When I learned of the tragic shootings in Tucson this past weekend, I was immediately taken back to a hot summer day just months ago, when I was standing at the Korean War Memorial in Washington DC reading the words “Freedom is not free.” Like most, I had viewed that phrase in the context of war. However, the horrific events of this past Saturday remind us that all too often civilians, public servants and occasionally political leaders are casualties in defense of our freedom, too.Promoting freedom is not something we only do in combat, but in living our lives in the American spirit and traditions so many fought to preserve, protect and defend. That is what Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was doing by hosting a “Congress on your Corner” event at a local grocery store. That’s what dozens of her constituents exemplified with their participation. That is the quintessential American political ideal in its most basic form.
Having lost my brother Paul in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, I chose to believe that the lives of almost three thousand Americans that day were not lost in vain; that in some way, their loss helped our nation grow stronger and more resilient. As we try to understand what happened in Tucson, the focus should remain on mourning the tragic losses, which includes a nine-year-old girl interested in civics and government, by helping their families and community know that the death of their loved ones will bring us closer as a nation, not exacerbate our divisions.
Every tragedy invites an inevitable pursuit of blame and accountability beyond the obvious culprit. But the reality is that this crime came at the hands of a lone gunman who needed no more provocation than his own demons and delusions. The unpredictable, senseless and evil tendencies of a madman should not connect dots that need not be connected.
The shootings that occurred in Tucson are tragic on so many levels; but have little to do with a partisan agenda or volatile political discourse. As Ross Douthat observed in The New York Times, “There is no faction in American politics that actually wants its opponents dead. That may seem like a small blessing, amid so much tragedy and loss. But it is a blessing worth remembering nonetheless.” That should be our starting point while searching for the “teachable moment” that can emerge from this horror.
We know the shooter showed signs of being troubled, and like most assassins in modern American history, was likely mentally ill. Reports indicate that he suffered from isolation, paranoia and schizophrenia. It is our mental health system, not simply gun laws, that failed to protect society from such a dangerous character.
During my work on behalf of pediatric acquired brain injury, I have been shocked to discover how far behind we are in scientifically understanding and medically treating brain disease and injuries, even minor ones. What we do know is that there is a direct correlation between these issues in youth and adolescence leading to mental health and behavioral problems in adults. The fact that brain research remains grossly under-funded and treatment so poorly developed, means we are not addressing such a pervasive and devastating problem. Our society pays the price.
I was back in Washington DC last week, participating in many events marking the start of the 112th Congress. In my meetings with several members of Congress, I sensed universal optimism and excitement to begin doing the work the people sent them to do. Congresswoman Giffords clearly exemplified that spirit, and was quickly back to work meeting with constituents just a day after returning from the capital. What a great work ethic and testament to her respect for the office she holds.
In the wake of this tragedy, let’s allow her example to reign and not those of the political opportunists who seek to define this tragedy as a point of division in our nation. Those who died that day will not have done so in vain if we remain a nation unified in mourning and determined to move together past this devastating event.
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Governor Chris Christie will be Chris Wallace’s guest on FoxNews Sunday
At noon on local Fox station, Channel 9, Senator Joe Kyrillos faces off with Assemblyman John Wisniewski, the NJ Democratic chairman regarding Governor Christie’s State of the State message. Later on the same show, Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre goes toe to toe with Bryan Miller of Cease fire NJ regarding political rhetoric and gun control.
With the news that Tucson shooter Jared Loughner posed for photographs while wearing a g-string and holding the murder weapon, can there any further doubt that Loughner fits the conservative/tea party profile?
What America really needs is legislation controlling the distribution of g-strings. There should be a federal data base of g-string owners and restrictions on how often they can be purchased. Hopefully we can get this fast tracked in time for the Valentine’s Day rush.
Turns out the earth is wobbling on its axis and the sun is not really where your horoscope says it is, sometimes. That and there was a political decision 2000 or 3000 years ago to have 12 Zodiac signs when there were really 13.
Maybe climate change is caused by the earth’s wobbling. Political incivility can now be explained by people relating to each other based on the wrong sign.
Does anyone know the birth stone for the new/old sign, Ophiucus?
