Gabrielle Giffords’ vote – the most memorable out of 430

Gabrielle Giffords returned after seven months for her vote.

 

[googlead tip=”vertical_mediu” aliniat=”stanga”]The full number of votes on the historic debt-limit bill was 430.

One of the votes has been the most important one.

The republican Gabrielle Giffords returned to the House on Monday to cast her vote after 7 months since she was shot in the head. Lots of applause and hugs from Gabrielle Giffords Republican and Democratic colleagues greeted her.

Gabrielle Giffords’ entrance, with just minutes remaining in the vote, surprised lawmakers and added even more drama to a high-stakes day. The Arizona Democrat responded to the attention with a smile, and she mouthed “thank you” several times.

Gabrielle Giffords used one hand to greet people and the other one by her side. Gabrielle Giffords hair was dark and closely cropped, and she wore glasses.

Gabrielle Giffords cast her vote for the debt-limit bill, which finally passed 269 to 161.

 

“She is a model for the attitude that we should all have because she is tenacious and she is relentless in her love for America. … You were missed and we’re glad to have you back,”

said Republican Ted Poe, R-Texas.

Gabrielle Giffords exited the House chamber by the east door, leaning slowly on an aide as she stepped with obvious difficulty. Her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, accompanied her. Police had cleared a path throughout hundreds of reporters, and Gabrielle Giffords did not respond to questions or greetings.

Close to the doorway to the House, Vice President Joe Biden greeted Gabrielle Giffords and marveled at her return.

“She’s remarkable. Will matters,”

Biden said in an interview.

 “She’s the embodiment of a strong, strong, strong woman. Think about what that woman’s been through, and think about her determination.”

 

On January 8,2011,  Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head

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in the parking area of a Tucson grocery store while meeting with constituents. Six persons have been killed and 13 others, including Gabrielle Giffords, were wounded. Jared Lee Loughner, the man charged in this event, was sent to a federal prison facility in Springfield, after a federal judge concluded he was mentally incompetent to stand trial on 49 charges.

At the moment Biden hugged Gabrielle Giffords, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., joined them.

“Sure, I like Michele Bachmann. We’re all standing there and Michele walks up to see Gabby, because she cares about her,”

 Biden said.

Gabrielle Giffords issued a news release after the vote — the only thing typical in an atypical day.

“I have closely followed the debate over our debt ceiling and have been deeply disappointed at what’s going on in Washington,” Gabrielle Giffords said in the statement.

“I strongly believe that crossing the aisle for the good of the American people is more important than party politics. I had to be here for this vote. I could not take the chance that my absence could crash our economy,”

Gabrielle Giffords also said.

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Gabrielle Giffords return