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Cross post from My Left Nutmeg

The drumbeat against State Rep. DebraLee Hovey’s remarkably idiotic rant against former Congresswoman Ganny Giffords continues…lets just hope that outrage results in this embarrassment of a State Rep receiving her LONG OVERDUE pink slip next November.

This post will be updated throughout the day…

UPDATE 10:20 AM: Hovey’s rant now on frontpage of The Huffington Post

UPDATE 10:17 AM: The Atlantic Wire picks up on Hovey’s rant.

UPDATE 10:15 AM: Gawker joins the mix.

UPDATE 10:05 AM: Readers at the Monroe Patch had this to say about their State Rep.

christine

1:20 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

I’m embarrassed that Hovey represents my town. She has a pattern of immature behavior.

[...]

john roberge

8:26 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I agree! Anyone who would infer that Gabby Gifford’s visit to Newtown was political is a moron. This made national news and greatly embarassed our town. She should be asked to step down.

[...]

Monroe Resident

3:14 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

CT Republican State Rep. DebraLee Hovey has a long history of acting in a low class, hurtful threatening way. Just a while ago she was contacted by Monroe CT Officials regarding improvements she had made to her home years earlier without reporting them to the tax assessor. For many months Hovey would not allow the town tax assessor to inspect her home. Hovey hid behind the fourth amendment and placed a toilet bowel on her front lawn to express how she felt. Photo here http://monroe.patch.com/articles/neighbor-feels-threatened-by-hoveys-yard-decor Only after she won her bid for reelection did she finally allow her property to be inspected. The improvements that she had made were found to be substantial and also that she had not been paying her fair share of property taxes. Hovey is selfish, threatening and low class.

[...]

Sheila D

3:15 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

A few questions come to mind. One, if Gifford was a Republican, would this have still been Ms. Hovey’s post? Two, if Ms. Hovey was for gun control, would this still have been her post? Three, if Blumenthal and Wyman had let Hovey know in advance that Gifford was coming, would this still have been her post? Four, how is this political if Gifford retired last year and no longer has governmental access to drive change?

I read the CT Post article about the visit this weekend and it sounded like no media was addressed, no statements were made, these were private meetings, and the First Selectman as well as the Superintendent thanked Gifford for coming to Newtown. Those directly affected seemed glad to have her there, so if you truly represent everyone Ms. Hovey, this was a poor choice of words. Sounds like there was ultimately some personal reasons for the post, without taking into consideration the wishes of those you represent. Sometimes people inactivate their Facebook accounts when they realize it just gets them into trouble, just my two cents.

[...]

Walt

3:29 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

She’s really got to go, she’s a do-nothing useless rep who only shows her face at election time. Can someone tell me ONE thing she has done for Monroe, one real thing, not some fluffy “she supported” some little bill thing?

[...]

ken starr

3:32 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

A women that lost almost everything to senseless gun violence comes to newown to comfort people going thru the same situation, and you turn it political?? shame on you debra lee!!

[...]

captrips

3:42 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Just another in a growing list of Hovey’s embarrassing comments/actions.

[...]

Ed Hocken

5:00 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

As a life-long Republican and a Monroe resident, I am ashamed to admit that she is my representative whom I voted for her on numerous occasions. I do not intend to make that mistake again nor do I intend to support anyone who is ignorant enough to come to her defense. Never had I been as proud of this Town as I have been for its support of our neighbors in Newtown during this time of crisis. She is an embarrassment to the community that she swore an oath to serve. While there are other choice words that can be used to describe her, I won’t stoop to her level. She needs to go NOW!

[...]

ctbill

5:47 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Couldn’t agree with Walt more! Hard to believe someone with her track record of town service,predominantly non existent,keeps getting re-elected.Not ashamed to say I did not vote for her in the last two elections. Lesson learned!

[...]

sharon

5:51 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Gabby Giffords came as a survivor of gun violence and to meet PRIVATELY with the families to show support. Obviously her intent was NOT political since she is no longer a member of congress. As a life long resident of Monroe, I for one am very proud of the support we have been able to give the Sandy Hook residents during their grieving from this horrific tragedy. Shame on you!! You are an embarrassment to “OUR” town!

