At annual women’s Congressional softball game, Gabby Giffords throws out first pitch
Updated 8:18 p.m. ET, 6/18/2014
Washington (CNN) - Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords threw out the first pitch at Wednesday’s Congressional Women’s Softball Game.
Giffords’s ability to throw the first pitch is a feat in itself. She played in the annual game until she was critically injured by a gunshot wound to her head. The 2011 incident killed six people and injured 17 others and forced her to resign from Congress.
The members’ team pitcher, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, walked Giffords onto the diamond in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington before nearly 1,000 spectators.
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Before the game, founder and Democratic co-captain of the congressional team, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, said she’s “thrilled” that Giffords will be able to participate.
“I have played a lot of catch in my years of playing softball, but catching Gabby's first pitch will be the best snag ever!" Wasserman Schultz said.
The annual softball game is in its sixth year. Members of Congress face off against women members of the Washington media each year to raise money for the Young Survivors Coalition, an organization that provides support for young women diagnosed with breast cancer. More than $150,000 has been raised this year alone.
When political foes play for the same team
The Congressional team is 1-4 against the media but Giffords said she hoped her first pitch would “set the tone for the Members’ team.”
“I think I can confidently speak for all current and former female Members of Congress when I say ‘Beat the Bad News Babes!’”
CNN's Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash contributed to this story.
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This lady is a true inspiration..... How wonderful that she's able to do this.
Congratulations Congresswoman Giffords! (Yes I know she's no longer in Congress but it's a matter of respect)
Good for Giffords and here is hoping for her continued improvement. Debbie Wasserman Schultz might scare the children.
Drake
Debbie Wasserman Schultz might scare the children.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For all the ladies in the viewing audience who had any doubts about the rampant misogyny on the right: here's your sign....
@ wake up what do you know about respect ? You dont even respect your self you just dont get it either
Malory Archer
Drake
Debbie Wasserman Schultz might scare the children.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For all the ladies in the viewing audience who had any doubts about the rampant misogyny on the right: here's your sign....
-–
As they say in the movie.... you can't handle the truth! But it is OK for you to attack the female Republican candidate in Iowa right? HYPOCRISY ALERT!!!
Malory Archer
Drake
Debbie Wasserman Schultz might scare the children.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For all the ladies in the viewing audience who had any doubts about the rampant misogyny on the right: here's your sign....
***********************
Take however you want it since much worse has been said about Palin or any other conservative women. I did not even get to when she opens her mouth.
Lynda/Minnesota
@ Tommy G
Hey, buddy. I've absolutely no hate for either Ernst or Bachmann. But, thanks for playing. My only comment suggested Iowans be completely comfortable with the hog castrating Joni Ernst. She may prove to be an embarrassment to Iowa much in the same manner Michele Bachmann certainly proved to be an embarrassment to GOPerville (and Minnesota).
-–
Hi Buddy! Yeah, the people of Minnesota were soooo embarrassed that they elected her FOUR times to the Minnesota Senate and then FOUR times to the US House of Representatives! Buddy, you are totally delusional.
@Drake
Malory Archer
Drake
Debbie Wasserman Schultz might scare the children.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For all the ladies in the viewing audience who had any doubts about the rampant misogyny on the right: here's your sign....
***********************
Take however you want it since much worse has been said about Palin or any other conservative women. I did not even get to when she opens her mouth.
---------–
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand there is your 2nd lesson in misogyny! Liberals generally criticize Palin on what she says and professes. Conservative ranters generally comment on a woman's looks. Wanna try for lesson 3?
Sorry to disappoint you Chris, but I respect myself very much. And others. Wow, I wasn't even aware that I knew anyone in AL. I love how your kind loves to make assessments(judgements) of others that they don't even know.
Hi Buddy! Yeah, the people of Minnesota were soooo embarrassed that they elected her FOUR times to the Minnesota Senate and then FOUR times to the US House of Representatives! Buddy, you are totally delusional.
---------–
Well, not exactly the people of Minnesota ... she never ran as a state wide senator. And, yes. She's served her 6th district constituents since 2008. That she is opting not to run again and is facing ethics charges might or might not have had an impact on her political future should she have decided to let the chips fall where they may and run again.
Fact is, most Minnesotans are quite happy to see the last of her. That embarrassment thingy I spoke of? She was her own worst enemy.
I'm not sure why you're all testy, but hey. Whatever.
Hi Buddy! Yeah, the people of Minnesota were soooo embarrassed that they elected her FOUR times to the Minnesota Senate and then FOUR times to the US House of Representatives! Buddy, you are totally delusional.
