January 22, 2012, - 3:38 pm

Well Past Time, Liberal Hypocrite Gabby Giffords Resigns

By Debbie Schlussel

After mooching at the public trough for more than a year, Congresschick Gabby Giffords will finally resign this week, a move that passed the “it’s about time” point long ago.  I’ve written about this a few times (here and here), and several readers have noted that it’s better to have a liberal Democrat in Congress who generally doesn’t vote then an active participant liberal.  But, as you know, that’s not how I look at it.

Giffords milked the system big-time.  She remained on full pay as a U.S. Congresswoman, with well over $200,000 in annual salary and benefits, despite not being at work for over a year.  That’s something that the rest of America would never get, despite paying for it for her.  She also got the best therapy, the best rehab, the best medical care money can buy–something the average American will never get, even on Obamacare–which the hypocrite Giffords supported but didn’t make applicable to Congressmen like her (in fact, they will get far less of it under Obamacare).  While she was on fully-paid leave for a year, she and her hubby wrote and marketed a book and did media appearances to promote it. 


As I’ve asked before, do ya think you’d get to collect full pay on “sick leave” while promoting a book for which you got paid millions?  Puh-leeze.  Your boss would fire you and probably report you for healthcare fraud to recoup the money and benefits he paid you while you were working full-time for yourself on a book.  And even if you didn’t write a book, after a few months, your boss would likely terminate you after you exhausted Family Medical Leave Act time off, and you’d be forced to pay expensive COBRA fees and file for Workers Comp or Social Security Disability.  And, again, if you had the ability to write and promote a book and make millions off of it, you wouldn’t qualify for either.  They’d laugh at you.

It’s well past time that Giffords resigned and focused on her health, rather than simply milking the system, as she’s done for the last year.  I feel for her that she was attacked in the course of her Congressional duties and shot in the head.  But she is a victim, NOT a hero.  And she’s been using it to bask in glory and make money off your backs.

Again, I feel for this woman for the tragedy of being shot.  She’s lucky that she survived and good for her for that.  But it’s utter chutzpah to take advantage as she has off the backs of working-class people for whom she claimed to fight, but from whom she merely collected, while double-dipping with a book deal.

Yes, now an able-bodied liberal Democrat will replace her in a a special election, and it will be a vote for the wrong side on pretty much every issue.  But I’m approaching this not as a Machiavelli-ette, but as someone interested in fairness and the end to Gabby Giffords chutzpahdik mooching.

Her farewell video on Facebook bore a classy message:

I don’t remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice.

I’m getting better. Every day my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country.

But her stubborn clawing to hold on to the seat for over a year while she engaged in shameless self-promotion was not so classy.

I hope she achieves a complete recovery, and I wish her well in private life.




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45 Responses

Giffords is a typical open-borders phony who pretends to be something else each day of the week–a Jewess one day, a Hispanic the next. As far as I am concerned she should be deported to her bros and sistahs in Jalisco and Chihuahua.

Martin L. on January 22, 2012 at 4:11 pm

Don’t you think that that was the SLIGHTEST bit insensitive? I could see this aimed at her handlers, but for pity’s sake, I don’t think even the most hardened Demo was that cold with James Brady.

Daniel De Kok on January 22, 2012 at 4:15 pm

    Not at all she knew she was not coming back and played it for all it was worth including her husband who should know better being a military officer. She left all those people unrepresented for her personal benefit typical Democrat

    Jonathan Gartner on January 23, 2012 at 10:01 am

    No, because Brady is a useful idiot for them. He likes gun control. You can bet that if he came out of the assassination attempt saying “man, if I had a gun, I could have killed that idiot Hinkley!” that their treatment of him would have been much different.

    Regardless, insensitive? How is this insensitive? Like every other member of Congress, she has an attitude that “it’s all about me” and expects to be paid. Healthcare, fine. Rehab, fine. Even pension, fine! She was shot in the line of duty. But if she can’t fulfill her duties as a Representative, she needs to step down, not write a book and go on marketing junkets, etc.

    Ferd on January 31, 2012 at 3:15 pm

Debbie – You are clearly wrong on her health benefits. She is covered in a number of ways. She could be procuring her health coverage just like any other federal employee – i.e., paying for a portion of it out of her salary. Regardless of that, she is 100% covered as a military dependent under the TriCare program. So, layoff all that talk of her not losing her medical benefits like other Americans. The only way for her to lose her coverage is through divorce and even then, there are ways she might retain it.

