Recalling Arizona Shooting, Debbie Wasserman Schultz Blames Tea Party for 'Lack of Civility'

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Wednesday blamed a "lack of civility" on the tea party movement.

Speaking to a "Politics and Eggs" breakfast in Washington, D.C., Wasserman Schultz, D-Fort Lauderdale, said:

"We need to make sure that we tone things down, particularly in light of the Tucson tragedy from a year ago, where my very good friend, Gabby Giffords -- who is doing really well, by the way, -- [was shot].

"The discourse in America, the discourse in Congress in particular ... has really changed, I'll tell you. I hesitate to place blame, but I have noticed it take a very precipitous turn toward edginess and lack of civility with the growth of the tea party movement," Wasserman Schultz said.

In a case of the pot calling the kettle black, Wasserman Schultz went on to complain: "You had town hall meetings that they tried to take over, and you saw some of their conduct at those tea party meetings. When they come and disagree with you, you're not just wrong, you're the enemy."

Ozzie deFaria, seeking the GOP nomination to oppose Wasserman Schultz this fall, issued a statement Wednesday calling the congresswoman "a two-faced Obama attack dog who will say and do anything to re-elect Barack Obama, including making bold, straight-faced lies to the American people.

"In the exact same sentence that she says 'I hesitate to place blame ... ' she goes on to blame the tea party. The fact of the matter is, Debbie Wasserman Schultz has a long record of making the most vicious, vile and unprofessional statements about conservatives and Republicans.

"It's laughable that someone with her record of insulting and degrading statements would call for civility."