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A Tragedy of an Electoral Giant: Gabrielle Giffords

By Scott Sklar, The Stella Group
January 8, 2011 | 6 Comments

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The world is full of senseless tragedies and this weekend another one took place right within our family. Most of you know by now, Democratic Congresswoman from the 8th District of Arizona was shot by a mentally-deranged 22 year old. This blue dog democrat was an indefatigable supporter of renewable energy, and she let everyone know it.

Republican Roscoe Bartlett (MD) stated:

After such a contentious election, most Americans who don't live in Washington, DC are unaware that among the 435 House members, some of us forge strong bonds across party lines and from different regions because we are dedicated to shared goals. Congresswoman Giffords is a Democrat from Arizona and I am a Republican from Maryland. However, I was privileged to work closely with Congresswoman Giffords on renewable energy initiatives on the Science and Technology Committee. I was impressed, from her first day on the committee, by her knowledge and passionate commitment to promoting a transition from our dependence on fossil fuels and imported oil to renewable, sustainable, domestic sources of energy.

SEIA’s Rhone Rhesch stated:

In her short time in Congress, Gabby has realized a number of accomplishments covering a wide range of issues. For our industry, she has constantly positioned herself as one of the go-to champions for solar in the House of Representatives. In two terms, Congresswoman Giffords: was a key supporter in the House as SEIA pushed for the 8-year extension of the solar investment tax credit and the recent one-year extension of the Treasury Grant Program.

Giffords, one of the most passionate supporters of solar energy in Congress, held the first Solar Power 101 in November 2007. Since then, they have been held throughout the 8th Congressional District, with the most recent event on October 10^th, 2010 in Tucson.

I had toured her Congressional staff at my two zero-energy Arlington buildings in 2010, and I spoke with the Congresswoman a few times about how to accelerate renewable technologies within the defense sector. She has a gift of being able to understand the overarching issues and yet focus on the constituent issues.

While the national media contorts this attack as some kind of outgrowth from harsh politics, I don’t see it that way – from the press accounts, we had a very deranged individual. In my speeches on assaults to democracy, I always remind my listeners that, “those who use violence, should be deplored, - they insult the memories of the global leaders of civil non-violence Gandhi, Mandella, and King.”

I know the courage and strong optimism Congresswoman Giffords holds. And we all owe her our gratitude and should offer our prayers for her and her family. We hope she recovers to carry on this quest of a stronger country and economy and a cleaner environment. We’re with you, Gabby, in our hearts and prayers.

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The information and views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on its Web site and other publications.

6 Reader Comments

Comment
1 of 6

coenraad-pretorius-176946

January 10, 2011

"In my speeches on assaults to democracy, I always remind my listeners that, "those who use violence, should be deplored, - they insult the memories of the global leaders of civil non-violence Gandhi, Mandella, and King.""
Nelson Mandela (one l) was NOT a "global leader of civil non-violence", to the contrary: "Mandela described the move to armed struggle as a last resort; years of increasing repression and violence from the state convinced him that many years of non-violent protest against apartheid had not and could not achieve any progress."(1)

You can argue, as Mandela himself does, that he had no other option, but Mandela chose armed struggle, unlike Ghandi and MLK. In fact, I'd argue that including Mandela's terrorist campaign in that list is an insult to the legacy of MLK and Ghandi.

(1)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

Comment
2 of 6

Cliff_Goudey

January 12, 2011

Scott,

Yes, this is a senseless tragedy, but since you chose to bring it up, I disagree with your dismissal of the role of harsh politics. Public figures from either party have to take responsibility for their incendiary statements because the deranged exist, they are listening, and many of them are armed.

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3 of 6

Anonymous

January 12, 2011

Please accept my apologies for posting anonymously and being sooooo long.