With that out of the way, I agree with everything else. I PAY for an insurance policy through my employer for short/long term disability. They themselves will not pay me when I run out of sick leave. The insurance company would also come after me if I was out and about like her. She should have made a decision to RESIGN a long time ago, rather than a decision not to run for re-election.

arby on January 22, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    Arby: compare Tri-Care to Congressperson care. Not even remotely comparable, dog. As a practicing MD, I have a very good idea what Tri-care will get you. Many MDs don’t take it, as it pays poorly and delinquently.

    Occam's Tool on January 24, 2012 at 1:52 am

An employer can reasonably accommodate you if you’re disabled to help you perform your job. Your employer is not required to pay you for not working.

Gabby Giffords collected a full salary and received free medical care. That’s something us stiffs would never get in her situation.

As usual, its less about what happened to Giffords than its about liberal hypocrisy.

NormanF on January 22, 2012 at 4:27 pm

@Daniel De Kok–that’s because Jim Brady was really a far leftist in RINO clothing–look at his crusade to end all private firearms for instance. Therefore he was/is a darling of the NWO media.

Martin L. on January 22, 2012 at 5:11 pm

    What do you want to be Ms.Gifford and her hubby link up with Brady in some way to carry the Anti-Gun Agenda to even greater heights. Barry Soetoro would be all down with that.

    Sioux on January 23, 2012 at 8:46 pm

Debbie, Well said, I was just having a similar conversation with my husband. I agree with, you, 1000%.

Daphne Y. on January 22, 2012 at 6:11 pm

I’m just curious what angle the Dems are playing here. Sure there are many necessary reasons for it. Yet, if they cared so much about respect for the office, her need to focus on her health, and the appearance of gaming the system this would have happened long ago. Why now? Is this to pave the way for her husband to set out on a political career?

Brian R. on January 22, 2012 at 6:13 pm

I, too. wish Gabby Giffords a full recovery.

I also think it’s about time she stepped down.

Now, someone has to stop that Hack’s hack Debbie Blabbermouth Schultz from continuing to ERRONEOUSLY spreading the lie that the Tea Party had something to do with that unfortunate and sad massacre last year.

OWS is not even a year old, but they have still killed and harmed more people than the Tea Party has.

The Democrats are desperate. And this tactic taken on by the “Baghdad Bob” of the DNC is just one of the many examples. Wake UP RNC and Republicans. You’re not even in the same building as these cheats and power-hungry freaks. And that is why their many lies are spun into being the truth.

Skunky on January 22, 2012 at 6:28 pm

Ouch, sorry Debbie. I disagree.

Pat in Michigan on January 22, 2012 at 6:54 pm

What a pathetic human you are. You make Ann Coulter look like a nun

Paul S. on January 22, 2012 at 7:37 pm

    Moron, did you read the entire article word-for-word? Of course you didn’t read the article, you took an opportunity to attack the messenger like a doofus and probably took her words out-of-context.

    Paul, DS did NOT attack Gabrielle Giffords, she is ONLY pointing out all of the benefits she’s been recieving when she became healthy again, etc. There is NOWHERE in this article that Debbie attacked Ms. Giffords, so nice try jackass, you’re the one who’s pathetic and intellectually lazy and uninformed!

    “A nation is defined by its borders, language & culture!”

    Sean R. on January 22, 2012 at 8:42 pm

      She didn’t attack Giffords at any time? I suppose that the title calling her a liberal hypocrite and saying in the first sentence that she was ‘mooching at the public trough for more than a year’ were love notes?

      Mark on January 23, 2012 at 12:59 pm

        Regardless, were they untrue?

        Ferd on January 31, 2012 at 3:17 pm

        Mark,
        FACT: Giffords is a liberal hypocrite and she was “mooching” at the public trowl for more than a year. Both statements are factually true – so like whats your point Mark. Truth hurts maybe.

