The Final Final: the Last Word on the Tuscon Shooting

There might be absolutely no evidence that Jared Laughner had (or even heard) any right wing or conservative views. There might be no particular piece of "vitriol" that people can point to as being a contributing factor toward his murder spree. But, that hasn't stopped certain weak-kneed Republicans from enabling the overall message that somehow Tea Party rhetoric is to blame - and thus must be curtailed - for the actions of someone who was demonstrably not a Tea Partier. Republicans in Congress are already talking about "tempering their health care repeal rhetoric." Spare me.

Republicans in Congress eager to vote to repeal President Barack Obama’s health-care law face a delicate task in tempering their rhetoric after the Arizona shooting rampage that killed six people and critically injured U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

House Republicans delayed a vote planned for tomorrow on rolling back the health-care overhaul while Giffords, a 40-year- old Democrat, is being treated in a Tucson hospital. When they turn back to the health law Republicans will focus on moderating their tone, strategists said, in contrast with some lawmakers’ stronger language from last year’s campaign.

“There’s going to be a natural cautiousness,” said pollster David Winston, who advises House Republican leaders. “Members are thinking through how they can have an effective debate without it being disagreeable.”

House Speaker John Boehner’s spokesman said yesterday the Ohio Republican’s priority is to keep the discourse steady and civil.

“This terrible tragedy requires that congressional leaders act in a responsible, nonpartisan way on behalf of members, staff, the institution, and most of all, the American people,” said Boehner spokesman Michael Steel.

Sorry, that just shows how little confidence many Republican leaders have in their philosophy, their goals, and their voters. I'm all for acting in a responsible manner only ... when are we going to see reciprocity from the left? Democrat politicians and media people - who, remember, all of the congressional Republicans know personally - have had no problem labeling Sarah Palin an accessory to murder, among other things. Yo, DC Republicans, you're gonna let your "colleagues" talk about one of the GOP's most visible leaders that way? (Answer? Yes, of course).

There are absolutely no grounds for liberals to allege that anyone on the right had anything to do with the Tuscon shooting. Yet, DC Republicans are falling into their familiar role of quailing before the demands of liberals and media people who would set the rules for how the GOP speaks to the public and to their voters.