As reported earlier Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina called the murder of Matthew Shepard because he was gay, a hoax. Watch the video.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWm2zGTZBM0[/youtube]
Foxx has since responded to the uproar. She doesn’t express regret—which is common for her ilk—nor apologizes—which almost never happens—she simply backtracks, trying to save her own ass.
“It has come to my attention that some people have been led to believe that I think the terrible crimes that led to Matthew Shepard’s death in 1998 were a hoax,” she said. “The term “hoax” was a poor choice of words used in the discussion of the hate crimes bill. Mr. Shepard’s death was nothing less than a tragedy and those responsible for his death certainly deserved the punishment they received.
“The larger context of my remarks is important. I was referring to a 2004 ABC 20/20 report on Mr. Shepard’s death. The 20/20 report questioned the motivation of those responsible for Mr. Shepard’s death. Referencing this media account may have been a mistake, but if so it was a mistake based on what I believed were reliable accounts.”
While Judy Shepard has yet to respond to the original remarks, others in Congress have. From Politico:
“Matthew Shepard’s mother was in the gallery yesterday and I believe she was back today — so I’m sorry she had to be around to hear it,” said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.). “It’s an urban myth… And I’d tell her that man did land on the moon and the moon wasn’t made out of green cheese.”
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who supports the hate crimes bill, stared in disbelief before answering a question about the statement.
“It’s just sad the Republican caucus has been reduced such a fringe,” she said. “It’s sad they would go out of their way to prevent people from getting justice.”
This isn’t the first time Foxx has put her foot in it. Two weeks ago she made some racially charged statements on the House floor. I’m sorry Virginia, but you are an ignorant, hateful bigot, and you need to immediately apologize for your remarks, especially to Judy Shepard. And then do us all a favor and walk out the f*cking door and never come back. And please, please, take Michelle Bachmann with you.
Virginia Foxx can be contacted via the methods below, and please, show her at least the same amount of respect she showed Judy Shepard.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Phone: (202) 225-2071
Fax: (202) 225-2995
CLEMMONS, N.C.
Phone: (336) 778-0211
Fax: (336) 778-2290
BOONE, N.C.
Phone: (828) 265-0240
Fax: (828) 265-0390
Judy Shepard responds to the passing of hate crimes legislation in the House and to the remarks made by Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, who said the murder of Matthew Shepard because he was gay, a hoax.
H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act, has just passed in the House of Representatives by a margin of 249 to 175. The bill would add hate crimes protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.