---------–
Well, not exactly the people of Minnesota ... she never ran as a state wide senator. And, yes. She's served her 6th district constituents since 2008. That she is opting not to run again and is facing ethics charges might or might not have had an impact on her political future should she have decided to let the chips fall where they may and run again.
Fact is, most Minnesotans are quite happy to see the last of her. That embarrassment thingy I spoke of? She was her own worst foe.
I'm not sure why you're all bent out of shape, but hey. Whatever.
@ Tommy G
Well, not exactly the people of Minnesota ... she never ran as a state wide senator. And, yes. She's served her 6th district constituents since 2008. That she is opting not to run again and is facing ethics charges might or might not have had an impact on her political future should she have decided to let the chips fall where they may and run again.
Fact is, most Minnesotans are quite happy to see the last of her. That embarrassment thingy I spoke of? She did it to herself.
I'm not sure why you're all bent out of shape, but hey. Whatever.
@Silence, and you are the second lesson in hypocrisy. Read the nasty posts about Joni Ernst from earlier article. Are you that blind or simply that insincere?
...and the GOP haters will STILL find a way to say snarky things about her
@Tommy G,
Bachmann's success is explained through gerrymandering and a frightened network of evangelicals who saw that useless harpie as working for their interests( whatever those may actually have been). She certainly played the system and milked her position for all it was worth, didn't she? Remember that clinic her husband ran for reparative therapy, a practice condemned by the AMA? Can you name any legislation she proposed that got signed into law, or do you think her taking over 1 million in salary during her tenure was a good ROI for this country? If she produced nothing as a lawmaker, the answer would be no. I guess you don't mind flushing money away provided it gives the whack-job chorus another soloist, eh?
Anonymous
Malory Archer
Drake
Debbie Wasserman Schultz might scare the children.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For all the ladies in the viewing audience who had any doubts about the rampant misogyny on the right: here's your sign....
-–
As they say in the movie.... you can't handle the truth! But it is OK for you to attack the female Republican candidate in Iowa right? HYPOCRISY ALERT!!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please point out ANY post where I "attacked female Republican candidate in Iowa", or any OTHER female for that matter. You must have been looking in a mirror when you issued that "HYPOCRISY ALERT". Projection is a mighty powerful thing.
@ Yolanda,
People criticize Ernst for not being in the mainstream, not for her looks, or questioning her sexuality, or any of the other stock charges that conservatives love to throw out. Maybe you have a perception problem, not Silence.
Drake
Take however you want it since much worse has been said about Palin or any other conservative women. I did not even get to when she opens her mouth.
++++++++++++++++++++
Need I remind you of the hateful venom that spews forth from YOUR ilk regarding EVERY SINGLE Democratic female holding ANY office ANYWHERE in America? dim bulb barbie is a hate-filled harpy who likes to dish it out, and therefore DESERVES the criticism she receives! She sure can't take it though!
yolanda, read the nasty posts about Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, or any other female with a "D" after her last name from any one of numerous earlier articles. Are you that blind or simply that insincere?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FIFY
Silence DoGood
@Drake
Malory Archer
Drake
Debbie Wasserman Schultz might scare the children.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For all the ladies in the viewing audience who had any doubts about the rampant misogyny on the right: here's your sign....
***********************
Take however you want it since much worse has been said about Palin or any other conservative women. I did not even get to when she opens her mouth.
---–
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand there is your 2nd lesson in misogyny! Liberals generally criticize Palin on what she says and professes. Conservative ranters generally comment on a woman's looks. Wanna try for lesson 3?
______________
Lessons from you on anything is unlikely. I guess you have been living out of the country the last 5 years and missed all the obscene things said about conservative women none of which could be said on the ticker. Worse has been said about Palin, her children, Bachman and others even on the ticker genius. A lot of it was sexual which your probably liked.
Drake
Lessons from you on anything is unlikely. I guess you have been living out of the country the last 5 years and missed all the obscene things said about conservative women none of which could be said on the ticker. Worse has been said about Palin, her children, Bachman and others even on the ticker genius. A lot of it was sexual which your probably liked.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Nothing was said about them that was untrue. If they're so offended by the truth, perhaps they should take the necessary steps to correct the things about themselves about which they become so offended when they're called onto the carpet for it – or at least stop playing the "do as I say" card while they continue to "do as they do".
Drake
Lessons from you on anything is unlikely. I guess you have been living out of the country the last 5 years and missed all the obscene things said about conservative women none of which could be said on the ticker. Worse has been said about Palin, her children, Bachman and others even on the ticker genius. A lot of it was sexual which your probably liked.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Nothing was said about them that wasn't true. If they're so offended by the truth, perhaps they should take the necessary steps to correct the things about which they become so offended when they're called onto the carpet for it – or at least stop playing the "do as I say" card while they continue to "do as they do".