Gabby Giffords’ Staff Carries on Despite Tragedy
Knowing that the government was dealing with critical economic issues, Congresswoman Giffords and her staff saw as their responsibility the need to inform and engage their constituents about this issue. According to David Walker, a former U.S. comptroller general who now heads the Comeback America Initiative, the congresswoman, on the Wednesday before she was shot, set up a town hall meeting to prepare the public for the tough choices needed to be made regarding government spending. The staff followed through earlier this summer and arranged for David Walker and Robert Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, to run a deficit-reduction town hall. Walker described the event as well organized with several hundred people present. The staff made sure Giffords’ wishes were adhered to: the first hour was informative with speakers and a Q and A, while the second part had the public engaged with a fact-based budget exercise in which the constituents tried to solve the budget problem by having to make the tough choices involved in reducing the deficit.
The staff has also been very proactive in helping veterans. Matt Randle, the co-founder of Veterans Education and Transition Services program at the University of Arizona, noted that there are regular sessions where veterans meet with the staff and talk about issues important to them. According to Randle, the number of veteran client constituents helped since the shooting has tripled, which shows that the staff “has not just carried the ball but has sprinted toward the goal line and done an amazing job.”
Anna Magoffin told the story of how her parents lost their home in this summer’s fires and “Gabbys’ staff was one of the first sources to offer aide in replacing official U.S. documents, including dad’s military records, which meant a lot to me and my parents.” In addition, over Father’s Day weekend the staff sponsored a “packages for the troops” day.
Everyone interviewed described the staff as concerned and caring. Captain Kelly noted that the “staff and Gabby all have become even closer because of the grief they share, the hardships they are enduring, and the challenges that still lay ahead.” This is exemplified by Ron Barber, Giffords’ district director, who set up a volunteer organization to increase the level of civility, respect, and understanding in the district. Two members on the board of this organization are John Wesley Miller (R), former chairman of the Arizona Solar Energy Commission, and Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup (R). Miller agrees with Walkup that
Giffords’ staff mirrors her personality: dedicated, diligent, responsive, and professional. I have met with Barber several times to examine the whole issue of how we should deal with each other. The staff has a real appreciation for the cause.
Why is the staff so dedicated and loyal to both the congresswoman and the constituents? Kelly Kimbro, a rancher, has nicknamed them the “’Dream Team’ because they are keeping Gabby’s work and dreams alive by still having faith. Gabby has instilled in them a goal to be helpful to the community, and they have done a great job.”
Captain Kelly said that the one tenet which every staff “member keeps in mind is ‘what would Gabby want us to do?’ They have been inspired by her hard work in rehabilitation so she can return to Congress. Her team is able to do their work because they know what Gabby would want and even though she is not back at work yet, she communicates her wishes to her staff.” Her staff do not see it as just a job but are passionate to have the best constituent services possible, something instilled in them by Congresswoman Giffords.
Kudos to the conscientious and hard-working staff, but this seems vaguely unconstitutional to me.
The U.S. Constitution is not vague. With which Article specifically does dedicated service by Congressional staffers conflict?
Would the Staff vote for Obamacare too? Giffords did
While I wish her all the best the truth is she needs to resign. She will have very significant cognitive deficits and should focus on her recovery and personal life.
Bottomline: she is incapable of talking, reasoning or assuming her duties as congresswoman, and her staff is taking on her duties. Not right.
In essence, she is more metaphor and figurehead than actively participating representative. Seems like that’s perfectly OK with the Democratic Party in Arizona.
Rather than calling them on that, I say join them.
I’d love to see a conservative district represented by Zombie Reagan. So long as the staff in charge of the Zombie Reagan persona vote consistently with the core principles embodied by Reagan, why not?
