warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Politics Today: Giffords First Post-Shooting Public Appearance, Bachmann's "John Wayne" Slip Up, And More

Tracy Bloom |
June 27, 2011 | 10:31 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords made her first public appearance since being shot in January. Giffords attended a ceremony in Houston, Texas where her husband, Mark Kelly, received the Spaceflight Medal.

According to ABC News:

Giffords, D-Ariz., entered, being pushed in a wheelchair, to a standing ovation from a crowd of hundreds at the awards ceremony auditorium at Space Center Houston, which is next to the Johnson Space Center.

Her hair was much shorter than in previously published photos. She was wearing glasses, a beige scarf, a light shirt, jeans and sneakers. She smiled and waved to the crowd.

Kelly commanded the Space Shuttle Endeavour's last mission. He recently announced his retirement from NASA.

Did Michele Bachmann accidentally compare herself to serial killer John Wayne Gacy? On Sunday, the eve of the formal launch of her presidential campaign in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, Bachmann said in an interview that she had "the spirit" of John Wayne. "Well, what I want them to know is just like, John Wayne was from Waterloo, Iowa. That's the kind of spirit that I have, too," she said.

The problem? As The Washington Times noted, the "John Wayne" from Waterloo isn't the actor, but rather "John Wayne Gacy," the serial killer. The Bachmann campaign later clarified: "John Wayne is from Iowa, his parents lived in Waterloo."

Sarah Palin is still mulling over a presidential run, but she can count on the support of her oldest daughter Bristol, who told ABC News on Monday that she wants her mother to run.

Said the younger Palin: Absolutely. I think she's awesome. I think she's smart. I think she would be awesome for our country."

Bristol Palin was on Good Morning America to promote her memoir, "Not Afraid of Life."

Herman Cain may be getting what Politico referred to as the "Newt Gingrich treatment." Cain's lone staffer in New Hampshire has resigned, leaving Cain briefly with no presence in the important early-voting primary state. Matt Murphy confirmed that he stepped from the Cain campaign on Friday. He said he left the campaign because of a "strategic difference." A spokeswoman for Cain said they have already hired a replacement. 



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness