Temporarily, at least, voices are lowered in Washington

This was supposed to be the week of another "showdown" inCongress. Now, the very word makes politicians squeamish.

The shootings in Arizona resounded in Washington with a deep andimmediate impact on the political conversation. As is the case withsuch shocking collective national moments, the attacks prompted adramatic - if temporary - stand-down in the partisan battles thathave consumed the capital.

Instead of a vote to repeal President Obama's health-care law,Republican leaders in the House have scheduled prayers and securitybriefings. On Sunday talk shows, lawmakers from both sides of theaisle stressed their friendships and mutual respect. One freshmanHouse member suggested more hugs, less name-calling.

Web sites that featured politicians as targets were scrubbed, andrhetoric softened.

It is prime time for groups such as Third Way, of whichcritically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) is an honoraryco-chairman, and No Labels, which call for Republicans and Democratsto back off their partisan impulses and angry tone.

"Politics has become too personal, too nasty and perhaps toodangerous," Third Way President Jonathan Cowan said in a statement.

"We are heartened by the outpouring of concern and respect fromall corners of the political world. Perhaps out of this senselessact some sense can return to our public discourse."

The scolding came from outside Washington as well. SheriffClarence Dupnik of Pima County, where the shootings occurred, wasbeing applauded for condemning "all this vitriol" in the nation'spolitical discourse.

"This may be free speech, but it's not without consequences,"Dupnik said at a press briefing.

There is, at this point, no evidence that the suspect inSaturday's shootings that left six dead and Giffords and 13 otherswounded was influenced by inflammatory political rhetoric, or thatany voices that motivated him were outside his own head.

But the attacks have prompted soul-searching among some, and abelief from legislative leaders that unified actions rather thandivisive votes should mark their public response.

"This is a time for the House to lock arms, both in condemnationof this heinous act and in prayer for those killed and wounded inthis attack," House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said in aconference call joined by an extraordinary 800 people - members ofCongress and their spouses and staffers.

"At a time when an individual has shown us humanity at its worst,we must rise to the occasion for our nation and show Congress at itsbest."

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) said on CBS's "Facethe Nation" that the shootings, whatever their motivation, willcause politicians to more closely examine their rhetoric.

"I don't think there's any doubt, but my colleagues are veryconcerned about the environment in which they are now operating,"Hoyer said. "It's been a much angrier, confrontational environmentover the last two or three years than we have experienced in thepast. I think there is worry about that."

Rep. Robert A. Brady (D-Pa.) said Sunday night that he plans tointroduce a bill that would give members of Congress and federalofficials the same protections from threatening language andsymbolism that are afforded to the president under Title 18, Section871 of the U.S. Code.

"It's not a wake-up call, it's a four-alarmer," Brady said of theTucson shootings, adding that he last spoke with Giffords on Friday,the day before the attacks. Asked about the cross-hairs imagery usedby former Alaska governor Sarah Palin's PAC during the 2010 midtermelections, Brady said the imagery was an example of how politicalrhetoric and discourse have taken a turn for the negative.

"I think we should make it that people can't do that," he said."There was a cross hair on Gabby Giffords, and where's she at now? .. . I don't know if we're giving people ideas by doing somethinglike that, but we've got to do something to make that criminal."

Palin supporters said it was ridiculous to believe that the map,now removed from the Internet, could incite violence.

Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) mentioned Palin on CNN and herevocative message of "don't retreat; reload."

"These sorts of things, I think, invite the kind of toxicrhetoric that can lead unstable people to believe this is anacceptable response," Durbin said.

Republicans said that was nonsense, and conservative activistsnoted that violent language was a staple of political rhetoric,equally employed by Democrats and Republicans.

To wit: Barack Obama's tough talk at a Philadelphia fundraiser in2008 about how he would take the battle to the GOP: "If they bring aknife to the fight, we bring a gun."

Some commentators said the debate was silly.

"For as long as I've been alive, crosshairs and bull's-eyes havebeen an accepted part of the graphical lexicon when it comes topolitical debates," media critic Jack Shafer wrote on the onlinemagazine Slate.

"Such 'inflammatory' words as targeting, attacking, destroying,blasting, crushing, burying, knee-capping and others have similarlyguided political thought and action. Not once have the use of theseimages or words tempted me or anybody else I know to kill."

But in large part, the discussion Sunday tried to skirt bothpartisan blame and effects of political rhetoric in favor of acooling of the talk.

On a roundtable with House members on NBC's "Meet the Press,"both Democrats and Republicans pledged civility.

"I feel like that we need to realize, as members of Congress, asAmericans, that true tolerance is not pretending you have nodifferences," said Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) "It's being kind anddecent to each other in spite of those differences."

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.) stressed his personal friendshipwith Franks. "But what has happened to the debate is one person orone side - Republicans or, or Democrats, it doesn't matter - theysay, 'I'm right and you're evil,' " Cleaver said. "And that iswhat's damaging this country."

The House members said Giffords was not a practitioner of suchpolitics.

"We have 435 members of Congress," said Cleaver. "If you rankthem in terms of volatility, Gabby is probably in the last one-halfof1 percent."

As the House this week puts aside health care and takes up aresolution honoring those injured and killed, comity may prevail.For how long is a different question.

Democratic pollster and consultant Mark Mellman said members ofCongress are "properly shocked and appalled" by the shootings, andresponding by saying all the right things about the nature ofpolitical discourse.

"History suggests, however, that will be a pretty temporaryphenomenon," he said.

barnesb@washpost.com Staff writers PaulKane, Ben Pershing, Lois Romano and Felicia Sonmez and staffresearcher Lucy Shackelford contributed to this report.