gabby. gabby giffords is a person who is always thinking of others. her constituents, her staff, her colleagues. i spoke with her frequently during the very tough campaign she went through, and she was always just asking, how are her colleagues doing? today in that same way gabby giffords would want us to be thinking and praying for the others. for her fallen and injured constituents, for herzegovinaoic staff. -- for her her joic staff. gabe zimmerman died doing what he loved. serving the people of arizona. his many good works are a testament to the selfless works of service performed by congressional staff every day for the people of our districts and our nation. gabby giffords has always conducted herself in a manner that brings honor on this people's house. she passionately advocates for the positions and issues she cares so deeply about, but always in a way that is respectful of opposing views. she is a fierce competitor but always considerate of others. that is why she was such a good r

gabby knows i love chocolate. when she sees me on a flight she always lights up and says something like, louie, i was hoping you'd be on my flight. i need some chocolate. gabby always finds something for which she can look forward. our prayers remain with her. this is no time for assigning blame to anyone but the gunman. this is a time to note the positive influences from those who were harmed. this is a time to note and perpetuate the good that their lives have so that they live on whether their heartbeats or not. this is a time to learn from gabby who has a heart that both still beats and still inspires. we can learn from her attributes and her ability to smile even at those of us with whom we disagree. as we pray for the opportunity for her smile to regain its vitality so she can go back to spreading her sunshine to all the places that need it. may god bless gabby giffords and all those who are suffering because of this heinous attack as only he knows the most specific needs. may god further provide the comfort

this is most true for gabby. gabby is a special person among us here in congress. we all know that. patriotism, her bipartisanship, her willingness to learn, her dedication to give, her compassion for her job, and for each of us. and her spirit to continue striving to make the eighth congressional district of arizona and america a better place to live and work. hopefully it won't be much longer until we see her here, her smiling face with us again doing what she loved and working hard for the people of our country. our prayers go to gabby, all victims, and the families of the deceased. i reserve the balance of my time. mr. flake: mr. speaker, i yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from arizona, mr. schweikert. mr. schweikert: mr. speaker, it is with heavy heart that i come to the floor today to offer these thoughts on this tragic event this past saturday outside tucson. that took the lives of john m. roll, christine taylor green, dorwan stoddard, dorothy morris, gabe zimmerman, and phyllis schneck and gravely injured our colleague, congresswoman gabby giffords. it was

this is most true for gabby. gabby is a special person among us here in congress. we all know that.m, her bipartisanship, hewillingness to lrn, her dedication to give, her compassion for her job, and for each of us. and her spirit to continue striving to make the eighth congressional district of arizona and america a better place to live and work. hopefully it won't be much longer until we see her here, her smiling face with us again doing what she loved and working hard for the people of our country. our prayers go to gabby, all victims, and the families of the deceased. i reserve the balance of my time. mr. flake: mr. speaker, i yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from arizona, mr. schweikert. mr. schweikert: mr. speaker, it is with heavy heart that i come to the floor today to offer these thoughts on this tragic event this past saturday outside tucson. that took the lives of john m. roll, christine taylor green, dorwan stoddard, dorothy morris, gabe zimmerman, and phyllis schneck and gravely injured our colleague, congressman gabby giffords. it was just last week t

that is gabby giffords. the shock, horror and tears that follow the unfolding of the terrible youth in arizona, it's like just yesterday. here was gabby on the first day after we finished votes to meet with her constituents with on the corner. an event many of us do in our own districts. she was joined by her staff and a large number of constituents who wanted to talk with her including a third grader so excited to meet with her congress person who had just been elected to an office in her elementary school. i send my condolences on behalf of all of the people of hawaii, to the families of those who lost loved ones in this senseless act of violence, and i'm going to say their names again because they must not be forgotten. john roll, 63, chief judge for the u.s. district of arizona. gabriel master zimmerman, 30, master director of community outreach. christina taylor-green, 9 years old, beautiful, bright girl who should have had a chance for a full life. dorthy murray, 76, whose husband was critically injure