[...]

John Symon

3:08 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

I’m a Republican NRA member. I’ve voted for Hovey in the past

Never again! She is a total embarrassment to us all.

I want to know when she has spoken to Rep Giffords and apologized to her!

Please do us all a favor. Don’t take the oath of office Wednesday. Just think, more time for your big white pony.

[...]

UPDATE 10:00 AM: Readers at the Newtown Patch respond to Hovey’s latest idiotic rant.

Elena

3:09 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Debra LeeHovey should understand why someone who experienced a similar tragedy would want to come to meet with families that could use support. My sister’s husband was killed suddenly by a drunk driver. Friends and neighbors did all they could, but what really helped her to deal with the loss was someone else who had experienced it in a support group. It may also be helpful for Rep. Giffords to meet with them. Who knows what will reach the victim’s families and the survivors as well…praying every day for them and the loved ones lost.

[...]

BrianInNewtown

4:28 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Hey DebraLee, why don’t YOU stay out of Newtown!

[...]

wendy lee hewitt

4:28 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Disgusting… but that’s what the people who voted for her were looking for in their candidate; a bi-partisan viper who rather than look at her constituents as ‘people’… views them as simply the mechanism that got her elected to her lofty position. Her apparent inability to temper her comment and THINK before posting it, (which most high school kids know better than to do), shows me a complete lack of vision and frankly, intelligence.

[...]

Guava

4:52 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Hovey sounds like a sorority girl in the midst of a turf war. How dare Giffords, a survivor of a mass shooting co-opt Hovey’s spotlight! (Sarcasm intended.)

[...]

Barbara Patterson

5:26 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Hovey sounds like a hard-hearted fool who should probably not be holding any kind of position in her town. What a horribly insensitive statement. Giffords has been through this and wanted to help. She’s the kind of rep Newtown needs. Maybe Hovey should stay in Florida. Besides, Ms Hovey, Newtown is not “your town”. It is the people’s town. You don’t own it and you should keep your self-serving comments completely to yourself. Let’s hope you don’t get re-elected.

[...]

Mom of two

9:26 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

Sounds like Hovey is the one who made this political. Not much insight or compassion on Hovey’s part in my opinion. Pretty sad.

[...]

Brushy Hill

9:26 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013

“Insensitive” is putting it kindly. Gabby Giffords’ presence surely brought comfort to the families. I am amazed by her courage and her strength.

DebraLee Hovey, not so much.

[...]

John Symon

1:13 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Dumb comment. She should call Giffords to apologize.

I’m a NRA member, primarily I hunt. Hovey embarses me.

[...]

Chris

8:37 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Gabby Giffords is an inspiration for many. She has handled her situation with grace, dignity and compassion. All lessons DebraLee Hovey has yet to learn.

UPDATE 9:40 AM: The Danbury News-Times joins in the Hovey criticism.

THUMBS DOWN to state Rep. DebraLee Hovey, R-Monroe, for her incredibly insensitive Facebook comment telling former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to “stay out of my towns.” Hovey, whose district includes the southern portion of Newtown, was miffed that she had not been invited to attend Giffords’ meeting with the first selectman and others Friday afternoon at town hall before comforting families of victims at a private home. Hovey questioned the politics of the event, but the only politics in play here were hers.

UPDATE 9:30 AM: Hovey’s rant (and his laughable apology) has gone national…POLITICO:

On Friday, Giffords — who continues to recover from a gunshot wound to the head during a 2011 assassination attempt — was in Newtown to visit with families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings victims.

The same day, Hovey wrote on her now-private Facebook page, “Gabby [Giffords] stay out of my towns!!”

She continued in a comment thread: “It was political. The Lt Gov was there, [Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal] was there and ALL political types KNOW it is courteous to let sitting Reps know when another political is in the District. So…… There was pure political motives.”