For those of you who do not live in ArianNationZona as I do here's the news: there is nothing surprising about what happened in Tucson last Saturday. The virulent anger in this state against anything not on the extreme right is constantly paraded and cheered. The President of the United States is commonly referred to as: 'That N*****' and is blamed for everything from unemployment to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I have been present at restaurants and bars where people were shouting that they wanted to kill the president, and they received standing ovations. Rush Limbaugh, who said that democrats need to be wiped out, Palin with her rifle scope cross hairs on democratically controlled districts, Beck & Hannity & O'Reilly etc. calling for second amendment solutions to dissatisfactions, the Tea Party Nation whose founder, Judson Phillips, claimed on Monday that the shooter was a far left wing liberal, ARE THE PROBLEM. They provide the grist for the violent mills that pass for minds in this idiocracy.

There was a call in this morning's newspaper for an investigation of Pima County Sheriff Dupnik (Democrat) for making statements condemning vitriolic rhetoric and easy access to guns after the attack on Giffords, et al.

High capacity magazines for handguns are flying off the shelves in AZ right now, as did rifle and handgun ammunition the moment that the president was elected. It's a sellers market for guns, ammo and magazines in AZ. Many of these tools end up in Mexico, supporting the drug trade.

I will not be surprised if "Gov." Brewer appoints a republican to take Gifford's seat in the house, as she is likely to be advised to do by the real power in Arizona: State Rep. Pearce (raging birther, anti-14th amendment, anti-4th amendment, anti-health care, anti-immigration, sponsor of SB1070, etc.).

Sorry to say but: ba-ba-ba-baby, we (probably) ain't seen nothin' yet

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4 of 6

mary-saunders-73470

January 12, 2011

I recovered from a serious brain injury pretty quickly, and Gabby may as well. The signs are encouraging.

I am sorry to hear the discouraging description of Arizona culture. It bodes poorly for dealing with emotionally disturbed persons. So does knowing the medication-challenge issues of John McCain's wife.

A study of mental health and how it is best done on the planet can bring hope in those jurisdictions who look at this carefully and work on getting new research into practice. If parts of Arizona can do this, it could bring better conditions to the rest of the state.

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5 of 6

jajagabor

January 12, 2011

These are all very good comments, and I love each one.

However, I would like to give a brief quote from one of my heros, Daniel Ellsberg, and his reminder that our "culture of violence" (or at least persecution) isn't one that is always caused or instigated purely by the right wing. This is a quote from http://www.democracynow.org/2010/12/31/pentagon_whistleblower_daniel_ellsberg_julian_assange

AMY GOODMAN: Julian Assange has been the target of assassination and arrest calls from a number of U.S. politicians and commentators since the release of the diplomatic cables. This week, a Democratic Party consultant, Fox Business commentator Bob Beckel, called for illegally shooting Assange. . . [tape is played]

DANIEL ELLSBERG: . . . You are reminding us that it's not only Republicans like Sarah Palin and others, and Peter King, who will be a high—have high position in the House in the next term, who are calling for this kind of thing. In my case—I'm sure, by the way, that if I released the Pentagon Papers today, the same rhetoric and the same calls would be made about me at this time, the same material, same instigations. I would be called not only a traitor, which I was then, which was false and slanderous, but I would be called a terrorist, as a matter of fact. Now, that's the word today for someone who is beyond the pale of any rights, of any rights of citizenship or any human rights, someone who can be just dealt with summarily like that.

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6 of 6

John-Bronson

January 12, 2011

The shooter in this tragedy is severely deranged. He would have shot the congresswoman whether she was a Democrat, Republican, or Independant. Democrats that have used this tragedy to try and limit free speech, demonize talk radio, and solicit campaign donations, are morally bankrupt. The Sheriff in this case wants to blame the shooting on Rush Limbaugh. Yet Rush Limbaugh was not the one receiving complaints about death threats from the shooter. Sheriff Dupnik's office was receiving the complaints, and did nothing about it. Yes he could have done something. He could have required the suspect to undergo a 72 hour mental evaluation. A psychiatrist could have declared the suspect mentally unstable, and he would not have been able to own a gun. It was Sheriff Dupnik and law enforcement that dropped the ball in this case.

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Scott Sklar

About: Scott, founder and president of The Stella Group, Ltd., in Washington, DC, is the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Sustainable Energy Coalition and serves... more »