this is most true for gabby. gabby is a special person among us here in congress. we all know that. we all love her patriotism, her bipartisanship, her willingness to learn, her dedication to give, her compassion for her job, and for each of us. and her spirit to continue striving to make the eighth congressional district of arizona and america a better place to live and work. hopefully it won't be much longer until we see her here, her smiling face with us again doing what she loved and working hard for the people of our country. our prayers go to gabby, all victims, and the families of the deceased. i reserve the balance of my time. mr. flake: mr. speaker, i yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from arizona, mr. schweikert. mr. schweikert: mr. speaker, it is with heavy heart that i come to the floor today to offer these thoughts on this tragic event this past saturday outside tucson. that took the lives of john m. roll, christine taylor green, dorwan stoddard, dorothy morris, gabe zimmerman, and phyllis schneck and gravely injured our colleague, congresswoman gabby g

gabby called it congress on your corner.ed version of government of, and by, and for the people. [applause] and that quintessentially american scene, that was the scene shattered by a gunman's bullets. and the six people who lost their lives on saturday, they too represented what is best in us, what is best in america. judge john roll served our legal system for nearly 40 years. [applause] a graduate of this university and a graduate of this law school. [applause] judge roll was recommended for the federal bench by john mccain 20 years ago. appointed by george h. w. bush, and rose to become arizona's chief federal judge. [applause] his colleagues describe him as the hardest working judge within the ninth circuit. he was on his way back from attending mass, as he did every day. he decided to stop by and say hi to his representative. john is survived by his loving wife, maureen. his three sons and his five beautiful grandchildren. [applause] georgian dorothy morris -- george and dorothy morris, dot to her friends, did everythi

and in gabby... in gabby we see a reflection of our public spiritedness, that desire to participate in that sometimes frustrating sometimes contentious but always necessary and never ending process to form a more perfect union. (cheers and applause) and in christina, in christina we see all of our children. so curious, so trusting, so energetic, so full of magic, so deserving of our love, and so deserving of our good example. if this tragedy prompts reflection and debate-- as it should-- let's make sure it's worthy of those we have lost. (applause) let's make sure it's not on the usual plane of politics and point-scoring and pettiness that drifts away in the next news cycle. the loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better, to be better in our private lives, to be better friends and neighbors, co-workers and parents and if as has been discussed in recent days, their death helps usher in more civility in our public discourse let us remember it is not because a simple

( cheers and applause ) gabby opened her eyes. gabby opened her eyes, so i can tell you, she knows we are here. she knows we love her, and she knows that we are rooting for her through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey. we are there for her. our hearts are full of thanks for that good news, and our hearts are full of gratitude for those who saved others. we are grateful to daniel hernandez. ( cheers and applause ) a volunteer in gabby's office, and, daniel, i'm sorry, you may deny it, but we decided you are a hero because you ran through the chaos to minister to your boss and tended to her wounds and helped keep her alive. ( cheers and applause ) we are grateful to the men who tackled the gunman as he stopped to reload. ( cheers and applause ) they're right over there. ( cheers and applause ) we are grateful for petite patricia maisch, who wrestled away the killer's ammunition, and undoubtedly saved some liv lives. ( cheers and applause ) and we are grateful for the doctors and nurses and first responders who wor

and in gabby... in gabby we see a reflection of our public spiritedness, that desire to participate in that sometimes frustrating sometimes contentious but always necessary and never ending process to form a more perfect union. (cheers and applause) and in christina, in christina we see all of our children. so curious, so trusting, so energetic, so full of magic, so deserving of our love, and so deserving of our good example. if this tragedy prompts reflection and debate-- as it should-- let's make sure it's worthy of those we have lost. (applause) let's make sure it's not on the usual plane of politics and point-scoring and pettiness that drifts away in the next news cycle. the loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better, to be better in our private lives, to be better friends and neighbors, co-workers and parents and if as has been discussed in recent days, their death helps usher in more civility in our public discourse let us remember it is not because a simple

