Monday, January 10, 2011

Historical Question About Assassination Attempts

In answer to a discussion this weekend with one of my children.

Question: Why is this such big news in other parts of the country (and world). 

Answer:  This is the first time that an elected federal official has been shot in nearly 30 years - since President Ronald Reagan was shot (in the chest) in March 1981, and you have to go back 42+ years to find one that was killed (Robert Kennedy).  This comes on heels of very nasty election campaign and is part of an escalating trend of nastiness in political life.

We should note that James Brady - the President's Press Secretary - was shot in the head in the Reagan assassination attempt.  He is permanently disabled and has slurred speech as a result of that shooting.


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