The President will address the nation tonight from Tucson, Ariz. Obama spoke about Saturday’s shooting in its immediate aftermath, but these are his first formal remarks on the violent tragedy, which left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords fighting for her life after a head wound.
9:18 pm— “If there are rain puddles in heaven, Christina is jumping in them today. And here on Earth, we place our hands over our hearts, and commit ourselves as Americans to forging a country that is forever worthy of her gentle, happy spirit.
9:14 pm — “I want to live up to [Christina’s] expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it.”
9:11 pm— “This tragedy prompts reflection and debate. Let’s make sure it’s worthy of those we have lost.”
“It is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy. It did not…[but] only a more civil discourse will allow us to face up to the challenges of this nation in a way that would make them proud… We should be civil because we want to live up to the example of public servants like John Roll”
Obama added “it did not.” It was not in the prepared remarks.
9:09 pm— “Phyllis is our mom or our grandmother… In Gabby we see a reflection of our public spiritedness.”
9:07 pm— “What matters is not wealth or status or power…but rather how well we have loved and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better.”
“An American family, 300 million strong.”
9:04 pm— We shouldn’t use this occasion to turn on each other. “That we cannot do.”
“Rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let us use this moment…expand our moral imaginations, to listen to each other more carefully.”
9:02 pm— “At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized…it’s important for us to pause for a moment to make sure that we’re talking with each other in away that heals, not a way that wounds.”
8:59 pm— “Heroism is not only found on the fields of battle. Heroism does not requiore training or physical strength. Heroism is here (gestures to heart).”
8:57 pm— Obama, to Hernandez: “I’m sorry, Daniel, you may deny it, but we’ve decided you’re a hero because you ran through the chaos and ministered to your boss.”
8:56 pm— Obama delivers the news via Giffords’ husband that right after he left her room during his UMC visit, she opened her eyes for the first time. Huge applause.
“She knows we’re here, she knows we love her, she knows we are rooting for her.”
8:55 pm— “Our hearts are broken by their sudden loss… but our hearts also have reason for fullness. Our hearts are ful of hope and thanks for the 13 people who survived this shooting.”
8:54 pm— Christina Green would remind her mother, “we are so blessed.” She participated in charite,
8:53 pm— Obama talks about 30-year-old Gabe Zimmerman, who was to marry his fiance next year.
8:52 pm— Obama tells the story of Mavy and Dorwan Stoddard, who were childhood sweethearts, and reunited after long marriages to the spouses, who passed away. They wanted to be “boyfriend and girlfriend again.” Talks about Phyllis Schneck coming home to her children.
8:49 pm— Colleagues described John Roll as the “hardest working judge in the 9th Circuit.” “He was on his way home from Mass when he decided to stop by and say hello to his Congresswoman.”
8:48 pm— “That quintessentially American scene, that was what was shattered by a gunman’s bullets.”
8:46 pm— “Saturday morning, Gabby, her staff, and many of her constituents gathered outside a supermarket to exercise their right to peaceful assembly and free speech. They were fulfilling a central tenet of the democracy envisioned by our Founders.”
8:45 pm— “Like all Americans, I will kneel to pray with you today and I will stand by you tomorrow.”
“There is nothing I can say that wil heal the holes torn in your hearts, but know this… we join you in your grief.”
8:44 pm— President Obama takes the stage. There are two rounds of raucous applause.
8:40 pm— Gov. Janet Napolitano reads an Old Testament verse from Isaiah 40 and Eric Holder reads a New Testament verse from one of the letters from Paul.
8:31 pm— Gov. Jan Brewer addresses Obama’s visit, “Your presence serves as a reminder that we are not alone in our sorrow.”
Her conclusion:
“We will go forward unbending and unbowed. May God bless all the victims and their families. May God bless those who serve us…May he bless you and your families in the state of Arizona, and may God always bless and protect the Unites States of America.”
8:29 pm— Daniel Hernandez rejects the label of “hero.”
“I thank you for this opportunity but I say we must reject the title of hero and reserve it for others…who have dedicated their lives to serving others,” mentions first-responders and public servants, like Giffords.
8:24 pm— The University of Arizona student body president:
“I’d like to start by expressing my sincere gratitude…As a student and a young member of this city, it is uplifting to see everyone tonight. I think it’s important to take a moment ot recognize that the victims [were at Safeway]…in order to participate in the democratic process. It is this process Gabreill loves so dearly.”
8:20 pm— A standing ovation for hero intern Daniel Hernandez, who staunched Giffords’ bleeding before medics arrived.
8:17 pm— Robert Shelton, president of University of Arizona speaking
“No one who lives here was untouched by the events of last Saturday…Reaffirm our comittment to each other. Gabrielle Giffords is a good friend of mine, as she is of almost everyone in this community.”
8:14 pm — Gabrielle Giffords’ office releases this statement:
“The outpouring of support from the people of Arizona and Americans across the country has been truly moving. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. The resolution before the House today was a further reflection of the best of America — one after another, Members came to the floor, without party labels, in support of those impacted by this tragedy. They honored the fallen, those recovering, and the heroes who responded quickly to save lives.
“The efforts of the Congresswoman’s colleagues have not stopped there — starting with Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi, staff and Members from both sides of the aisle have reached out in words and deeds to help our office in our time of need. Even during the darkest times, our nation’s capacity for kindness and fellowship reminds us of the best in people. To everyone who has expressed well wishes, we offer our most heartfelt thanks.”
8:08 pm—”Let us use humor when appropriate because humor is healing… Let us also look within ourselves and see how we can be better human beings.”
“For those of you who know the tradition…feel free to do it. For the rest of you, just please stand.”
8:06 p.m.— The Arizona memorial service opens with a Native American from Dr. Carlos Gonzales, who teaches at the university. Lots of applause.