you know, gabby had a borrowed dress on. gabby. >> she borrowed a wedding dress. >> she borrowed a wedding dress from her friend susie's daughter. but that's gabby. those aren't the things that were important. mark was important. her friends were important. people were important. and that's the way she -- that's just the way she lived her life. >> well, we are all pulling for her and so glad to hear they're guardedly optimistic right now. thank you both for joining us. let's go back to ron claiborne with the rest of the news. >> all right. thanks very much, george. good morning, everyone. >>> in the news residents in parts of the south and southeast are bracing for yet another major winter storm by tomorrow. a swath from memphis, tennessee to atlanta and also all the way to north carolina could be under as much as half a foot of snow and ice. >>> an american woman reportedly arrested in iran for espionage is now in turkey. the state department says american officials have been in touch with 34-year-old hal talaian and have c

gabby giffords was a friend of mine. she is not only an extraordinary public servant, but she is also somebody who is warm and caring. she is well liked by her colleagues and well liked by her constituents. her husband, mark kelly, is a navy captain and one of america's valiant astronauts. it's not surprising that today gabby was doing what she always does -- listening to the hopes and concerns of her neighbors. that is the essence of what our democracy is all about. that is why this is more than a tragedy for those involved. it is a tragedy for arizona and a tragedy for our entire country. what americans do at times of tragedy is to come together and support each other. so at this time i ask all americans to join me and michelle in keeping all the victims and their families, including gabby, in our thoughts and prayers. those who have been injured, we are rooting for them and i know gabby is as tough as they come. and i am hopeful that she's going to pull through. obviously, our hearts go out to the family members of th

gabby opened her eyes for the first time. gabby opened her eyes. gabby opened her eyes, so i can tell you she knows we are here. she knows we love her and she knows that we are rooting for her to what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey. we are there for her. our hearts are full of thanks for that good news and our hearts are full of gratitude for those who saved others. we are grateful to daniel hernandez, a volunteer in gabby's office. and daniel, i'm sorry, you may deny it, but we decided you are a hero because you ran through the chaos to minister to your boss and tended to her wound and helped keep her alive. we are grateful to the men who tackled the gunman as he stopped to reload. they're right over there. we are grateful for petite patricia maisch who wrestled away the killer's ammunition and undoubtedly saves some lives. >> and we are grateful for the doctors and nurses and first responders who worked wonders to heal those who have been hurt. we are grateful to them.

gabby opened her eyes. gabby opened her eyes, so i can tell you she knows we are here. she knows we love her. and she knows that we are rooting for her to what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey. we are there for her. our hearts are full of thanks for that good news, and our hearts are full of gratitude for those who saved others. we are grateful to daniel hernandez. [ applause ] a volunteer in gabby's office. and daniel, i'm sorry, you may deny it, but we've decided you are a hero because you ran through the chaos to minister to your boss and help keep her alive. [ applause ] >> we are grateful to the men who tackled the gunman as he stopped to reload. [ applause ] they're right over there. [ applause ] >> we are grateful for petite patricia maisch who wrestled away the killer's ammunition and undoubtedly saved some lives. [ applause ] >> and we are grateful for the doctors and nurses, the first responders who worked wonders to heal those who had been hurt. we are grateful to them. [ applause ]

gabby called it congress on your corner.ed version of government of, and by, and for the people. [applause] and that quintessentially american scene, that was the scene shattered by a gunman's bullets. and the six people who lost their lives on saturday, they too represented what is best in us, what is best in america. judge john roll served our legal system for nearly 40 years. [applause] a graduate of this university and a graduate of this law school. [applause] judge roll was recommended for the federal bench by john mccain 20 years ago. appointed by george h. w. bush, and rose to become arizona's chief federal judge. [applause] his colleagues describe him as the hardest working judge within the ninth circuit. he was on his way back from attending mass, as he did every day. he decided to stop by and say hi to his representative. john is survived by his loving wife, maureen. his three sons and his five beautiful grandchildren. [applause] georgian dorothy morris -- george and dorothy morris, dot to her friends, did everythi

he said gabby, gabby, open your eyes and he's urging her on.ou could just see the will going from him to her that you can do this. and then she is struggling, struggling and she opens her eyes. then he's just, almost beyond himself because he's so excited. he said, can you see me, if you can see me, you know, give me a thumbs up. we're watching her and saying gabby, you can do it. everyone who loves her is around this hospital bed, her mother, father, doctor, her husband, her friends, all these people are there to say, gabby, we're with you, and she doesn't just put a thumbs up, she raises her entire arm. so the biggest thumbs up she could have given. the doctors couldn't believe what they were seeing. they were saying this is unbelievable progress to see this. and we just were streaming tears. we were so excited and so happy and couldn't believe that she was trying to hard to communicate with us. just the strength and the courage she was showing at that moment was truly the most inspiring moment i had ever witnessed. >> have you any doubt you'

