Emanuel: Giffords should not be exploited

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/01/13/t1larg.rahm-emanuel-concert.t1larg.jpg caption="When he was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Emanuel recruited Gabrielle Giffords to run for Congress. Emanuel also started the 'Congress on Your Corner' events." width=300 height=169]

Gabriella Schwarz
CNN

(CNN) – At a press conference Tuesday, Chicago mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel said his 2008 comment that politicians should "never let a good crisis go to waste" does not apply to the Arizona shootings.

"What I said was never let a good crisis go to waste when it's an opportunity to do things you had never considered or you didn't think were possible," Emanuel said. "That's not intended for this moment; it doesn't apply for this moment."

The statement has been cited as an example of inflated political rhetoric that politicians and pundits are now warning against.

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