The comments were deleted, and Hovey’s Facebook page is now private, spokesman Jamison Bazinet told POLITICO.

UPDATE 01.08.13: The Hartford Courant ripped Hovey to shreds.

In content and syntax, state Rep. DebraLee Hovey embarrassed herself, the General Assembly and the state.

Ms. Hovey, a Republican who represents Newtown and Monroe, blasted the visit to Newtown on Friday by former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, a Democrat, who met privately with local officials and families of victims of the Dec. 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

“Gabby Gifford stay out of my towns!!” Ms. Hovey posted on Facebook over the weekend (misspelling the former Arizona congresswoman’s last name). In the comments thread, Rep. Hovey seemed to complain that she wasn’t invited (she was at a meeting in Florida at the time) and claimed the visit was political: “There was pure political motives [sic].”

Good heavens, is she the sheriff? Who could have a problem with Gabby Giffords? Ms. Giffords, who barely survived a gunshot wound to the head in a shooting rampage in Arizona in 2011 that took six lives, may be uniquely qualified to offer comfort and strength to the Newtown families.

If the subject of stricter gun laws came up at the meeting, does Rep. Hovey have a problem with that?

As for the visit being a political stunt, the press was not allowed in, and there was no statement afterward. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, both Democrats, accompanied Ms. Giffords to the closed meetings, appropriately, and so did Newtown First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra, a Republican.

Rep. Hovey took down the post on Sunday and issued a tepid apology on Monday, calling her remarks “insensitive” and apologizing “if I offended anyone.” Who might be offended? Well, there’s everyone who admires Ms. Giffords’ heroic struggle, everyone who saw the visit as potentially helpful and everyone who appreciates the Queen’s English.

UPDATE 7 PM: Newtown State Rep. Chris Lyddy had this to say regarding his idiotic colleague.

State Rep. Chris Lyddy, D-Newtown, who also wasn’t invited to the meeting Friday with Giffords, said Hovey’s comments were certainly “insensitive.”

“Newtown is experiencing an outpouring of support from people throughout the country,” he said. “Right now is a time to focus on what we can do to support the families affected by this tragedy.”

UPDATE 3PM: Gov Malloy had this to say regarding Newtown’s disgraceful State Rep.

I don’t own the state or the city I live in, and nobody has the right to say that type of thing.

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Cross post from My Left Nutmeg

UPDATE 4 (11:00 AM): As the criticism increases, Hovey goes into damage control mode.

Hovey’s spokesman Jamison Bazinet confirmed to Intelligencer that the statuses were indeed legitimate and have since been deleted. Hovey’s profile has also been switched to private, he said. Bazinet would not comment on why the update was removed, but said Representative Hovey expects to release a statement on the matter this afternoon.

UPDATE 3: Pat Scully at the Hanging Shad had this to say.

Sometimes I just shake my head, blown away by a public official’s rank stupidity. Such was the case when state Rep. DebraLee Hovey posted on her personal Facebook account, “Gabby Gifford [sic] stay out of my towns.” Hovey was upset that former US Rep. Gabby Giffords, who made a miraculous recovery from an assault weapon attack in Tucson two years ago tomorrow, visited with family members and other public officials in Newtown last Friday. The meeting was closed to the press.

Hovey then went on to dig the hole deeper by accusing Giffords of being motivated purely by politics. She took down the offending posts but not before the Hartford Courant’s Capitol Watch blog posted the screen grabs demonstrating the crass, moronic state rep for what she is. For this idiocy alone she should be defeated in the next election. Unfortunately, that’s not for another two years.

Ms. Hovey, Gabby Giffords will go wherever she wants (and they’re not “your” towns, you have the privilege to represent them in the state House—hopefully for a final term) and she will be welcomed with opened arms for the courageous person she is. Do you think maybe Congresswoman Giffords might have an interest in the aftermath of Newtown? Something tells me she didn’t give a minutes thought to some paean state representative—or sorry, “Assistant Republican Leader.”

