A full thirteen days after Rep. Virginia Fox testified that the anti-gay motive behind Matthew Shepard’s murder was a hoax, and that his death was being used advance hate crimes legislation, the Republican Congresswoman from North Carolina sent a letter of “apology” to Matthew’s mother Judy Shepard who was in attendance during her remarks. Let’s remind ourselves what Foxx said…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWm2zGTZBM0[/youtube]

Foxx’s written apology comes after multiple days of backtracking and damage control as her offices struggled with the flood of criticism received because of her remarks.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation has confirmed receipt of the letter but has refused to comment on it, choosing instead to focus on  getting the hate crimes legislation passed.

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx has issued another statement regarding her hoax comment about Matthew Shepard’s murder.

From WXII12 News:

“In the heat of trying to handle the rule on the floor, anybody can use a bad choice of words. Saying that the event was a hoax was a poor choice of words,” Foxx said. “I’ve apologized for that. I never meant in any way to harm the family or offend the family or anybody else for that matter.”

…

“It is very unfortunate that these calls have come in. I would say 99 percent of them are from outside the district and it is unfortunate that people have taken this position,” she said.

Foxx sent a letter of apology to Shepard’s mother, who was present when the comments were made. On Thursday, Judy Shepard reacted to Foxx’s comments. “She’s apologizing for semantics,” Judy Shepard said.

“What I hope my constituents know is that I’m in Washington ever day that I’m required to be there, working hard for them, doing the best to make sure that the federal government doesn’t take away their rights and their money,” Foxx said, when asked how she would respond to her constituents.

Hat tip to New Civil Rights Movement for breaking the story and his cogent response.

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.

Note: At the request of the Rachel Maddow Show, I am replacing the YouTube version with the video provided by MSNBC.

Please donate to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Judy and this Foundation deserve our support in the face of such terrible ignorance and hate.

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