For one day, Boston attack blunts partisanship in D.C.

WASHINGTON — Congress is set to consider such heady topics as immigration reform and gun control this week, but the bombing at the Boston Marathon cast a shadow over all of that on Monday afternoon.

The news was so fresh and details so scant that there was little stunned lawmakers could say in response. Most from Minnesota confined themselves to sympathetic tweets:

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Boston right now

— Tim Walz (@RepTimWalz) April 15, 2013

Vicky and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims of the Boston tragedy.

— John Kline (@repjohnkline) April 15, 2013

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders in Boston. #BostonMarathon#PrayForBoston

— Rep. Erik Paulsen (@RepErikPaulsen) April 15, 2013

Shocked and disturbed by events in Boston. Thinking and praying for all the victims and everyone affected.

— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) April 15, 2013

I’m saddened to hear of two explosion victims & growing number of injured individuals. My heart goes out to all the victims& their families.

— Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) April 15, 2013

Heartbreaking news in Boston. My thoughts and prayers are with those at the Marathon, their families and with the first responders.

— Michele Bachmann (@MicheleBachmann) April 15, 2013

Tragic, terrible news from today's Boston Marathon. Thoughts and prayers with victims, families, first responders.washingtonpost.com/world/national…

— U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan (@USRepRickNolan) April 15, 2013

From Minnesota to Massachusetts: our hearts go out to the victims of today’s tragedy. #prayforboston

— Al Franken (@alfranken) April 15, 2013

My thoughts and prayers to the victims, families, & first responders in #Boston after this senseless act of violence.

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 15, 2013

The muted reaction mirrored that from most of Washington, where, for at least one day, grief displaced partisanship.

House and Senate leadership noted the bombing in statements and floor speeches. A group of senators canceled a much-anticipated Tuesday press conference on their immigration reform bill, and even as the Senate continued its tense debate on gun-violence legislation, lawmakers took time on the floor to offer thoughts and prayers for Boston.

Democratic Rep. Michael Capuano, who represents the Boston-based district enveloping the Back Bay neighborhood, the scene of the bombing, lead the House in a moment of silence.

“I don’t know if it was official terrorism or unofficial or whatever," he said, "but clearly anyone to act in such a manner is clearly an evil person who deserves to be called as such.”

President Obama didn’t use the term "terrorism" when addressing the matter, though the White House reportedly considers it such. But semantics mattered little in the immediate aftermath. It wasn’t until later Monday night that keyed-in members of Congress began calling the bombing terror and speculating as to who carried it out, and why, questions still unanswered Tuesday morning.

“Make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this,” Obama said. “And we will find out who did this. We'll find out why they did this.  Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice.”

In the end, disaster again blunted partisanship in Washington. When tragedy interrupts normalcy, as it did Monday, it was as Obama said: “On days like this there are no Republicans or Democrats — we are Americans, united in concern for our fellow citizens.”

Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com. Follow him on Twitter: @dhenry