UPDATE 2: Only in Bridgeport’s Lennie Grimaldi’s headline pretty much sums things up.

DebraLee Hovey Needs Serious Therapy

UPDATE 1: Jon Pelto takes a whack.

Six days into 2013, 359 days to go in the New Year – and we already have a top contender for the nation’s “A**hole politician of the year” award.

No it is not some right-wing Arizona sheriff or an ultra-conservative right-wing tea-bag southern politician; it is a Connecticut State Representative who serves as one of the House Republican’s Assistant Minority Leaders.

According to a Hartford courant update this afternoon, Connecticut State Representative DebraLee Hovey responded to former Congresswoman Gabby Gifford’s visit Friday with Sandy Hook Elementary school families by getting on her Facebook page from her Florida Saint Pete Beach vacation to write

“Gabby Gifford stay out of my towns!

[...]

Apparently DebraLee Hovey was mad that she hadn’t been invited, jumping to the conclusion that it was an attempt by some Democrats to try and capitalize on the massacre.

However, according to sources there in Newtown, the town’s REPUBLICAN First Selectwoman was in attendance at the meetings, meetings, by the way, that were closed to the media.

It’s official, State Rep. (and ASSISTANT REPUBLICAN LEADER) DebraLee Hovey is an a-hole.

State Rep. DebraLee Hovey, who represents Newtown and Monroe, posted this on her public FB page. From Florida. (Note: Hovey removed the post from her public Facebook page on Sunday afternoon).

Giffords visited local officials and Sandy Hook families Friday in meetings that were closed to the press.

She had more to say in this comment thread:

I’ll won’t even comment on how Rep. Gifford’s event in Newtown was CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC (or how NEWTOWN’S REPUBLICAN FIRST SELECTWOMAN was in attendance) and get right to the point.

As someone who knows a thing or two about this clown, I’m not shocked by her idiotic and disgusting rant. I’m only happy that the media has finally picked up on her latest disgraceful act.

If you’re as disgusted as I am, feel free to give State Rep. Hovey a piece of your mind. Make sure to copy and paste your message to State Rep. Hovey in the comments section at this site since she has a habit of scrubbing her Facebook page.

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/debralee.hovey?ref=ts&fref=ts

Email:

DebraLee.Hovey@housegop.ct.gov
…developing.

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Via Facebook, the Connecticut Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists circulated this write-up Jim Romenesko did on a remarkably bad judgement call by by The Stamford Advocate (note: The News Times and Stamford Advocate are both part of the Hearst Connecticut Media Group):

Shouldn’t it be standard operating procedure at this point to make sure there aren’t gun ads next to school shooting-related stories?

Short answer…yes.

Romenesko contacted the Advocate for comment and received the following response from Hearst Connecticut Media Group executive editor Barbara Roessner.

UPDATE: Roessner sent this email:

Our newspapers should not be running gun ads — including ads for antique and collectible gun shows — next to stories about Sandy Hook. It’s insensitive, and it shouldn’t have happened. It was an oversight, and we apologize for it. We have taken steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

To their credit, the people at Hearst understand that it was probably not the best move to place a gun ad next to anything related to the shooting in Sandy Hook…it’s just too bad that this happened in the first place.

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Cross post from My Left Nutmeg

Elizabeth Esty is not even sworn into office and it appears that she’s already channeling her inner Joe Lieberman

“I’m taking a lot of notes and trying to use the time when we’re not in session to talk with other members and particularly to reach out across the aisle,” she said. Most of the attendees are Democrats, but Esty, who represents a district notable for its political diversity, said she has made it a point to seek out Republicans.

“I really think it’s tremendously important that the new Congress work very hard to find some areas of bipartisan agreement,” she said.

…and one of Esty’s soon-to-be Republican BFF?

One of the Republicans Esty has sought out is Congresswoman-elect Susan Brooks of Indiana. Like Esty, Brooks has grown children. They both represent districts that contain a mix of manufacturing towns, growing suburbs and rural areas.

“We’re finding we have a lot in common,” Brooks said. “It’s easier to work together when you get to know people in the way we’re getting to know each other.”

