Tucson Speech Proves Obama's Back

President urges Americans not to 'turn on each other'

(NEWSER) - President Obama paid a visit to Gabrielle Giffords and the other survivors of last weekend's shooting spree in Tucson, then delivered great news in his national address: "A few minutes after we left her room ... Gabby opened her eyes for the first time," he said. "She knows we're here, and she knows we love her." Before going into detail on the victims, he noted that the shooting took place during a "quintessentially American" moment—with Giffords talking to constituents. He made a plea for "civility" in our political discourse and urged Americans not to use the shooting as an excuse to "turn on each other," reports AP . "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us." (Read the full text here .) More»

President will speak at service, meet with families

(NEWSER) - President Obama will travel to Arizona tomorrow to attend a memorial service for the victims of the weekend shooting, administration officials say. Obama, who will be joined by the First Lady will also likely meet with the family of Gabrielle Giffords and the families of other shooting victims, aides tell CNN . The president has already spoken to many family members by phone. More»

Pundits see president's speech as a populist offensive

(NEWSER) - President Obama delivered a feisty, populist State of the Union address last night ( excerpts here , pictures here ), and naturally pundits are dissecting and grading it today. Here's what they're saying:

• "Obama had a simple message for Republicans: Game on," writes Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post . What on the surface was a typical post-partisan Obama speech was actually full of populist challenges to Republicans. "This is Obama version 2.0: Harder, more cynical but perhaps also more effective."

George Morris was at grocery store event to reprimand her

(NEWSER) - Gabrielle Giffords doesn't have to face a ton of partisan rancor these days—but that doesn't extend to George Morris. Morris, a self-described "ultraconservative" in Giffords' district, went to her Congress on Your Corner event on the day of the shooting to reprimand her for voting for liberal causes. When tragedy struck, he was wounded—and his wife, Dorothy, killed. In an interview with the Arizona Republic getting picked up today, Morris says, "Every time I see them on TV, it makes me want to vomit." More»

Stunned crowd moved to tears

(NEWSER) - Congresswoman Gabby Giffords brought down the house last night with a resounding declaration of the "Pledge of Allegiance" at a candlelight vigil marking the first anniversary of the day she was shot in the head by a gunman. Her voice rang out sure and strong as she led the massive crowd just months after she had to relearn how to speak and walk. Those gathered at the Tucson vigil, many in tears, chanted: "Gabby, Gabby." She limped to the stage, and supported her stiff right arm over her heart with her left hand as she smilingly launched into the show-stopper, reports AP . More»