Who Shot Rep. Giffords and Why?

The tragic shooting of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (Dem.-AZ), and others this morning came after Giffords was one of those "targeted" by Sarah Palin, as seen above. Whatever else you think about the politics in America, whatever "side" you take on issues you may feel passionate about, there is no way anyone who has a shred of decency can condone this attempted assassination, nor the dangerous hate speech practiced by people like Palin, who is well aware that, as a major advocate of gun ownership, what the word  "target" means.  Words can indeed be dangerous, and even though, of course, it will be found that Palin's website and ad campaign are covered by free speech protections -- among the rights we all cherish as Americans -- there is more, much more, involved here. Because we also hold other values dear, including taking personal responsibility when our words lead to tragedies like today's. All Americans of all political stripes should await Palin's explanation; meanwhile, what she did in the aftermath was to disable the website (captured above). Why was that? Does she no longer stand behind her earlier call to action now the consequences have become clear? If there is anything good about this dark day, it is that Sarah Palin has proven for all the world, including the "Tea Party," to see that she is unsuited for public office.

UPDATE: (From wire service reports)
Giffords' Tucson office was vandalized a few hours after the House voted to approve the health care law in March, with someone either kicking or shooting out a glass door and window. In an interview after the vandalism, Giffords referred to the animosity against her by conservatives. Palin listed Giffords' seat as one of the top "targets" in the midterm elections because of the lawmakers' support for the health care law.
"For example, we're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, but the thing is, that the way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they have to realize that there are consequences to that action," Giffords said in an interview with MSNBC.
In the hours after the shooting, Palin issued a statement in which she expressed her "sincere condolences" to the family of Giffords and the other victims. 

It is sad day when fringe people with fringe politics try to enforce their positions with violence. As a society, extreme vigilance is now called for, and careful monitoring of any hate speech such as that clearly depicted above. There was and never will be any excuse for Palin's hateful speech. The only reason I knew about it is I was paying attention; clearly Palin is now embarrassed, and will try to distance herself as far as possible from the "lone gunman, acting alone." In a media-saturated society like this one, no one ever acts "alone."