Giffords gets hug and kiss from Obama at speech

(CBS/AP) 

Rep. Gabby Giffords received a standing ovation when she arrived to the State of the Union on Tuesday evening. Smiling and bespectacled in a red suit, Giffords seemed to briefly acknowledge the applause before settling into her seat. She was later hugged and kissed on the cheek by President Obama on his walk to the podium.

Her attendance at the State of the Union will prove to be one of her last official acts as a congresswoman, as her office announced in a statement before the speech that she will resign from Congress on Wednesday because, she said, she wants to "do what is best for Arizona."

"I will recover and will return," she said in the statement.

Her office said saying she will submit her letter of resignation on Wednesday, after representing Arizona for five years in the House.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at the State of the Union address on January 24, 2012.

(Credit: CBS News)

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Giffords' final act in Congress - before her resignation goes into effect at the end of the day - will be to vote Wednesday on a bill that imposes tougher penalties on smugglers who use small, low-flying aircraft to avoid radar detection and bring drugs across the Mexican border.

The Democratic congresswoman introduced the legislation along with fellow Arizonan, Republican Jeff Flake. It's similar to a version that easily passed the House in 2010 but did not make it through the Senate. Her office said the current law allows defendants who use ultra-light, single-seat planes to get a lesser penalty than those who use cars or other types of planes to smuggle drugs.

Giffords' resignation letter ends with a plea for bipartisanship, according to the statement from her office.

"A lot has happened over the past year," she said. "We cannot change that. But I know on the issues we fought for, we can change things for the better. Jobs, border security, veterans. We can do so much more by working together."

President Barack Obama greets retiring Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, prior to delivering his State of the Union address.

(Credit: AP)

[MacDerb]

Girl...he probably hired that person to shoot you. Mr. Obama's demonstrative conduct and publicly stated verbal despondency toward those of Jewish ancestry are evidence.

[omnibus66]

This is absolute proof that Obama is cheating on Michelle. Time for the Republicans to demand a special prosecutor and start impeachment hearings. Don't they know that an impeachment trial during the reelection campaign season would kill his chances for a second term? C'mon Repubs, give it a shot. Couldn't hurt your reputation for always doing what's best for the country, could it?

[WelfareLiberals]

This was a tragic situation but this story is getting as old as Socialist Obama claiming that he's a president.

[dagrandma]

batnapper: Maybe you should go to foxnews.com where you obviously belong.

[Thinkbeforeyouwrite]

You are one classy lady, Rep. Giffords! If all the congress acted with your bravery and wisdom, we would have a lot less problems. Hope to see you back in Washington in the future. We need people like you there.

[hillarynow]

Gabrielle Giffords, what an incredible, beautiful soul, love this woman.