gabby is more than just a colleague. she's actually a friend. she's always been a noble public servant, and my thoughts and my prayers are with congresswoman giffords and her family, the congresswoman's staff and their families, as well as other victims of this senseless and cruel violence. it's an unbelievable tragedy that the people of arizona experienced today. >> last night, this was the scene outside the hospital in tucson. as supporters and friends of the congresswoman and the other victims gathered and stood vigil waiting for news. and the sheriff has just come out within the last 15 minutes or so saying that, in fact, in total there were 20 victims dead and wounded. 20, not 19, so that's the latest figure that we have. i'm joined now by george stephanopoulos, anchor of "good morning america" and obviously longtime friend of "this week." there's no motive yet. the perpetrator is silent so far. no connections yet to what happened. what does this mean really for the story of this nation? >> we should say there's so much we don't know yet ab

gabby opened her eyes for the first time. gabby opened her eyes. gabby opened her eyes so i can tell you, she knows we are here she knows we love her and she knows that we are rooting for her through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey. >> reporter: tonight was an unusual combination of almost a pep rally and a somber memorial. the university handed out t-shirts saying together we thrive, tucson and america. the community's desire to heal to rise from the ashes of tragedy, manifested itself in an enthusiasm that may have struck some as odd for a memorial. one of the heroes of the tragedy, daniel hernandez jr., was cheered as he walked into the arena. as were some of the doctors. former supreme court justice sandra day o'connor, a former arizona state senator greeted dr. peter rhee. the president honored them and the arena exploded in celebration. >> our hearts are full of gratitude for those who saved others. we are grateful to daniel hernandez. a volunteer in gabby's office. and daniel, i'm sorry, you may deny it, but we've decided

." >> gabby is very popular. people want to see her. >> 20 or so are in the crowd. among them, retired army colonel bill badger. >> i got a lot of respect for her because of her willingness to meet with the people. >> it was to be just that, a simple meet and greet with constituents in a parking lot at a local supermarket. no one really thought it would draw a big crowd, but somehow it did get the attention of a 9-year-old girl willing to forfeit saturday morning cartoons. >> she was jumping up and down and she kept saying, i'm next, i'm next. >> and a 20-year-old intern who'd only be on giffords' staff for five days. >> lots of people who had shown up were pretty excited to get a chance to speak with their congresswoman. there were people there to thank her for the work that she had done. >> congress shall make no law -- >> ironically, two days earlier in washington with the new congress sworn in, gabby giffords was asked to recite part of the first amendment, the one guaranteeing all americans the right to assemble peaceably. her congress on the corner was to be a

gabby called it congress on your corner. the updated version of government of, and by, and for the people. [applause] and that quintessentially american scene, that was the scene shattered by a gunman's bullets. and the six people who lost their lives on saturday, they too represented what is best in us, what is best in america. judge john roll served our legal system for nearly 40 years. [applause] a graduate of this university and a graduate of this law school. [applause] judge roll was recommended for the federal bench by john mccain 20 years ago. appointed by george h. w. bush, and rose to become arizona's chief federal judge. [applause] his colleagues describe him as the hardest working judge within the ninth circuit. he was on his way back from attending mass, as he did every day. he decided to stop by and say hi to his representative. john is survived by his loving wife, maureen. his three sons and his five beautiful grandchildren. [applause] georgian dorothy morris -- george and dorothy morris, dot to her friends, di

i have known gabby for a long time. one thing that i know about her that made her and makes her such an incredible leader is her ability to respond and not react. it is her capacity to look at the broad scope and understand that not all of us stand here today with the same understanding. we come from different places. we come from different tribes. we have different ways of understanding things. even amongst those who speak english, we do not hear the same thing. we do not see it the same way. we do not speak in the same words. i ask all of you to take a moment. whether you been at the waist or lower your neck or close your eyes or take a deep breath, whatever it is that works for you, take a moment. find that place inside of us. it can be won with this earth. find a way to be one with each other. will be followed, we have got to find a way to be leaders. everyone of you who have shown up here, you are the leader you have been waiting for. i have heard these brothers and sisters say that for so long. it is up to you to

