Hillary Clinton: Giffords Shooter an "Extremist"

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, center, is guided by Emirates' foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, left, to a meeting at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday Jan. 10, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili

In a town hall meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton decried the man who shot Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords as an "extremist" - and urged the audience not to judge his actions as representative of American ideologies.

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When asked by a student why many in the United States target the entire Arab world in reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Clinton condemned "extremists and their voices," and said both countries had to work to overcome the strong influence of those voices, according to the Associated Press.

"We have extremists in my country. A wonderful, incredibly brave young woman Congress member, Congresswoman Gifford[s], was just shot by an extremist in our country," Clinton said.

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"The extremists and their voices, the crazy voices that sometimes get on the TV, that's not who we are, that's not who you are, and what we have to do is get through that and make it clear that that doesn't represent either American or Arab ideas or opinions," Clinton continued.

In the aftermath of the Saturday shootings in Tucson, Arizona - in which six people (including a nine-year-old girl) were killed and 14 injured - many have questioned the possible role of inflammatory rhetoric in inciting political violence.

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Jared Loughner, the 22-year-old man who is accused of opening fire outside of an Arizona supermarket, has been charged with one count of attempted assassination of a member of Congress, two counts of killing an employee of the federal government and two counts of attempting to kill a federal employee. Two of the charges carry a possible death penalty sentence.

Clinton, who will continue on to Oman and Qatar later in the week, said she hopes her trip can build understanding between the United States and the Arab world.

"We have the same kinds of problems. So rather than standing off from each other, we should work to try to prevent the extremists anywhere from being able to commit violence."

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Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

[rockmann8]

Someone who commits murder in the name of some political cause, regardless of which point of view they hold, right or left, Muslim or Christian, is an extremist, and it is correct for Hillary Clinton to point out that extreme acts of violence and terrorism in the United States, like the recent Arizona shootings, as being just as wrong as any extreme act like a bomber killing a bunch of innocent people in a market place in a middle eastern country. And she is also doing her job as a diplomat to encourage civil discourse without violence in our country and in the country she is visiting. The truth is we have too many violent attacks in the USA by extremists or madmen with guns, so maybe we ought to look at that problem and try to find a way to solve it. Saying that you think Hillary should have been in the line of fire is just plain stupid. If you actually believe that then you are no better than the murderers and terrorists who commit these horrible crimes. We need to find ways to express our differences beside violence and senseless killing, and work things out as fellow human beings and respect life.

[wyodutch]

"Extremist", my arse. He's a common criminal.
.
A pox on those who would twist this into a political situation.

[tired4THELIBS]

Here we go. Hillary talking out of her Backside without thinking. Exactly what we don't need in any public official, let alone in our secretary of state. She is beyond belief. Look for some sad clarification on "extremist" which now involves mentally unstable criminals. Maybe "Mentally impaired extremist" will hit the Liberal airwaves soon to help the administration's attempt at exploiting this in their usual subtly political way. Obama will continue to spew his nonsense about toning down the rhetoric, all the while coaxing his base with heated rhetoric like "typical white person" or "punish our enemies" while the mainstream liberal press continues to ignore it. If you disagree with the President you are usually either painted as stupid, racist, or evil by liberals or the press.
And, look at ctp123's comment. Nothing but incoherent, uninformed name-calling. Talk about typical.

[Pibbles]

Oh please, what is wrong with Hillary? One would think that she is at least intelligent enough to know the difference between an extremist and a mentally ill person. Perhaps she meant an extremely mentally ill person? Not likely, I know.

[Eagle-Ed]

If mrs. Clinton really believes that, she is not even as intelligent as I thought. Whether diplomatic pretense or simple PC obfuscation, this continued failure to identify what we must face in the real world of terrism by Islamic ideology keeps us from making sense to both friend and foe. In regard to the Arizona shooting, only a continuing effort to expand tyrannical government control of everything in our lives can explain such a statement. Now I wait to hear the heavy "hand"ov the President with the scolding finger.

[jwsnnc]

Absolutely incredible!! What is it with this administration that they just can not wait to jump in with both feet to situations of which they have no understanding??? We do not need our own top leaders criticizing this nation just so they can show their benevolence through apologies and shared concerns. Unbelievable!! In the Middle East, of all places.

[ctp123]

Jabber, you are saying that a far left extremist targeted a left wing politician for political reasons? That doesn't even make any sense...but then again right-wing wackos rarely make any sense.

[MrVibes]

No, but a Far left extremist could target a moderate Blue Dog Dem (which she was). Keep up with your politics... even Obama has been the target of much left wing anger for not being liberal enough. And I dont have to resort to name calling to make my points.

[jabberwolf]

Yes sir he was an extremist.

Maybe she didnt get the memo because shes been away.
That they found out his past friends condidered him being on the extreme LEFT not RIGHT.

Watch how when she gets this information, she'll quickly consider him not afiliated with any specific political spectrum. Wait for it.

Typical left.

[Charleypop]

I checked "Infuriating." I think it's infuriating that Hilary Clinton was not in attendance and the line of fire !!!