Gabrielle Giffords' 'bittersweet' resignation video
The recovering — but still shaky — Arizona Democrat announces that she's stepping down from Congress, but that, one day, she will return
The video: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) has announced in a moving YouTube video that she will resign her House seat this week so she can focus on recovering from a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head. Giffords was one of 19 people shot — six were killed — at a constituent meet-up in Tucson last January. "I don't remember much from that horrible day," Giffords says in a halting voice (watch the clip below), "but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice." The widely admired Arizonan, almost certain to win re-election in November had she chosen to run, will formally step down after attending President Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday, triggering a special election this summer. Giffords, 41, suggests that she will run for public office again. "I'm getting better," she says. "Every day my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country."
The reaction: Giffords' name will always be tied to the tragic shooting, to her "astonishing" but still-incomplete recovery, and to "one of the most memorable announcements of a congressional resignation" ever, says Frank James at NPR. Indeed, this heartwrenching video may well spur "tears of sadness and anger" that Giffords was "robbed so cruelly of her life's work," says Libby Spencer at The Impolitic. So "fair warning: Grab some Kleenex before you watch." It's so "bittersweet to see Giffords hit the 'pause' button on her political career," says Maressa Brown at The Stir. "Good for her for doing what's best for herself," and for her Arizona constituents. But Washington will be the worse off in this brave woman's absence. See for yourself:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The issue of women and conscription
Under the radar Ukraine military adviser hints at widening draft to women, as other countries weigh defence options amid global insecurity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
AI is causing concern among the LGBTQ community
In the Spotlight One critic believes that AI will 'always fail LGBTQ people'
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Modern presidents exercise power undreamed of by the Founding Fathers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published