Accused Tucson shooter to appear in court police, cable, political, including, politics

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Accused Tucson shooter to appear in court
Incident raising questions about political rhetoric
News1130 Staff Jan 10, 2011 07:03:54 AM
It was at a constituents event held by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords that police say Loughner opened fire.  Six people were killed, including a nine-year-old girl and a judge, while 14 others were wounded.

The shooting is raising questions about the level of debate in American politics about the role rhetoric may have played in this incident.

From cable news shows to the Tea Party movement there is anger in America that has many calling for the US to look inward and do some soul-searching.

One New York Times headline reads 'Bloodshed Puts New Focus on Vitriol in Politics,' while the Washington Post wrote about how the shooting "spotlights" the current political climate.

Journalism educator George Orr hopes the tragedy serves as a media wake-up call.  "They're talking about issues that affect people's lives and as journalists sometimes it's easier to cover the heat than the meat.  We end up as journalists focusing on the conflict, because that's what journalism is about, as opposed to the substantive issues."

Orr adds the shooting shows the danger in following the "who" instead of the "how" or the "why."

"It's hard to take the substantive issues and make them make sense to people.  It's easier sometimes to just follow the heat and I think that's what's happened and the politicians have sort of fallen into the trap of making the most noise, making the most heat, you know, the sharpest attack and it turns personal and I think this is what happens."

Meanwhile Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik says Arizona has become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry.

While no official motive for the shooting has been revealed, critics say the level of debate is at least something of a factor.

Giffords condition


Gabrielle Giffords remains in intensive care, but doctors are optimistic about her recovery.  A 20-year-old intern, who had been on the job for less than a week, is being credited with helping save Giffords' life.

Moments after the shots rang out Daniel Hernandez was by her side trying to stop the blood from gushing.  As a trained nurse, Hernandez told CNN he used his hand to stop the bleeding before paramedics arrived.

"After the EMTs came in, and they were the medical experts, and I let them go ahead and take over all of that.  I decided my job was to make sure I cared for her emotional well-being, so staying with her, letting her know that someone was there with her.  Trying to keep her calm as much as possible."

Giffords husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, has made his first public statement since the tragedy.  He expressed his condolences to the victims and is calling for supporters to make donations to two charitable organizations important to his wife.

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