How do you pronounce Ophiucus?
Here’s the new/old calendar:
Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries: April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiuchus:* Nov. 29-Dec. 17.
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.
George Stephanopoulos: Will the tragedy in Tucson usher in the year of civility that President Obama called for last night? How will both parties get back to the business of facing our common challenges? Here to take on those questions with us this morning, one of the rising stars of the Republican Party, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Thanks for coming in this morning.
Governor Chris Christie: Thank you George.
George Stephanopoulos: Did the president strike the right cords last night?
Governor Chris Christie: Yes. He did.
George Stephanopoulos: What did you think of his speech.
Governor Chris Christie: I said I thought it was excellent. I thought he did exactly what you want a leader to do at a moment like this which is to remind us of the things that we have in common. Remind us of the things that unite us, rather than divide us. And to not try to play politics at all, and the president hit all those things last night. So, I was really happy to see what he did.
George Stephanopoulos: You’re out there all the time with your constituents. I know you’re doing another town hall meeting today. Is this something that you expect — does it feel to you like this is a moment for the entire country?
Governor Chris Christie: Yeah. Listen, I think we have to be reflective. I think we should be having this kind of reflection on a regular basis. Because as you know, this is not an unusual period of vitriol in our country. In politics you know, if you look back we can say almost every presidential campaign, that you’ve seen high levels of vitriol and anger, bitter things being said about people that they probably didn’t deserve to have said about them. I think we have to constantly be examining ourselves for how we act as a civilize society. Doesn’t mean we can’t disagree, of course we disagree. But we should look at this all the time, not just have a tragedy to spur us to do it. Because we have to treat each other with some level of civility. Even when we disagree with each other.
George Stephanopoulos: Meanwhile, Sarah Palin coming under some criticism after using the term “blood libel.” Do you think she knew what she was getting into with that?
Governor Chris Christie: I don’t know. I have no idea. But what I would say is I think — I don’t think anybody really believes that Governor Palin was trying to make someone get hurt or bring violence on. And I think she just should have said that and left it at that.
George Stephanopoulos: Let’s move on to your own state of the state. You were giving a big speech this week, as well. And in your speech, you took credit for turning New Jersey around. From being a basket case. But some of your critics, some of the top democrats in the state, say your priorities are misplaced. One counted the number of the times you used jobs in the speech, said it was only four. Your response?
Governor Chris Christie: Cause we’re creating jobs not talking about it. When I came into office, unemployment was over 10% in New Jersey and above the national average. We’re still too high, we’re at 9.2 %. But we’re down almost a full point in a year, and we’re below the national average now. Last month in November one of every —
George Stephanopoulos: Still above 9%.
Governor Chris Christie: Yeah, I said we’re not good enough. And what I said — I didn’t say we turned it around. What I said in the speech was, the state of the state is improving, getting better every day. And last month in November, the last month we have for jobs in New Jersey, one of every five private-sector jobs created in America was created in New Jersey. So, our policies are helping to create jobs and create a positive business environment where the private sector wants to grow again. You know you can talk all you want about jobs. It’s about creating them and putting people back to work.
George Stephanopoulos: One of our big issues is also education reform. The former Chancellor of the DC Schools Michelle Rhee was in the audience, watching your speech. The president has hit on those themes of educational reform a lot. Is this an issue, where republicans and democrats can find common Cause?
Governor Chris Christie: Absolutely. Michelle Rhee’s a Democrat. I had Mayor Cory Booker in the audience, as well. We’re working on reforming the Newark public schools together, with Mark Zuckerberg for facebook and the Challenge Grant to the city of Newark. And I’ve said from the time of the campaign, when I was running in 2009, that President Obama and I agree on this issue. Agree much more than he did with my predecessor on issues of really education reform. This is the transformational issue that can also bring both parties together, if we just rise above the interests, the special interests that want to protect the failed status quo.
George Stephanopoulos: Tip O’Neill said all politics is local. You came under criticism after the post-Christmas blizzard, including from Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
[Start of clip from MSNBC’s Morning Joe]
Mayor Rudy Giuliani: If he asked for my advice? I would have said, they elected you governor. They got an emergency. They expect you to be there. You know – you’ve got to be there if you’re a governor, a mayor or even a president, if it’s important enough.