she took a liking to gabby.get to know her better. [ cheers and applause ] .. >> two people growing up in tucson about 70 years ago. they moved apart. after both were widowed they found their way back here to -- as one of the daughters put it -- be boyfriend and girlfriend again. when they weren't out on the road in their motor home you could find them just up the road helping folks in need at the mountain avenue church of christ. a retired construction worker, spending his spare time fixing up the church along with his dog tucks tux. he jumped on top of his wife sacrificing his life for hers. "cheers" plast. >>> hers. >> everything gabe zimmerman did, he did with passion. [ cheers and applause ] . >> but his true passion was helping people. a gabby's outreach director, he made the cares of thousands of her constituents his own. seeing to it that seniors got the medicare benefits that they had earned. the veterans got the medals and care they deserved. the government was working for ordinary folks. he died doing

gabby is an amazing human being. a bullet can't stop her.ife. >> every tragedy has its heroes. that is what's making news in america this morning. >> we will have much more from

>>> on our broadcast tonight from tucson, road to recovery, a big journey for gabby giffords. out of the hospital, now in rehabilitation. now for her the crucial next steps of recovery. >>> also an nbc news exclusive. the shooting survivor who did all she could to protect the 9-year-old girl she had brought to the supermarket that day to meet her congresswoman. tonight she has shared her emotional story with us for the first time. >>> deep freeze. winter going to extremes now. snow, ice and would you believe 46 below 0? and that's not a windchill. >>> and showdown, the long-awaited rematch between two american icons, legacies, arch rivals. some fans have to walk a very fine line. "nightly news" begins now. fine line. fine line. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> and good evening once again tonight from tucson, arizona. we've returned here tonight to check back in on this community and the victims of the shooting which was two weeks ago tomorrow at a local safeway. congresswoman gabby giffords was shot in the head that day, and today sh

but gabby has been a fighter. she has spoken out against the administration when she thinks they're wrong. >> she had just won re-election in a tough came pain. she was reaeven on sarah palin' target list. she faced anger to her opposition over arizona's immigration law. immigration not surprisingly one of the oughtest issues in her district which shares a border with mexico. earlier today, the capital police put out a note to every member of congress telling them about the shooting and urging them to take prudent precautions about their own security, their own safety, but i also need to tell you that just a little while ago, we heard another notice from capital police to all memberf oz congress saying, quote, there is no indxz at this time this is part of a larger threat against the congresship or has an link to terrorism. >> that brings me back to a question we were talking about earlier today, that is whether congresswomen or men ever travel with security to events like this. >> it almost never happens. i have

care of gabby. i think that's reflective of the staff as i've known it. each person that we've talked with, both of you here today on c-span and on kjll, always speak in terms of just -- of love. just not a job, she was just not a boss. >> i'll let sara talk about that, too. but i think all of us considered a very big honor to work for gabby. we are proud to work for her, we do love her and i know she loves all of us. we're all very close to each other and this was something that just really tore apart a very, very close knit group of individuals. >> by the way, sara, if you'll comment, too, the office is open for constituent services, for comments. it's open to serve the constituents of congressional district eight. you didn't shut it down and put a wreath over the doer, you simply said, this is what gabby would want us to do. i've heard that expressed numerous times. keep the office open, keep doing what we've been doing. how you do that in the midst of this tragedy is far beyond my comprehension

"gg, g "gg," gabby giffords, "going to the next phase of her recovery today. very grateful to the docs and nurses at umc." yesterday, he stood by her side as her bed was moved to a hospital deck so she could feel the sun on her face and see the arizona mountains one more time. today's journey wasn't easy. after a half hour ambulance ride to a local air force base, she was gingerly lifted out of the ambulance and loaded onto a specially equipped private plane for the two-hour flight to houston. from there, another ride. this time, on a medical helicopter to the memorial hermann rehabilitation hospital, where she will likely be for a few months. >> she looks spectacular. she came into the icu and she was alert, awake, calm. >> reporter: gabby's rehabilitation will take a fighting spirit. a tenacity her closest friends say she's got. >> so happy that she's continuing to progress and i'm going to be there to help her all along the way. she would do the same for me. >> she's a very strong woman, and nobody works harder than she does. she's going to do everything sh