        MRobs on February 9, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    Why, for pointing out the obvious? Do the rich and famous deserve better treatment than the rest of us? If you had been shot as Gabby Giffords had, would your boss have allowed you to remain employed on full pay for over a year? Do you think such a boss or insurer would tolerate you attempting to profit off of it with a book and book tour? It is not like Gabby Giffords is going to tossed out into the street. As a member of congress she was eligible for long term care insurance. Also, due to her obvious disability, she would be eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance. The problem that Debbie and others have had with Gabby Giffords was her trying to cling on to a job that she was clearly no longer able to perform. She was not doing her district any favors by hanging on, since she was clearly unable to function as a legislator anymore. Finally, Gabby was probably shoved by either Nancy Pelosi or Debbie Wasserman Schultz into making an exit, since she was dragging out her departure far too long. Sympathy is one thing, but an idiotic sentimentality is quite another indeed.

    Worry01 on January 23, 2012 at 7:14 am

I agree with Skunky. When I see that miserable Wasserman I get an upset stomach! “Bagdad Bob” I love it!!! Yes we must never forget things like the pitiful attempt of imbiciles like Sheriff “Dumbass” of Pima County trying to connect this shooting to Tea Party rhetoric. Ya, nobody says much about Defacate On Wall Street!!! I sure wish I had MS. Giffords Insurance! I’ve had 3 back surgeries and have to get a knee surgery in a few weeks, I’m in so much debt I can’t pay attention. I wish I could write a book & collect & get benifits!!! Although I wish no one harm this double standard has to stop and Debbie hit the nail on the head if you like it or not!!!!

Hollywood on January 22, 2012 at 8:02 pm

That’s what Congress does. Remember Tim Johnson after his stroke, and all these people in their 80s and 90s that their aides herd into the chamber when there’s a vote? Most of them are senile. It’s a personal enrichment job trust.

And of course there was the milking of the first anniversary of her shooting to try to get in a few more pot shots against the conservatives.

That’s the most nauseating thing about PC. The events aren’t enough, there are all the anniversaries. Do you think there will be an anniversary commemoration of the Fort Hood Shooting that captures all the media attention?

Little AI on January 22, 2012 at 8:08 pm

Not the same thing Little Al. I consider Giffords’ injury work-related. The old geezers who are wheeled out to vote (Strom Thurmond, Robert Byrd come to mind) are just milking the system.

adam on January 22, 2012 at 8:27 pm

Skunky, are serious that Debbie Whateverhernameis Schultz had the nerve to libel and defame the TPM for the shootings in Tucson, AZ? She has some damn nerve, just like all of the far-leftstinian establishment last year defamed & libeled many conservative commentators for the shootings last year, in which the truth was that Jared L. Loughner NEVER listened to talk radio shows and he NEVER watched the news on television, the loser was “A-POLITICAL” (you unglued left wingstinians, that means you’re NOT into politics).

And STILL til this day, all of the far leftstinian commentators have NOT apologized to we the american people for their propaganda lies about the shootings last year in Arizona.

And as for Ms. Giffords, I am sorry that you were shot and nearly died (thank god you survived Ms. Giffords and cheated death), but I believe you should’ve resigned a number of months ago, because physically I didn’t think you (Gabrielle Giffords) were able to continue you’re daily job as an elected official.

“A nation is defined by its borders, language & culture!”

Sean R. on January 22, 2012 at 8:35 pm

Yes, Hollywood. She is absolutely despicable but absolutely a secret-weapon (to those who are not political junkies and dopey Liberals) for the Dems (that is why they were smart enough to name her DNC Chairperm) and letting them get away with all their lies. What does the RNC have after getting rid of the ineffective and VERY disappointing Michael Steele? Some dude that has a weird name that sounds like a dud Scandinavian car!!! No one knows him or even how to say his name. One’s tongue prolly falls off if one says it proper. Whatever.

Oh yes, Sean. Debbie Blabbermouth-Schultz did indeed just 2 weeks ago (the 1 year anniversary) TRY to continue the “tea party” meme and Gabby Giffords. That angry-perm has NO SHAME.

Glad to see the usual suspects have their knickers in a twist because DS has the balls to print the TRUTH. I’d laugh but I know in real life these Liberals are hypocrites like Gabby Giffords. “Socialism for THEE but not for ME”.

