Sarah Palin slammed after Gaby Giffords shooting

As US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords lies in critical condition, shot in the head yesterday by a gunman who killed six, Sarah Palin is facing intense criticism for publishing the Arizona Democrat's name on a 'hit list' of politicians last year along with the message "Don't Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!"

The hit list of 20 representatives Palin particularly wanted conservative voters to unseat in last year's mid-term elections was published on Palin's website on March 23 under the title "TARGETED!", with an image of a crosshair gun sight over each politician's home patch.

Palin's rhetoric provoked debate at the time – with some arguing that she was inciting violence. The former Republican veep candidate's running mate, John McCain, was forced to defend her on national US television, saying that "reload" and other terms were "fine" in political discourse.

Also in March last year, Giffords was among Democrats who had their offices vandalised and received threats after they voted for Barack Obama's controversial healthcare reform bill. Her plate-glass office door was either kicked or shot to pieces.

Speaking on MSNBC's Daily Rundown on March 25, Giffords said she was not afraid. But she seemed to anticipate yesterday's violence when she added: "We're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, but the thing is, that the way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district.

"When people do that, they have to realize that there are consequences to that action."

While Palin has not commented directly on the hit list, she yesterday issued a message of condolence to Giffords' family and the families of the dead. Rumours are circulating on Twitter today that she has been frantically deleting incendiary tweets she made last year – but when The First Post visited her Twitter feed there was no evidence of this.

Instead, Palin's March 23 tweet remained in place for all to see: "Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: 'Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!' Pls see my Facebook page."

Meanwhile, police in Arizona are seeking a second man thought to have been an accomplice in yesterday's shooting after they arrested a 22-year-old identified by the media as Jared Lee Loughner at the scene.

Witnesses to the shooting yesterday in Tucson say the gunman first targeted Giffords before opening fire on a crowd of around 30 people at one of her regular "congress on your corner" sessions.

Nineteen people were hit. Among the six who died were the nine-year-old girl and a federal court judge of 40-years standing, John Roll. When Loughner ran out of ammunition, reports say, he was overpowered by the crowd and held until police arrived.

Giffords was then airlifted to the city's University Medical Centre where she is still being treated. Doctors say they are "optimistic" about her recovery.

The 40-year-old is a high-flying Democrat who seemed to have a bright future. Married to a space shuttle astronaut, she was thought to have a good chance of eventually winning Arizona's Senate seat for her party.

US president Barack Obama last night described the events as an "unspeakable tragedy" and said Giffords was "a friend of mine". He added: "Gaby is not only an extraordinary public servant but also someone who is warm and kind, who was liked by her colleagues and her constituents."

House leader Eric Cantor said all of next week's legislative debates would be postponed to allow politicians to "take whatever actions may be necessary in light of today's tragedy".

Police have not named the man they are holding but he is thought to be Loughner. Few details have emerged about the 22-year-old. A MySpace page thought to be his was quickly taken down yesterday but a Youtube channel which appears to be genuine remains.

Most of the YouTube videos feature text and music only and suggest a confused and disturbed individual. Largely incoherent ramblings about a "new currency", they purport to contain Loughner's "final thoughts", implying he had planned the shooting three weeks in advance.

He writes: "My ambition is for informing literate dreamers about a new currency; in a few days, you know I'm conscience dreaming!"

The shooting has intensified the fierce debate between the Left and Right of US politics over the Right's rhetoric. As the Washington Post puts it in a headline today: "Rampage casts grim light on US political discord." ·