( CNN ) -- There 's no evidence the heated political environment played any role in the shooting spree that left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in critical condition and killed six others , but observers say if nothing else , the tragedy will force politicians to re-evaluate their rhetoric . Militant-themed messages and speeches laced with fear have marked recent dialogue in Washington and on the campaign trail , but in the aftermath of the massacre in Arizona , lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling on their colleagues to tone it down . `` An event like this really ought to make us rethink the way we speak to each other every day about politics and policy in the country , especially in the Congress , '' said Thomas Benson , professor of rhetoric at Penn State University . The night before Saturday 's shooting in Tucson , Arizona , Giffords issued a new call for more civility in politics . She sent an e-mail to outgoing Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson , a Republican , that included a remark about the need to `` tone our rhetoric and partisanship down . '' Giffords e-mail : Need to 'tone our rhetoric and partisanship down ' The suspected shooter 's motive is unclear , but Pima County , Arizona , Sheriff Clarence Dupnik was quick to criticize the `` vitriolic rhetoric '' heard on the radio and television . `` That may be free speech , but it 's not without consequences , '' he said Saturday . Former Alaska Gov . Sarah Palin 's political aide removed a controversial Web post this weekend that featured cross hairs over the congressional districts of 20 Democratic candidates , including Giffords . A Palin aide denied the Web posting from the 2010 congressional campaign was designed to incite violence . Adviser : Linking Palin to shootings 'appalling ' Florida conservative radio host Joyce Kauffman took heat after remarking at a Tea Party rally , `` If ballots do n't work , bullets will . '' Biting language has also come from those on the left , with Democrats and President Obama pegging Republicans as '' hostage takers . '' Despite all the nastiness , Richard Vatz , professor of political communication at Towson University in Maryland , said the notion that the rhetoric caused the violence is `` fallacious . '' That connection , he said , is born out of recognition that such violent incidents ca n't be eradicated . `` The motive I think is the frustration that a congresswoman can be shot and that a judge can be killed and that an utterly innocent little girl can be killed and we ca n't preventatively stop these matters . The frustration is that we can not stop this , '' Vatz said . Poll : Charged speech not to blame for Arizona attacks . David Gergen , a senior political analyst for CNN , said that until the gunman 's motive is clear , pointing fingers `` only contributes to what we must end in America : a toxic political environment . '' `` This is not a moment to point fingers and make accusations . But it is a time to pray for the victims -- and to pledge to each other that we will struggle for a more civil and decent America , '' he wrote in a commentary on CNN.com . Despite the disconnect between cause and effect , Vatz said he predicts there will be a softening of the tone on Capitol Hill as Congress returns to business as usual . `` There will be an effort to avoid incendiary rhetoric . But as to whether that will have any effect in a macro sense on nationwide violence , I think it will not , '' he said . Before the shooting at the Arizona political meet-and-greet , House lawmakers were preparing to vote on the repeal of the health care legislation this week . The debate leading up to the passage of the Democrats ' health care plan was bitterly partisan , and the attempt to repeal the legislation was expected to be equally volatile . The House of Representatives instead decided to postpone all legislation scheduled for this week , replacing the health care vote with a resolution to honor the victims of the tragedy . The question remains whether Congress will be able to take up such an emotional and divisive issue without the negativity that surrounded the debate last year . House action postponed . `` It is n't just a question of heated rhetoric . Of course , we are going to have heated rhetoric , '' said Benson , the Penn State professor , `` but even with extreme partisanship there can be and needs to be civility . '' Vatz said an avoidance of the more incendiary language could last `` as long as the sensitivity to the possibility of a connection between violence and language is around . '' `` But I think it will have diminishing returns . I think eventually the language will ratchet up again , '' he said . Benson said that while the impact of words is difficult to measure , language can create an atmosphere , evoke emotion and drive people apart . `` Rhetoric can definitely have severe consequences or we would n't employ it , '' he said .
Militant - themed signs and speeches laced with fear mark political dialogue . Lawmakers on both sides of aisle call on Democrats to tone it down . The theory that terrorists caused the violence is ` ` fallacious , '' professor says . Health care debate starts again in House ; it will be volatile .