Of course, there would be the danger that these sort of metaphoric figurehead candidates could stay in office indefinitely. The people of West Virginia might end up putting “Robert Byrd” back in office for most of the 21st and 22nd centuries given half the chance, but I think that’s a risk we should be willing to take if it means smarter districts can get representation by the likes Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, or Silent but Deadly Calvin Coolidge. Although, I think it would be reasonable to limit this to historic and/or imaginary beings that are humanoid, U.S. residents, and of voting age (sorry, no Rep. Harry Potter or Sen. Kermit the Frog).
With motion capture CGI technology as advanced as it is, these entities could even show up on the various political chat shows in character with some actor in the background doing the emoting and speaking off camera in real time (similar to Andy Serkis’ peformance in the recent Apes picture).
The Giffords situation sets a precedent that makes this all seem just about reasonable in comparison.
ROFL!! Love it.
IF you know anything about the way Congress works, the staff performs these tasks at the pleasure of their employer in this case Congresswoman Giffords. Regarding Congresswoman Gifford’s health, let’s not play God. Even with her current disabilities she could probably perform above par compared to her present colleagues. As a Republican, I would probably vote for her based on her conservative values and commitment to her constituents.
GG is a running dog lackey, I wish her well and a full recovery, but she is a running dog lackey of the dogmatic left.
Creb, I hate to bust your bubble, but what conservative values? She pretty much voted lockstep with Comrade Pelosi. Tucson is a very liberal town (I could see Gabby getting re-elected even if she’s unable to function). Local pols are getting quietly uneasy because the staff won’t signal Giffords’ intentions so no one else can announce. The local bird cage liner “The Arizona Daily Red Star” would loudly condemn anyone who dared to challenge Saint Gabby. The staff must like having the power to do whatever they want.
We all learn from experience, and hope that the trials AND ERRORS of life don’t make us cynical. Rather, we hope we can choose to grow , to become harder workers and to become of source of information rather than retaliation. It seems so many of the readers have not made the choice to grow, but have become cynical instead and complain rahter than “do”.
While we all wish her well personally, the sad aspect is that her staff is doing whatever they are told by the Politburo. She is well beyond the limit of when she should have resigned.
Even sadder is that when she was wheeled into the house to vote, in spite of missing large chunks of brain, speech defects and cognitive gaps, she was still the smartest Democrat on the floor.
…. Even Truer is that when she was wheeled into the house to vote, in spite of having only half a brain and that speech defects and cognitive gaps rendered her incoherent, she was still the smartest “Democrat” in DC …!
Of course her “loyal staff” won’t quit. She’s their FRee-Lunch Ticket.
I guess one should congratulate Giffords’ staff for putting in the extra effort. However, in my opinion, Giffords should have resigned from her office to allow a special election so her constituents, whom she professes to care so much for, would have a FULL-TIME REPRESENTATIVE and she should have already announced that she would not seek re-election due to her medical condition. Giffords will not have to worry about her finances and healthcare since she is not going to be under the laws of ObamaCare because, remember, Congress exempted themsselves from having to live under the law that THEY PASSED and she will have a very nice retirement check to look forward to each month – courtesy of those constituents she cares so much for and ME. Plus, her hubby makes a nice coin as a fellow government employee, so her family finances are in good hands. Again, courtesy of us, the American taxpayer. I do wish you the best Rep. Giffords, but please put your constituents and the country ahead of your own desires. Yes, I know I will be called names for submitting this comment, so be it, but there are some things that are bigger than you Rep Giffords. Good luck with your recovery, but Arizona deserves better than having an incapacitated U.S. Representative.
Well, a serious cognitive deficit seems like a positive advantage in Washington.
Woodrow Wilson was almost a vegetable his last six months in office. We were probably better off, with cranky, racist, dishonest Woodrow drooling into his pillow while his wife Edith did all the work, but some people would say the US’s failure to join the League of Nations had some negative consequences.