Skunky on January 22, 2012 at 9:34 pm

    Right on Skunky! I don’t get it, & they use people that disgust me like Maddow also. Since we’re on the subject. The Dumbocrats are trying to inject race into every perceived wrong, just one more falsehood. Check this out:
    http://www.black-and-right.com/the-democrat-race-lie/

    Hollywood on January 23, 2012 at 9:41 am

Disagree only slightly. For the first 6-8 month she wasn’t capable of making this decision herself. Whoever in Arizona has the responsibility for this (probably the Gov.) should have done it long ago.

tiarosa on January 22, 2012 at 10:15 pm

I too was elated when I heard on the news that the congresswoman was finally leaving,but knowing how losers tend to milk an opportunity for all its worth I thought she hang around a lot longer and keep her seat for life,as some losers tend to do,alas I was wrong,maybe she got pressured by the witch of the west,you think? I wish her well but no tears shed here…sayonara..hasta la vista,vaya con Dios…adios.

Juan on January 22, 2012 at 11:03 pm

Thanks for the report Debbie. Democrats have been milking the system before the first world war. Actually Lincoln started the whole mess by having Salmon P. Chase issue Greenbacks in order to finance the War Between the States. After Salmon P. Chase became the Chief Justice on the Supreme Court, he declared Greenbacks unconstitutional. Somebody got ripped off.

The present day sees Jamie Dimon, Franklin Raines,numerous brokerage houses, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and numerous Democrats screwinng the American public for every dollar that they can.

It is no wonder that the ghost of President Andrew Jackson haunts the Rose Room of the White House. Jackson was carved from the greatness of Thomas Jefferson. Jackson did not let the American public get screwed the way preceeding presidents have let happen.

Confederate South on January 22, 2012 at 11:28 pm

Adam, you are not thinking logically. The point consistently made in this post is not how the injury is contracted, but how Congress relates to someone once the injury is made. The similarity between Giffords and others like Tim Johnson is their incapacity to represent their constituents or anyone else.

If a police officer is shot we will sympathize with them, but clearly they will not be able to do the job.

Little Al on January 23, 2012 at 4:32 am

Time for a dose of cruelty.

I hate it when any victim of crime – regardless of whether or not s/he had it coming – gets paraded around like a freakshow to satisfy any agenda.

Sure – I’m going to feel sorry for Giffords, the Norwegian “teens”, the drug dealer down my street who got stabbed at my nearest watering hole… but just because it’s a human reaction.

But the reality is that no-one deserves to be a poster child for the society-wide malaises that plague headlines. Lone-wolf shooters normally have legitimate beefs against a certain political system or agenda but get pushed to the edge when people marginalize or ridicule them for an extended period.

It’s like the analogy of what happens when you duct-tape a lid to a boiling pot. Eventually, that pot is going to explode because of the built-up pressure.

Maybe things would’ve been different if Giffords hadn’t survived. I’m not wishing ill on anyone – especially those who never did me any wrong – but she’s yesterday’s news, and her handlers should’ve known better than to parade her around like a living martyr.

Just saying, y’know.

The Reverend Jacques on January 23, 2012 at 9:11 am

Thanks Debbie. Your independent and powerful mind offer unique and valid observations and perspectives not seen elsewhere.

The OnePerCenter Giffords, privileged by government, are they not?

bobguzzardi on January 23, 2012 at 9:27 am

if she didn’t resign, i wonder how long she would have been allowed to continue receiving her pay and bennies?

KIRCHE on January 23, 2012 at 11:49 am

She’s a politician who got shot. Lots of people have misfortunes, including being shot – like poor kids caught in gang crossfire, but they don’t get the benefit of a fat salary and full benefits afterward. Why should she?

What makes her more worthy of fat, rich, government benefits at taxpayers expense than, say, a little black girl who takes a bullet in a gang drive-by?

Any liberals care to answer that one?

DS_ROCKS! on January 23, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    I’d be more than happy to add my 2 cents, DS. She is not ‘more worthy’…She is a public official who was doing her job when she got attacked and seriously injured. Her job is helping her with what is basically on ‘on the job’ injury. You know…kind of like Ronald Reagan did after he was shot? Thankfully he wasn’t as injured as she was, but he had his bills payed ‘at taxpayers expense’ too. Funny, I doubt that there was this sort of “we need to get rid of him because he isn’t working” mentality then. And noone was saying that Reagan needed to do without because there were others in the country doing without either.
    But you are right that the hypothetical little black girl who takes a bullet in a drive-by needs help. I’ll mark you down as another one for Obamacare.

    Mark on January 23, 2012 at 1:22 pm

Wow, Debbie, you’re a total cunt!

