fourteen more injured last Saturday when a gunman opened fire at an event hosted by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).  Giffords is currently recovering in the Hospital from a gunshot to the head.  Images from the scene at the arena where President Obama spoke can be seen to the left.  The President and various members of the audience g...

Barack Obama's Arizona Speech: Reactions and Commentary
The president's Speech at a memorial service for the Shooting Victims urged Americans to "be better." Kirsten Powers, John Avlon, Lloyd Grove, Eleanor Clift, and more Daily Beast contributors grade his address....

Will Obama call for political civility in Tucson speech?
President Obama, who has for years bemoaned Incivility in politics, must decide Wednesday whether his Speech in Tucson is the right time to repeat that message. This Story Giffords condition unchanged; shooting suspect Loughner held without bail The faces of Jared Loughner Bullet's path may determine Giffords's injuries West Wing Briefing: Will Obama call for political civility in Tucson speech? A look at the left hemisphere Petula Dvorak: For parents, shots in Tucson have a nightmarish echo ...

Obama to console US at Arizona service
President Barack Obama flew to Arizona on Wednesday to honour a wounded US congresswoman and pay tribute to the six people killed in the weekend attempt to assassinate her. Searching for the right tone, Obama sought to console the country, not dissect its politics. Obama and his wife, Michelle, headed for a night-time service in Tucson with a Bipartisan delegation aboard Air Force One in a sign of solidarity. Back on Capitol Hill, Republican Gabrielle Giffords' House colleagues praised her and t...

Even Fox News panel praises President Obama's Arizona speech (Video)
By now the political leanings of every major news network have become fairly well defined.  One can expect MSNBC to usually praise a Speech President Obama, unless he offers up one of his rebukes to the Liberal Base.  Fox News will almost surely have some harsh criticism for the President.  And CNN can be expected to bring out a little bit of both viewpoints.  One knows the President hit a "homerun" when all three can agree on a positive review of an Obama address.  Such...

Obama visits Giffords, AZ shooting survivors
President Obama swooped into Arizona Wednesday night and immediately rushed to the Hospital to visit wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords ahead of his address to a nation in mourning. The President invited a bi-partisan coalition of lawmakers to join him aboard Air Force One for the trip to Tucson for a memorial for the Victims gunned down in the Saturday Assassination attempt on Giffords. Obama is moving to draw the country together amidst the partisan rancor that has engulfed the political landsc...

Obama, Gillibrand en route to Tucson for memorial
President Obama and a delegation of lawmakers jetted off to Arizona Wednesday afternoon for a memorial service for the Victims killed during the Assassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a close Capitol Hill pal of Giffords, joined Obama aboard Air Force One. The groups of lawmakers, which included Giffords' friends and her fellow Arizona reps, planned to first visit her at the Hospital, where she's being treated for a gunshot wound to the head. "We ma...

Obama leads memorial for Tucson shooting
President Barack Obama led a national outpouring of grief while calling for unity at an emotional memorial after a shooting that unleashed fierce debate about inflammatory political Rhetoric. In a Speech repeatedly interrupted by applause for those who tackled the gunman -- and the announcement that a US lawmaker who was shot in the head had opened her eyes -- Obama said the attack must not lead to new divisions. "At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized -- at a time when w...

Tucson shootings: Let us heal together, Obama says at memorial event
Tucson - President Obama comforted a community suffused with grief and summoned the nation to recommit to a more civil public discourse as he delivered a eulogy Wednesday evening urging Americans to talk with each other "in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds." This Story Tucson shootings: Let us heal together, Obama says at memorial event Sheriff releases past reports involving Loughner Obama: Gabby opened her eyes Hero intern Daniel Hernandez talks with The Post Obama Tucso...

Arizona Shootings Unlikely to Change Gun Culture
Now is the time for mourning the Victims of Saturday’s mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, but it’s not the time for new gun-control laws aimed at preventing such tragedies in the future. That’s the political consensus in the wake of the attack on Representative Gabrielle Giffords at a “Congress on Your Corner” event at a Safeway Supermarket. A deranged gunman killed six of Giffords’ constituents, including a Federal Judge and a 9-year-old girl, with a Glock 19 ...