Still, XML may be right. Zombie Reagan in 2012! “All I want to do is lower your taxes and eat your brainsss…”
Perhaps I read this too quickly but it almost seems serious. Surely it’s a spoof. It’s like something Giffords’ staffers would write as a press release — but surely even they wouldn’t try something this cloying and absurd. The deification of the sainted Gabby continues, as the Democratic party uses a profound personal tragedy to turn a mediocre, lockstep-liberal, no-accomplishment, seat-filler-until-her-party-finds-someone-better Representative into a robot through which it can control the district like a pocket borough, trotting the poor lady out occasionally to pretend that has or can recover the function necessary to her office. This isn’t the first time Pajamas Media has published one of these Giffords hagiography pieces, so keep in mind that the only thing Giffords did well was to plug her p.r. machine into all available media outlets.
…. Gabby Giffords’ Staff Carries on Despite Tragedy ….
That a loony Lefty shot her was an atrocity. The tragedy is that such is the “Democratic” potty’s contempt for us all that she is still on the congressional dole. As is every looter moocher member of her “staff, whose;
…. Inspiration comes from their wounded boss’s amoral minders ….
Gabby”s decision
Will our badly wounded Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, run for reelection?
A Tucson Democrat has decided to preempt her decision.
Last week, Anthony Prowell, a Special Ed teacher at Liberty Elementary School said he was considering a primary challenge to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. Prowell said he asked Gifford’s staff when she would make a decision for re-election. “They said she was ‘at least ten months away from deciding”.
In the event Giffords decides not to run, Prowell says fears that the seat “would go to whoever the Republicans put up” because a Democrat would not have time to prepare a campaign so close to the filing deadline. Prowell added that Democrats are encountering the same issue with the Arizona Senate race, nobody is jumping in because they don’t know if she’s going to run.” (Nelson, 2011)
And the Giffords Campaign Committee recently added fuel to the controversy.
The Giffords Committee has asked the Federal Election Commission if it would be proper for them to use campaign funds to improve security at her “home” in Texas.
Two weeks ago, Giffords for Congress sent a letter to the FEC asking if campaign funds could be used for security expenses in Texas. According to the letter, security updates would include improved exterior lighting, locks and a duress alarm button. The letter notes Capitol Police recommended the measures. The Hill, a Washington DC news outlet, quotes the letter, “Since the attack on Rep. Giffords occurred at a congressional activity, I am inquiring whether the costs of these safety measures may be covered by Rep. Giffords’ campaign funds.” (Cohn, 2011)
Crazed gunman, Jared Loughner, wounded Congresswoman Giffords on January 8th at a Tucson, “Congress on your corner” event. She was recently released from a hospital in Texas and is now receiving outpatient rehabilitation treatment while living in Tucson.
The Giffords campaign says the security measures have an estimated cost of $2,209.
If the FEC concludes the Texas home expenses are part of Gifford’s congressional duties, they would not be considered “personal use” under federal law, and would be allowed.
Gabby’s husband is an astronaut stationed in Texas. They own a residence in Texas.
He makes over $150,000 a year and her current salary in Congress is $174,000. a year. http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm
The amount of money for Texas is relatively small and should be beneath the hassle of an FEC request. No similar request for the Tucson residence has surfaced
No thinking, caring Arizonan would wish to deny Gabrielle Giffords all the protection she needs or wants, but why would a sitting Congresswoman from Southern Arizona call a house in Texas her “home”?
Is Gabby’s Campaign Committee inadvertently telegraphing Gabby’s decision?
Cohn, A. (2011). The Hill. Blog briefing room. Giffords campaign asks FEC to approve funds for home security upgrades. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/177393-giffords-campaign-asks-fec-to-approve-funds-for-home-security
Nelson, S. (2011). The Daily Caller. Arizona Democrats are “furious” at special ed teacher considering a run against Giffords. http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/24/arizona-democrats-furious-at-special-ed-teacher-considering-a-run-against-giffords/
…Giffords’ staff…
Most of the posted comments miss the boat….Ms. Cooper’s article is about what makes Giffords’ staff tick. It should have been written long before the tragedy. They were always a very special group.
