Mark Kelly, Gabrielle Giffords’ Husband, Knocks John Boehner In New Memoir

One has to wonder if Speaker Boehner is operating with a full deck…

The Huffington Post

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ husband came out swinging against House Speaker John Boehner over his decision not to visit the injured congresswoman.

In the couple’s new joint memoir, “Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope”, Mark Kelly expressed his disappointment in Boehner’s efforts to check in on Giffords.

“Considering that she was a member of Congress and he was the highest-ranking member, we thought he’d ask to visit Gabby or at least give a call to see how she was doing,” Kelly writes, via The Hill. “Our only contact with him had been a simple get-well card he’d sent a few days after Gabby was injured.”

While Boehner did not make a formal visit, The Hill adds that he did send a get-well card. Boehner made his views clear on the security situation surrounding the shooting. Back in late January, Boehner told “Fox News Sunday” that increased security might not have been enough to prevent the incident.

“We’re out in the public. We’re talking to our constituents, out talking to the American people,” he said. “We have a very open society in America. There is risk with our job.”

Despite that danger, Giffords vows to return to Congress in the book, writing: “I will get stronger. I will return.” The memoir is told mostly from Kelly’s perspective, but the last chapter is written by Giffords herself.

Tuesday’s book release represents one part of the couple’s busy week. On Monday, Giffords did her first television interview since being shot, telling ABC News’ Diane Sawyer that her recovery was “difficult” but she felt “pretty good.”

Giffords showcased similar spirits in a recorded message released on Tuesday. She delivered positive words to her Southern Arizona constituents, telling supporters that she misses them.

“I’m getting stronger,” the Congresswoman said. “I’m getting better.”