gabby is an amazing human being. a bullet isn't going to stop gabby. she's going to keep fighting.n fighting for southern arizona, now we just need to help her fight her own life. >> instinct and loyalty took over. that's all for us tonight. i'll be back tomorrow on "gma." and diane sawyer will be in tucson tomorrow night for "world news." as we sign off, david muir continues our coverage online. on facebook. join the conversation at abcnews.com. have a good night. >> alan: in perhaps its final act as san francisco mayor, gavin newsom makes a surprise announcement. first -- >> jared loughner was subdued by brave people at the sing. >> alan: the fbi director praised those who stepped up in the shooting in tucson. the suspect in the shooting of congresswoman gabrielle giffords is facing federal charges tonight. they include five counts of murder and attempted assassination. we have the latest from tucson. >> did you say gabrielle giffords was hit? >> reporter: representative gabrielle giffords is in a medically drug induced coma, her police unclear. many are calling it a miracle she

it was actually tracy's ring on gabby's finger and gabby was trying to hold onto it. >> tracy is the nurse from u.n.c. who traveled with gabby and her family and myself. tracy gave it to her. >> she was taking it off my hand. i asked if she wanted to see it. so i gave it to her. she was taking it off my hand and it was fitting tightly, i took it off for her and she took it into her hand and she was looking at it and turning it to see all sides of the ring. then she put it on her finger to hold onto it. >> [inaudible] >> do you want me to cry it's very emotional. i'm going to miss her a lot. she's a very gentle person. and her personality is coming out with her touches. the way that she touches us, the way that she looks at us. and i'm very lucky to know her. and know her family. they've been wonderful. tracey culbert. with a y. we are leaving today to go back to tucson. i know she's in really good hands. we had a very good transition as they said. and they're going to keep in touch with us and let us know how she's doing. mark's going to email us. i have a lot of hope for her and i k

gg, gabby giffords, going to the next phase of her recovery today. very grateful to the docs and the nurses at umc. yesterday he stood by her side as her bed was moved to a hospital deck so she could feel the sun on her face and see the arizona mountains one more time. today's journey wasn't easy. after a half hour ambulance ride to an air force base, she was gingerly lifted out of the ambulance and loaded on to a specially equiped private plane for the two-hour flight to houston. from there, another ride. this time on a medical helicopter to the memorial herman rehabilitation hospital where she will likely be for a few months. >> she looks spectacular. she came into the icu and she was alert, awake and calm. >> gabby's rehabilitation will take a fighting spirit. a tenacity her closest friends says she's got. >> she is a very strong woman and nobody works harder than she does. she will do everything she can to fight for her complete recovery. >> and to get back to work, representing the people who line the streets to see her off. >> gabby, i'm proud

[applause] gabby opened her eyes. [applause] gabby opened her eyes so it can tell you we're here and she knows we love for and we are rooting for through undoubtedly will be a difficult journey. we're there for her. >> a big event, a huge beach for barack obama trying to pull together the mood of the nation after saturday's shooting. it is a speech that addressed various levels. you heard the news line. barack obama saying after he visits -- visited and other covers people who visited her, the lawmaker opened her eyes for the first time since coming to that hospital after being shot through the brain. that is a positive development. the first person he embraced was mark kelly, the covers woman's husband. it worked on several different levels. stories to about acts of heroism from people who stepped in and helped the survivors. there is the political section of the speech, the president calling for unity from politicians and a dose of humility at a time when there is debate about political rhetoric and the level of dis

we went to gabby. we were able to hold her hand. kirsten was holding her hand and rubbing the top of her hand. and we each started talking to her about the experiences we had had with her. kirsten had just gone out to pizza with their husbands. she was saying, you have to get better so we can go out for pizza as quick as possible. gabby and mark and my husband and family and i vacationed at our house in new hampshire for the last couple summers. so i said to her, gabby, come on. i'm expected you back in new hampshire this summer. so you better get through this quick. all of a sudden, at that point, she started to open her eyes, just a slit. and nobody could believe it. i mean, we were just -- we were stunned. mark got so excited, he said to her, gabby, you know, if you can see me, give me the thumbs-up. give me the thumbs-up. and she didn't right away. and then we kept talking to her, kept encouraging her. the speaker was encouraging her, telling her how much her colleagues missed her. and then she opened them more. she was struggli