Esty and Brooks have a lot in common? Let’s take a look at Brooks’ stance on issues:

Obamacare: Obamacare should be repealed and replaced with common-sense, free-market policies.

Passage of the federal health care law as written was a mistake. This new, ill-conceived legislation with additional regulations and costs is killing jobs and accelerating our country towards bankruptcy. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that Obamacare is costing us $1.5 trillion and will cause a loss of 800,000 jobs.

With an increased cost to businesses, some businesses have to choose whether to pay for health care or make employee payroll. Oftentimes, it is cheaper to pay the fine and keep their current amount of employees rather than pay for health insurance. This phenomenon may cause many Americans to lose their current insurance.
Research from McKinsey and Company shows that up to 78 million Americans will lose their current employer-based insurance. In addition, health care costs are expected to increase by $90 billion during 2010 to 2021.

We should repeal the law and replace it with common-sense, free-market policies that allow individuals to decide where their health care dollars are spent. We need a solution that actually solves America’s health care challenges rather than one that creates more.

And there is this goodie which should raise the eyebrows of those who are calling for the reintroduction of the assaults weapons ban…

…as well as those who think that shoot first self defense laws that is currently being used as a justification for the killing of Trayvon Martin are insane.

2nd Amendment Rights: I am a proud supporter of the 2nd Amendment.
I believe in the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms. I support federal legislation that would create a national Castle Doctrine, which would give all Americans the right to defend themselves against intruders in their own homes. I will oppose any federal legislation that seeks to undo or preempt Indiana’s concealed carry laws and lifetime handgun permits.

And don’t me started on Brooks’ desire to dismantle Social Security as we know it.

So to recap, Esty is going out of her way to find “common ground” with a Republican who ran a campaign on her desire to have Obamacare repealed, supporting idiotic “shoot first, ask questions later” laws such as thethe Castle Doctrine, and has offered resistance towards meaningful gun control measures such as the assault weapons ban. What’s next? Esty seeking “common ground” with Republicans who are against Paid Sick Leave and Democrats who offer up Republican-Light budget proposals?

If her relationship with Democrats at the State Capitol is any indication of things to come, following Esty for the next two years should be interesting…

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Yesterday, Congressman Chris Murphy took to the floor of the House of Representatives to comment on last week’s tragic events in Sandy Hook.

For those who don’t know, Sandy Hook is in Congressman Murphy’s district…

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UPDATE 2: Andy Newman (NYTimes)

The Crowne Plaza hotel in Danbury says that a coming gun show at the hotel being advertised on the Web site of Big Al’s Gun Shows is not going to take place.

“It is absolutely not happening at this hotel,” Jamie Santacroce, the hotel’s controller, said by phone Tuesday afternoon.

Ms. Santacroce said that while Big Al’s has had gun shows at the hotel in the past and that the hotel had sent him paperwork for the show he wanted to have on Jan. 5 and 6, the gun-show organizer never returned the contract for the January show.

In any case, Ms. Santacroce said, “We would have canceled it regardless,” adding, “we wouldn’t have that sort of event here given the circumstances.”

Ms. Santacroce said that the hotel was trying to get the organizer to remove the listing from his Web site.

A man who picked up the phone at the number listed on the Big Al’s Web site declined to comment when asked about Ms. Santacroce’s statement.

— Andy Newman

Earlier today (before the backlash), it seemed that whoever answered the phone at Big Al’s had a different take on the matter…

A man who answered the phone number listed on the Big Al’s site said “yes” when asked Tuesday morning if the show was still on. When asked further questions, he replied, “I really have no comments, buddy.” When asked his name, he said, “Have a good day” and hung up.

UPDATE: From Mayor Boughton (via Twitter).

Gun show coming to Danbury.

13 miles from Newtown.

Kids under 10 get in free w/adult.

I’m speechless…paging Mayor Mark, it’s leadership time!

