Crazy Like A Foxx!

During a debate on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx made a statement so appalling it has caused an outcry worldwide! She gave the U.S.A just more proof that the republican party has little on the menu concerning affairs for social or economic reform. She debased the memory of an innocent victim killed in a hate crime.

Mathew Shepard was a 22yr. young man singled out and murdered by two men for his sexuality. He was lured from a bar by one and pistol whipped, stabbed, beat, burned and attached to a barbed wire fence were he was left to die. He remained there in agonizing pain for 18 hours before being discovered by a biker.Mathew died five days later in the intensive care of Poudre Valley Hospital.

The assailants,Henderson and Mckinney, were not charged for hate crimes--at this time the legislation did not exist. Mathew Shepard’s parents,Judy and Dennis, fought tirelessly for a bill which would acknowledged these assaults as a hate crime.

On March 20th,2007 The Mathew Sheppard act was introduced to the U.S Congress by Dem.John Conyers and passed in The House of Representatives on May 3rd,that same year. Other legislation similar to this one passed on September 7th,2007-- which President Bush claimed he would veto if it reached his desk.

Yesterday on the House floor Rep. Virginia Foxx debated the expansion of the hate crimes legislation by saying:

"I also would like to point out that there was a bill -- the hate crimes bill that's called the Matthew Shepard bill is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. This -- the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills,"

Well...the torches are lit and the villagers are angry!These remarks have offended people worldwide!Americans immediately began protests demanding this woman’s apology or resignation! The congresswoman’s office was flooded with e-mails and phone calls from people expressing their anger. So in a statement which increased the insult to injury, instead of a full apology she remarked,

"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."

It was more than a “poor” choice of words, it was a horrific choice!

A hate crime is more than an assault against homosexuality it is profiling meant to suppress and terrorize race,sexuality,religion, or social group. And today being my birthday all I ask is for a sincere apology or resignation from Congresswoman Virginia Foxx!


Sources:MSNBC,Associated Press,Wikipedia-Matthew Shepard,Matthew Shepard Foundation