B: You stay classy! DS

bart on January 23, 2012 at 2:10 pm

Ha. Where were you, Debbie, when Strom Thurmond spent the last decade of his long term in the Senate basically unable to tell which button was “yes” and which one was “no”? He was unable to do squat without at least one or two aides to tell him what was going on, but he continued to serve and serve and serve – but oh, wait, he’s a conservative Republican, so that’s okay.

Your hypocrisy is breathtaking.

KM: I thought he should leave, too. I’m no hypocrite. I think there should be mandatory retirement at some point or some sort of health tests in order to keep working in a federal job. There are some federal judges who are, in my opinion, way too old to still be on the job. Sorry, but I’m, in fact, consistent. DS

Kevin M on January 23, 2012 at 2:31 pm

After her first visit to ISRAEL in 2002, Cong Gabby Giffords:

‘Land For Peace Is A Hoax.’

SB: And what did she do about it? Did she openly disagree with Obama ever on Israel? Nope. Talk is cheap. DS

Sausalito Babe on January 23, 2012 at 3:41 pm

In addition, I’m sure Gabby was all for the ACLU, who set up the situations which make it VERY diffiicult to involuntarily medicate the homicidal Jareds.

The ACLU are scum.

Occam's Tool on January 24, 2012 at 2:03 am

I too, wish Gabby Giffords the best, but do agree that you are right on target. No, this woman is not a hero. She is a victim who managed to get the best of everything at taxpayer expense. Had it been you or me, at best we would have been brain damaged at worst dead.

Naomi R on January 24, 2012 at 8:21 am

Time for Debbie to call for the immediate resignation of Mark Kirk.

Garfield Wilson Roosevelt on January 24, 2012 at 10:14 am

Thanks for the update on Giffords…what about the rest of the brain dead representatives in Congress, can we get them to resign?

Westie on January 24, 2012 at 3:02 pm

You “people” (term used very loosely and quickly, due to the vomit rising when i typed that).
No shame? Check.
No Morals? Check.
Blogging to get a respone? Check.
Disgusting, racist, (Yaaaay!! I used the Racism Card AGAIN!)and lemmings, Check and Double Check!
Debbie and fellow dittoheads, i LOVE coming here to see the depths of embarrasment you continue to sink to. Talk about the Devils’ Rejects, Satan continues to find you cringe worthy.
PEACE OUT!

Right is always Wrong on January 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm

In a way you are right, but my gut tells me you are way wrong Debbie and I rarely disagree with your asessments of human greed.
Someone shot in the head is simply not the same person so I feel Giffords should not be attacked for anything after the attack. Have you ever known someone with a closed head injury? On your side it is true the care for suffering
alzheimers victims including my late mother is reprehensibly sickening with appropriate care afforded only to the very rich such as our late president Reagan.
Should Aron be blamed for hanging on to life at tremendous cost to Israel? Ouch! right?
Disparity of rights and privilage is no surprise. What did Heidi Klume do to earn her millions? Rommney ditto. Gingrich ditto, Obama double ditto.
Communism was a farce and it fell, lo and behold look at the act that followed it. Sorry to say that any country that can only nominate well paid friends of wall street oligarchs to its highest office is nothing more than communism in drag being pimped as democracy.
Look how we celebrate celebrity in Hollywood with media gushing over beachfront estates with forty or more rooms, tennis courts, classic car collections etc. No wonder the Saudis want to retire here!

Ron Wolf on January 24, 2012 at 9:17 pm

As was once asked of Joe McCarthy, “Have you no sense of decency?”
How can you look at yourself in the mirror every morning and be happy and comfortable with what you’re doing? Is making money so important to you that you think it’s OK to put this kind of stuff out there, knowing that you’ll attract enough of the fringe element that you’ll reap some profit? Do you think you need to push yourself out beyond the boundaries of Rush, Hannity and Beck to get noticed? Or are you really this hateful and lacking in ordinary human compassion?
Either way, I don’t know whom I feel more sorry for, you or Gabby Giffords. I’m sure you don’t care what I think, but I hope that both of you recover, she physically and you morally. Frankly, I have more hope for her. The human body has amazing powers of regeneration. But sociopaths don’t tend to change.

Dave on February 1, 2012 at 12:59 pm

I cannot get over that not in ANY photographs or video footage of the “shootings” was there even a deop of blood visible, AND that a FSE was in effect that day is enough to turn me into a full scale reality theorist. Life is truly a stage, and we are one heckuva an audience.

scotty on February 4, 2013 at 9:24 am

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