) gabby opened her eyes, so i can tell you she knows we are here. she knows we love her. and she knows that we are rooting for her through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey. we are there for her. ( applause ) >> reporter: retired architect lorenzo cotton said the president's speech was powerful. >> i thought the way he made it personal for all the events-- personalized it, the people that got injured and then the touching part where he let the nation know that congressman giffords had opened her eyes for the first time, so it was just a >> reporter: much of the president's speech called for a greater level of civility and on this night, many in the crowd we spoke with agreed. >> suarez: now with more on that news the president delivered about the congresswoman's recovery, here is jeff brown. >> brown: it was during a hospital room visit from her closest friends and colleagues in congress when representative giffords demonstrated her latest signs of progress. florida congresswoman debbie wasserman-schultz was in the room at the time

care of gabby. think that's reflective of the staff as i've known it. each person that we've talked with, both of you here today on c-span and on kjll, always speak in terms of just -- of love. just not a job, she was just not a boss. >> i'll let sara talk about that, too. but i think all of us considered a very big honor to work for gabby. we are proud to work for her, we do love her and i know she loves all of us. we're all very close to each other and this was something that just really tore apart a very, very close knit group of individuals. >> by the way, sara, if you'll comment, too, the office is open for constituent services, for comments. it's open to serve the constituents of congressional district eight. you didn't shut it down and put a wreath over the doer, you simply said, this is what gabby would want us to do. i've heard that expressed numerous times. keep the office open, keep doing what we've been doing. how you do that in the midst of this tragedy is far beyond my comprehension bu

all i've heard about gabby -- and i don't know her. i'm the only person on this panel that doesn't know her. i've heard both from republicans and democrats what a wonderful woman she is and what great service she was giving to her constituents. i just want to make sure that we understand that she was doing what she was supposed to be doing and she was doing exactly what all of us should be doing, talking to our constituents and try to get educated on the issues. and i just hope we can have some civility and we can move forward. >> there are real security questions that have to be raised as a result of all of this, congresswoman. maxine waters telling politico this morning that she has her own fears about security for members. this is what she said. we can be shot down in our district but we can also be shot walking over to the capitol. we have a lot of people outside who appear to be fragile emotionally. we don't know when one will walk up and shoot us down. we are vulnerable and there's no real way to protect us. is this a wake-up cal

i could see -- i saw ron go down, i saw gabby go down. i saw them laying on the ground. i was wriggling my fingers and toes and convincing myself i wasn't paralyzed. i have a bullet that went through my wrist. not sure where to where, but it -- and miraculously did not hit anything, so i have full use of my right hand. i also took a bullet to the chest. and the -- when i woke up from the surgery, the surgeon said, you are one lucky lady. >> reporter: it missed every vital organ. >> everything. and i feel incredibly blessed. >> reporter: and this week, she also felt blessed when the president walk into her room. >> they both sat down on my bed and -- side by side, so, we were very close together and we had a wonderful conversation that focused on where we need to go from here. >> reporter: she told me she shared with the president and the first lady something else. her time as a teacher in the gunman's school. >> i shared with mrs. obama that one of the things that is very difficult for educators, we see these students all the time, that are loners, that are angry, that a

gabby giffords was a friend of mine. she's not only an extraordinary public servant but someone who is warm and caring. she is well liked by her colleagues. and well liked by her constituents. her husband, mark kelly, is a navy captain and one of america's valuable astronauts. and it's not surprising that gabby was doing what she always does,i does, listening to the hopes and concerns of the neighbors that's what our democracy is about. and this is a tragedy for arizona and a tragedy for our entire country. what americans do at times of tragedy is come together and support each other. so at this time i ask all americans in joining me and michele in keeping all of their victims, including gabby, in our thoughts and prayers. those who are injured, we are rooting for them. and i know that gabby is as tough as they come. and i am hopeful that she will pull through. obviously our hearts go out to the family members of those who have been slained. we are going to get to the bottom of this. and we are going to get through it. b

