Sarah Palin's disturbing decision to place crosshairs on a map of Gabrielle Giffords congressional district may have been the decision that fatally undermined Palin's chances of ever becoming a presidential candidate.
After the shooting, as Giffords new book (co-authored with her husband Mark Kelly) recounts, Palin taped a stung retort calling suggestions she had been rash a "blood libel."
Palin refused to hear any criticism of her decision to target the Arizona congresswoman's district with a crosshairs symbol on her website.
In their new book, quoted on Politico this week, both Giffords and Mark Kelly write that they objected to Palin's imagery, discussing it before the shooting:
"Gabrielle was troubled that her district was one of twenty targeted on Sarah Palin's Facebook page and website," Mark Kelly writes in 'Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope.'
Kelly writes that his wife had told him that Palin's rhetoric upset her and had no place in political discourse. "It sends the wrong messages," he quotes Giffords as saying. "It's a dangerous thing to do."
Palin has kept a low public profile since she confirmed in October she wouldn't run for president, although she appeared on Fox New last week.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.joanxis | Nov 22, 2011, 11:40 AM EST
Murph46 - I can't imagine, as an American, that you could possibly have said, "I am appalled at the publicity she has ,and continues to get." You may be a Republican, but I can't imagine saying such a thing. What if she had been your congress person. Yes, there were others shot and killed and their deaths were horrible - and should get more attention, but they haven't. What has that to do with the attention Gabby Giffords has gotten. Or could it be - that she is a Democrat. Sorry, but I can not figure out why you would say such a thing and in saying it, I think you are un American.
PiperMac52 | Nov 22, 2011, 12:31 AM EST
I find it ironic that the many references to the wish for harm, even death directed on numerous occasions by liberals towards former President Bush seem to get a pass. This stuff goes on on both sides and to be honest the left-wing Democratic party is more adept at this sort of snide reference. The difference is they do it without a word of criticism from the media. Let me preface by saying I am no Bush fan.
seanomelbourne | Nov 21, 2011, 06:24 PM EST
Hollowbackgurl is on her mindless rantings again.BTW Sarah who?
JohnKinMD | Nov 21, 2011, 06:13 PM EST
Crosshairs have been used by both sides to show targeted areas, this is nothing new.
hollabackgurl | Nov 21, 2011, 11:14 AM EST
The article states that Palin put crosshairs on Gifford's district, not her, maryosullivan, so you have that backwards - but in my opinion it's just as desperate to do either thing and it proves Palin is not a serious candidate.
Murph46 | Nov 21, 2011, 11:07 AM EST
As an American,I am appalled at the publicity she has ,and continues to get.There were multiple others shot -not a damn word about them .Why her-because she is friggin elitist who by the way CAN INSIDE TRADE (what Martha Stewart went to jail for. Tell us about the others who were shot for a change!
gavinpchow | Nov 21, 2011, 10:23 AM EST
This is worse than bad reporting from someone that appears not to know what they are talking about. I lived in Tucson and I know that the repubs were targeting her district not her..God almighty man this article is worse than bad..Palin should not be accountable for what a nutcake does...
maryosullivan | Nov 21, 2011, 10:02 AM EST
US may be due for a female president,thank God it won't be her
merefalow | Nov 21, 2011, 09:24 AM EST
i think it would be a good idea to do what italy has done,that is to try an academic non party partisan aproach to running a country,not greasy bought political chancers like mrs palin,maybe they would make a mess of it but it would be worth a try to see how a tribunal of wise honest men with a measured intelectual considered approach might do,instead of corrupt vested interest politicos,of course it might be very difficult to put such a body together,,impossible?maybe,lets see what that italian guy does..