Obama pens "Time 100" entry for Gabrielle Giffords

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: In The News

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords takes part in a reenactment of her swearing-in

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., takes part in a reenactment of her swearing-in, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 5, 2011.

(Credit: Pool,AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

About a dozen American politicians, both those at the top of their game and up-and-comers, were included in Time magazine's "Time 100" list, which purports to be a list of "the most influential people in the world."

President Obama appears on the list twice -- once as a part of the list, but also as one of its authors. Mr. Obama penned the entry for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Democrat who was seriously wounded in a mass shooting early this year.

Mr. Obama acknowledges that Giffords was not a household name before the tragic shooting in Tucson.

"But the reason she has long been admired by people of all political stripes is that she embodies the best of what public service should be: hard work and fair play, hope and resilience, a willingness to listen and a determination to do your best in a busy world," he wrote. "As hard a battle as Giffords, 40, now fights every day, she's got a strong partner in her husband Mark Kelly, who visits her daily while training to command the space shuttle Endeavour. And she's got the prayers of a nation rooting for her, a model of civility and courage and unity -- a needed voice that cannot return soon enough."

Giffords is reportedly making progress as she continues her rehabilitation, though she has not been seen in public since the horrible event. Reports indicate that she has regained her speech capabilities and memory, and can walk unaided. If she continues to make progress, Giffords may attend the April 29 Endeavor launch.

Most of the other short biographies of the American politicians on the list were also written by familiar figures.

For instance, conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh penned the entry for Rep. Michele Bachmann, the House Tea Party caucus leader.

"Far from being the fringe outlier depicted by the mainstream media -- and all too often by some on the right -- she is a strong spokeswoman for unapologetic conservatism," Limbaugh wrote, adding that those on the left "underestimate her at their own risk."

Oprah Winfrey wrote that Newark Mayor "Cory Booker is a genius."

Former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel described Joe Biden as a "wise counselor" and "unfailingly frank."

Other American politicians included on the list are: House Speaker John Boehner (written by former Sen. Bob Dole), New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (written by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels), Rep. Paul Ryan (written by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker) and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (written by author and professor Joseph Nye). Mr. Obama's entry was written by Prof. David Kennedy.

First Lady Michelle Obama also made the list (written by chef Jamie Oliver), as did Army Gen. David Petraeus (written by Defense Secretary Robert Gates) and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson (written by Energy Secretary Steven Chu).

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

4 Comments +

Add a Comment


by euge005 April 23, 2011 11:52 AM EDT: Just why would a responsible company print anything by a fascist like Scott Walker?; Reply to this comment

by RealiteBites April 21, 2011 11:01 AM EDT

Had Barack ever met her before he visited her in the hospital? Did he know her?

I think he's using her tragedy to try and recapture that moment when his poll ratings went up, and so I find it creepy the way he keeps wanting to talk about her again and again and again.

He's done diddly squat about gun control to prevent such tragedy from ever happening again, but yet he keeps wanting to go back to this awful moment ... ick! creepy!!

Reply to this comment


by carefulobserver April 21, 2011 1:10 PM EDT: Listen, how can you be so ignorant in the age of the internet? Everything is available on google these days so how can you say that Obama never met Giffords before the hospital visit? Obama met Gifforts several times before the incident. First, The President met with her when he was campaigning in Arizona during the mid-term elections 2010. Then he met with all new members of Congress just before they are sworn in and then he invites them to the White House for an official dinner. Then he met with her later for a Democratic Congressional Comittee's meeting at the White House before she left for Arizona. Total? Obama met Giffords 4 times in a period of 3 months before her tragic accident. There!


by euge005 April 23, 2011 11:56 AM EDT: Agreed that gun control needs more action. But this is not a bush league idiot in the White House. There are too many other greater needs and no wide spread support to fight the NRA and gun lobby. That is a fool's action. Maybe if more people think about the "icky" moment more often, it might not happen again.