Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s words on the House floor today were disconcerting:
In speaking as one House today, coming together, as peace [beginning] with us, we offer our thoughts and support; our prayers for the health of our colleague, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and for all of the injured. We share the stories of the heroes of the tragedy and mourn those who perished. Let their actions and their memories be a blessing to our country. We don’t know why God saw this to be necessary, but let this be something that we cherish as an opportunity as we mourn the heartbreaking horror of it all.
This resolution is a fitting tribute. It is a great resolution. Please read it again and again. Carry those names in your heart. Remember each of these people because, again, a tragic accident took lives, wounded people in the free expression of ideas.
Absolutely, let peace begin with me. But even taking mental illness into account, that wasn’t an accident in Tucson. We saw evil in Tucson. And great examples of goodness and courage, too. But there was evil.