ABC’s George Stephanopoulos co-anchored “Good Morning America” and Christiane Amanpour hosted “This Week” from outside University Medical Center in Tucson.
NBC’s Lester Holt was live outside the shopping center where the massacre occurred as was MSNBC anchor/NBC News correspondent Chris Jansing.
FNC’s Mike Tobin was in place for Fox & Friends which was anchored by the weekday team. Ben Tracy reported for CBS’ “Sunday Morning,” and CNN’s Susan Candiotti reported for CNN.
The blame is being placed squarely on suspect Jared Loughner, and possibly an accomplice. But fingers are being pointed in all directions, including at the media. Giffords’ colleagues have been sounding off on news programs, the Sheriff of Pima County, AZ, a friend of Giffords, says “Arizona has become the capital,” of the ratcheted-up rhetoric from radio and TV talkers, even Giffords herself talked about it in an interview with MSNBC in March, which was used in a story on “This Week” this morning. Giffords’ words:
“We really need to realize the rhetoric and the firing people up, and you know even things for example, we’re on Sarah Palin’s targeted list. But the thing is, the way that she has it depicted with the cross-hairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they’ve got to realize there’s consequences to that action.”
Palin gave her condolences on her Facebook wall yesterday afternoon: “My sincere condolences are offered to the family of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of today’s tragic shooting in Arizona. On behalf of Todd and my family, we all pray for the victims and their families, and for peace and justice.”