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 16, 2012

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT SANDY HOOK INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGIL

Newtown High School
Newtown, Connecticut

8:37 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, Governor. To all the families, first responders, to the community of Newtown, clergy, guests — Scripture tells us: “…do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away…inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

We gather here in memory of twenty beautiful children and six remarkable adults. They lost their lives in a school that could have been any school; in a quiet town full of good and decent people that could be any town in America.

Here in Newtown, I come to offer the love and prayers of a nation. I am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts. I can only hope it helps for you to know that you’re not alone in your grief; that our world too has been torn apart; that all across this land of ours, we have wept with you, we’ve pulled our children tight. And you must know that whatever measure of comfort we can provide, we will provide; whatever portion of sadness that we can share with you to ease this heavy load, we will gladly bear it. Newtown — you are not alone.

As these difficult days have unfolded, you’ve also inspired us with stories of strength and resolve and sacrifice. We know that when danger arrived in the halls of Sandy Hook Elementary, the school’s staff did not flinch, they did not hesitate. Dawn Hochsprung and Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Rousseau, Rachel Davino and Anne Marie Murphy — they responded as we all hope we might respond in such terrifying circumstances — with courage and with love, giving their lives to protect the children in their care.

We know that there were other teachers who barricaded themselves inside classrooms, and kept steady through it all, and reassured their students by saying “wait for the good guys, they’re coming”; “show me your smile.”

And we know that good guys came. The first responders who raced to the scene, helping to guide those in harm’s way to safety, and comfort those in need, holding at bay their own shock and trauma because they had a job to do, and others needed them more.

And then there were the scenes of the schoolchildren, helping one another, holding each other, dutifully following instructions in the way that young children sometimes do; one child even trying to encourage a grown-up by saying, “I know karate. So it’s okay. I’ll lead the way out.” (Laughter.)

As a community, you’ve inspired us, Newtown. In the face of indescribable violence, in the face of unconscionable evil, you’ve looked out for each other, and you’ve cared for one another, and you’ve loved one another. This is how Newtown will be remembered. And with time, and God’s grace, that love will see you through.

But we, as a nation, we are left with some hard questions. Someone once described the joy and anxiety of parenthood as the equivalent of having your heart outside of your body all the time, walking around. With their very first cry, this most precious, vital part of ourselves — our child — is suddenly exposed to the world, to possible mishap or malice. And every parent knows there is nothing we will not do to shield our children from harm. And yet, we also know that with that child’s very first step, and each step after that, they are separating from us; that we won’t — that we can’t always be there for them. They’ll suffer sickness and setbacks and broken hearts and disappointments. And we learn that our most important job is to give them what they need to become self-reliant and capable and resilient, ready to face the world without fear.

And we know we can’t do this by ourselves. It comes as a shock at a certain point where you realize, no matter how much you love these kids, you can’t do it by yourself. That this job of keeping our children safe, and teaching them well, is something we can only do together, with the help of friends and neighbors, the help of a community, and the help of a nation. And in that way, we come to realize that we bear a responsibility for every child because we’re counting on everybody else to help look after ours; that we’re all parents; that they’re all our children.

This is our first task — caring for our children. It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged.

And by that measure, can we truly say, as a nation, that we are meeting our obligations? Can we honestly say that we’re doing enough to keep our children — all of them — safe from harm? Can we claim, as a nation, that we’re all together there, letting them know that they are loved, and teaching them to love in return? Can we say that we’re truly doing enough to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose?

I’ve been reflecting on this the last few days, and if we’re honest with ourselves, the answer is no. We’re not doing enough. And we will have to change.

Since I’ve been President, this is the fourth time we have come together to comfort a grieving community torn apart by a mass shooting. The fourth time we’ve hugged survivors. The fourth time we’ve consoled the families of victims. And in between, there have been an endless series of deadly shootings across the country, almost daily reports of victims, many of them children, in small towns and big cities all across America — victims whose — much of the time, their only fault was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law — no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society.

But that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely, we can do better than this. If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or another town, from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtown, and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that — then surely we have an obligation to try.