[End of clip from MSNBC’s Morning Joe]
George Stephanopoulos: He said you shouldn’t have been in Disney World.
Governor Chris Christie: Listen, I know you’ll find it shocking that two, strong-willed Italian guys from the northeast disagree about something. I have great respect for the Mayor, we disagree on this one, but we agree on so many more issues that Mayor Giuliani and I, two former U.S. Attorneys, will disagree at times on things, this is one that we do.
George Stephanopoulos: Finally, Rush Limbaugh has something of a man-crush on you.
Governor Chris Christie:[Laughter]
George Stephanopoulos: He and many others are trying to get you into the presidential race. You’ve said time and time again you’re not running. I take you at your word. But try to encapsulate what you think the Republican Party needs? Who they need to nominate? What kind of person in 2012?
Governor Chris Christie: We need to nominate someone who the American people believe will actually walk the walk, and not just talk the talk, on reducing the size of government, and bringing our tax structure and our spending, most importantly, under control. And that person has to prove they’re willing to do the difficult things, not just talk about them. Because they’ve heard plenty of talk. Especially from our party. You know, I said this fall, when we were campaigning for republican candidates around the country. This is the Republican Party’s last chance. It’s put up or shut up time for us now that we have won the House. We better do what we said we were going to do, or we’re going to get sent to the wilderness without a compass for a long time George, and we’re going to deserve it. Because we’ve talked about it, now let’s do it.
George Stephanopoulos: Okay, Governor Christie, thanks for coming in this morning.
Bob Ingle is reporting that Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker has withdrawn the legistration she proposed that would have required bicycle registration fees and license plates. According to Ingle, Tuckers intent was to protect elderly pedestrians. OK, if you say so Assemblywoman.
Congratulations are in order to Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre who used these pages to first bring Tucker’s legislation to light. Thanks also to the MMM reader who brought the bill to Mike’s attention.
The recent tragedy in Arizona has once again opened the debate about the “tone” of political discourse. The media and certain politicians hawk the story that it has reached a new low.
Many have pointed out how those who complain seem to have a double standard or seem to be using a tragedy that had very little to do with politics for political gain.
That however all begs the question, has political discourse reached a new low? Well any one who has actually bothered to read a history book knows that to be utterly false.
Political rivals Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton fought a duel that ended Hamilton’s life and Burrs career. Andrew Jackson was involved in numerous duels that at their core stemmed from political disputes. One of those duels crippled his arm. In the up run to the Civil War tempers ran rather high and violence was rampant not only among the common man but among politicians as well. Preston Smith Brooks (August 5, 1819 – January 27, 1857) was a Democratic Congressman from South Carolina, who severely beat Senator Charles Sumner on the floor of the United States Senate with a cane in response to a rather nasty speech Sumner had given that referred to Brooks’s cousin, South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler. During the attack South Carolina Rep. Laurence M. Keitt held off those who wished to help Sumner with a Pistol. Sumner suffered from the results of the beating for years afterwards.
After the most violent of political disputes, the Civil War, the American political scene continued to be rough and tumble. The gunfight at the OK Corral was a cultural battle and to a large extent a battle between “business interests” but it was also a political battle.
Did you know the Earps where Republicans and the Clantons and their allies where Democrats?
The Republicans hammered FDR pretty hard until the War started and within more recent memory many of us can remember the heated political vitriol of the 1960’s that sometimes spilled into violence. This does not even begin to touch on the political violence that runs through out our history.
Now before you start screaming, I am not advocating that it is OK to resolve our differences with gun fights and violence (at least not publicly).
My point is let’s not loose perspective. Yes there are a lot of passionate people out there. Sometimes they even say stupid things. However the situation is no where near the worst it has ever been in this country. In fact historically speaking it is pretty damn tame.
I think we have much more to fear from those who exaggerate the circumstances in an effort to silence dissent.
“Teddy Roosevelt” is a pseudonym for a long term MMM contributor who used to blog at Monmouth Bullmoose. “Teddy” frequently posts as TR in the comments.
