"There are those who claim political rhetoric is to blame for the despicable act of this deranged, apparently apolitical criminal."
First of all, let us all stop conveying the notion that this was apolitical. Let's stop dissecting his reading lists and his email rants. Clearly Jared Loughner was mentally unhinged but he purposefully and willfully tried to assassinate a sitting US Congresswoman so to pretend this was not somehow political is nonsense. But moving past that I do not recall seeing anyone make the assertion of causality. I do not think that anyone believes that political rhetoric caused Jared Loughner to kill six people. But here is the thing folks. It sure doesn't seem to have helped. Jared Loughner could have chosen any Safeway to go into to commit his massacre but he chose the one that Giffords was appearing at. While his mental state may have been random, this choice was not.
"Public discourse and debate isn't a sign of crisis but a sign of our enduring strength"
Put the talking points down Sarah and walk away from the teleprompter. This is what is known in debating circles as a strawman argument. No one suggested that public discourse and debate are signs of crisis. But that doesn't mean that you do not examine discourse and debate to try and make our society even better. Promoting violence is not debate. It is reprehensible.
"People are using this as a pretext to stifle debate"
No they are not Sarah. They are actually using this to have a debate. To have a frank discussion about how we can become better as a people through this tragedy. You had a chance today Sarah to prove that maybe you had what it takes to be a serious person in a serious debate. You had a chance to come out and speak about Gabrielle Giffords and the six dead in Tucson. You had a chance to prove that you are more than a cheap political stunt. But instead, you are so self absorbed that you thought this was all about you. Poor Sarah. America now awaits the 16th minute.
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