In the coming weeks, I will use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens — from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators — in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. Because what choice do we have? We can’t accept events like this as routine. Are we really prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard? Are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?

All the world’s religions — so many of them represented here today — start with a simple question: Why are we here? What gives our life meaning? What gives our acts purpose? We know our time on this Earth is fleeting. We know that we will each have our share of pleasure and pain; that even after we chase after some earthly goal, whether it’s wealth or power or fame, or just simple comfort, we will, in some fashion, fall short of what we had hoped. We know that no matter how good our intentions, we will all stumble sometimes, in some way. We will make mistakes, we will experience hardships. And even when we’re trying to do the right thing, we know that much of our time will be spent groping through the darkness, so often unable to discern God’s heavenly plans.

There’s only one thing we can be sure of, and that is the love that we have — for our children, for our families, for each other. The warmth of a small child’s embrace — that is true. The memories we have of them, the joy that they bring, the wonder we see through their eyes, that fierce and boundless love we feel for them, a love that takes us out of ourselves, and binds us to something larger — we know that’s what matters. We know we’re always doing right when we’re taking care of them, when we’re teaching them well, when we’re showing acts of kindness. We don’t go wrong when we do that.

That’s what we can be sure of. And that’s what you, the people of Newtown, have reminded us. That’s how you’ve inspired us. You remind us what matters. And that’s what should drive us forward in everything we do, for as long as God sees fit to keep us on this Earth.

“Let the little children come to me,” Jesus said, “and do not hinder them — for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Charlotte. Daniel. Olivia. Josephine. Ana. Dylan. Madeleine. Catherine. Chase. Jesse. James. Grace. Emilie. Jack. Noah. Caroline. Jessica. Benjamin. Avielle. Allison.

God has called them all home. For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on, and make our country worthy of their memory.

May God bless and keep those we’ve lost in His heavenly place. May He grace those we still have with His holy comfort. And may He bless and watch over this community, and the United States of America. (Applause.)

END 8:55 P.M. EST

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The following guest post regarding the strike against HealthBridge Management is from Deborah Chernoff, Communications Director for the New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199 (SEIU Healthcare). -ctblogger.

A major step forward this week for our communities, patients and their families, and the workers who care for them at the Danbury Health Care Center and the other nursing homes operated by HealthBridge in Connecticut. Federal judge Robert Chatigny last night took the extremely rare step of issuing an injunction against the New Jersey-based for-profit nursing home corporation for its illegal and unfair treatment of nursing home workers that forced nearly 600 of them out on strike in July.

In his ruling, the judge ordered HealthBridge to reinstate all striking workers to their former positions by December 17. The ruling also ordered HealthBridge to reinstate the previous wages, benefits and other terms of employment that were in place under the workers’ prior contract. Replacement workers hired by HealthBridge will be let go.

It’s been over five months since members of our union — nurses, aides, and nursing home support staff – were forced to strike against HealthBridge, after the company illegally and unilaterally imposed a new contract with severe ramifications for the their compensation, benefits, and working conditions. An independent federal agency, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), is in the process of prosecuting several Complaints against the company. The judge’s ruling for an injunction essentially means workers get to go back to doing what they do best – taking care of patients – while the NLRB charges are considered by the courts over the coming months.

Last night’s decision in favor of workers and against HealthBridge is one of several that have been handed down in recent months. Administrative law judges have issued two additional rulings finding the company guilty of violating federal laws intended to protect workers’ rights.

 The Labor Board only seeks injunctive relief in the most egregious cases. In 2011, the Board filed for an injunction in fewer than 4 percent of all federal Complaints issued.

Our members were thrilled to hear the news last night and at a meeting held this morning at our union hall in Hartford. “The judge’s decision to grant an injunction validates everything my coworkers and I have said about the horrible way HealthBridge has treated us,” said Eileen Underwood, a nurse at the Danbury Health Care Center. “All we want is to be able to care for our patients and at the same time support our own families, and with this ruling we are one very big step closer to getting back to work, where we belong.”