and in gabby, gabby, we see a reflection of our public spiritedness, that desire to participate in that sometimes frustrating, sometimes contentious, but always necessary and never-ending process to form a more perfect union. and in christina, in christina, we see all of our children. so curious, so trusting so energetic, so full of magic, so deserving of our love. and so deserving of our good example. if this tragedy prompts reflection and debate as it should, let's make sure it's worthy of those we have lost. let's make sure it's not on the usual plane of politics and points scoring and pettiness that drifts away in the next news cycle. the loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better, to be better in our private lives, to be better friends and neighbors and co-workers and parents. and if, as has been discussed in recent days, their death helps usher in more stability in our public discourse, let us remember it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy, it did not. but, rather, because only a more civil and honest public discourse c

and i told her, i'm going to cry, gabby.e going to make me cry. >> you're sure that you were breaking through? that she was seeing and hearing and feeling? >> yeah. that was just one of many. and many with other nurses, as well. i mean, we all have our own stories. and there are many people caring for her. >> and dr. friese, you were caring for her. i was talking to senator mccain offcamera, how you got to congresswoman giffords in that golden hour, right away. that makes all of the difference for patients of brain trauma. tell us about the first few days. >> it was certainly a surreal experience. you deal with what you need to deal with to get the patient what they require, in the first few minutes, hours and days. she was very fortunate, in that our prehospital team, was able to triage her and immediately get her to us as quickly as possible. they brought us to her by ground. it was a lot faster than by helicopter, waiting for a helicopter to arrive at the scene. when a patient comes to the hospital after a severe injury,

we got to see -- you know, gabby's got a long road ahead of her. but we know that, you know, the recovery from these kind of injuries isn't measured in days and weeks, it's more like weeks and months. but she's a really, really tough woman. i think if anybody can recover from this, it's her. and so i'm confident that she's going to, you know, she'll make a full recovery. >> reporter: so, they're not saying to you they're ruling out anything -- >> no, they're not ruling out anything. the progress she has made with this injury has been nothing short of a miracle. >> reporter: they rule out nothing about motor ability, nothing about speech, nothing about the future? >> they don't rule out anything. she could make -- i'm telling them she's going to make 100% recovery and they say that's possible. >> and everyone prays that's the case. >>> and, moving on to health care, ten months after president obama signed the landmark health care reform bill, the house of representatives voted late today to repeal the historic law. while the vote is seen as symbolic

congresswoman gabby giffords hit something of a setback in her recovery while the man accused of trying to kill her goes to court. >>> a deadly attack in a busy airport overseas. dozens are killed as investigators look into who did it and why. >>> line of fire. police officers across america getting shot at an alarming rate. two more deaths today alone. >>> there's a turf war in the world of breast cancer charities. tonight we'll tell you why the susan g. komen charity is under fire. >>> also tonight, remembering the man we thought might live forever, jack lalanne. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> good evening. tonight we have a late update on the story so much of the country has been following, the health and treatment of congresswoman gabby giffords of arizona and whether her road to recovery might be a bit tougher than we first knew, but first reporters got another look today at the man accused of trying to kill her. the alleged gunman, the troubled 22-year-old named jared loughner. he pleaded not guilty today to federal charges that he tri

stand before you in the deep -- with the deepest sadness, for the act of violence committed against gabby gifford her staff, her constituents and now we know a federal judge as well. >> former speaker nancy pelosi told the gathering gifford is part of a new generation of brilliant leaders. >> as i thank all of you my constituents let us join in prayer with gabby giffords constituents in arizona as well who suffered a terrible loss today. >> congressman george miller told kcbs americans do differ politically. >> but we always maintained that is the distinction you can go from president clinton to president bush to president obama to speaker pelosi to speaker boehner no body fired a shot. >>> the congressman suggests the motive may be political. >> emotions are hot in arizona and are across the nation, during the last campaign, and run up to the health care bill, her office was attacked, and she was threatened, many others across the nation, democrats, that voted for that were threatened. >>> he says he saw first hand extremes of politics in the u.s. during the fight over health care reform