One of Congresswoman Giffords’first priorities has always been to provide the best, unbiased “constituent services” her office can provide, and she trained her staff to do it well, long before she was wounded. Why is it special? Because it is so rare! Her offices always have been beehives of activity and they’re not just pedaling political favors like most of D.C. is doing.
She was always out in her district “listening” to constituents, whether they agreed with her positions or not, and insisted her staff do the same. Her staff could have “scattered,” they’re all really talented, but where would they go?…. Without selling their souls to the whims of Washington politics?
Yeah, they always have been a special group, it’s a shame it took a tragedy for them to be recognized. She trained her troops well and they had their marching orders, they know her first priority is to her constituents, all of them. It hadn’t changed since she was first elected, why would it change while she is trying to recover?
Thanks to Elise Cooper for recognizing Gabby’s staff…they have done a remarkable job of keeping her work in Southeastern Arizona alive. I know that the staff did not initiate the article…in fact they were hard to convience that the article should be done…they are a modest bunch! In the few weeks following the crisis, they were focused on getting everyone taken care of and comforting the many constituants that had their hearts broken, they had to stand firm and strong and they are still doing that…it is like any other disaster that any of us have faced…you have to hope and pray that things will be OK!
Ms. Cooper took a chance in the fact that she tried to touch on the compassionate nature that some of us still admire…this article was not intended to be political. Gabby’s staff are to be commended for their loyalty, preserverence and dedication to a job that they honestly can not say will be long term. It will be the decision of Gabby and Mark on whether Gabby will continue in the political arena.
Thanks Ms. Cooper for your efforts to compliment the staff.
Have to say,this is the snarkiest comment thread I’ve seen in a long time and the majority of you should be ashamed of yourselves. As a few of you have said whose cognitive abilities are still clearly unimpaired, this piece by Elise Cooper is a wonderful and uplifting tribute to both Congresswoman Giffords and her dedicated staff. I applaud her initiative and that of the entire Giffords staff….and I look forward to the day when Rep. Giffords herself will return full-time to looking out for the people of Arizona.
#16 and #17 seems like the spin machine from Dem headquarters here in the Old Pueblo. I live in Tucson also, but in Raul Grijalva’s(D-Sonora) district. Gabby is alright, but surely out of a million Tucsonians there is someone more up to the job than someone who took a hollow point in the brain. I pray for her and wish her the best, but c’mon…
Hey Ranchgal, no doubt the staff is dedicated to the job, but they also get a check they’ll have a hard time matching in the private sector.
A congressperson’s office is always busy. There’s no time to sit around and BS. A good friend works for a congressman so I know. She doesn’t tell me about individual cases, which would be unethical, but she does comment about the things our representatives are asked to do, daily. It’s amazing what some people think their congressperson should do for them.
I congratulate Rep. Giffords’ staff for keeping on with her plans. They’re not just sucking off the system. I know they work hard. My friend even has to work at home to keep up. No, not ever work with privacy concerns. God knows there’s enough junk that has to be done for the feds.
God bless you. Representative Giffords. I wish you well even though I’d never vote for you unless you were running against President Obama.
Why the heck is PJM running a story about a leftist Dem pol? How about highlighting some of our pols. Geez, between Ruben and Moron, this whole thread has been thread bare of information and bereft of content.
Wait, maybe like Fox Snooze, they can run continuous stories about Irene…from all their writers. At least then we could have some content. (sarc/off)
I think it is wonderful that Rep. Gifford’s staff is doing what they can to assist her constituents.
Unfortunately, that is not the primary job of a member of the House of Representatives. The most basic and most important function of a member of Congress is the responsibility to represent his or her constituent’s interests through the act of voting on the floor. With, to my knowledge, a single exception, Representative Giffords has been unable to do this, leaving the citizens of her district unrepresented.
Regrettably, she should resign and allow someone else who is capable of FULLY serving the people of her district to assume the seat. If they choose to retain the Congresswoman’s capable and devoted staff, so much the better.
It’s said that Republicans are Democrats that have been mugged. What about the Democrats that get shot? Isn’t that convincing enough?
What does it take?
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