A lot of people didn’t like it when Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Dallas, called Governor Greg Abbott “Gov. Hot Wheels” during a speech at a Human Rights Campaign event in Los Angeles. Abbott, a Republican, has been in a wheelchair since 1984 because of an accident that left him paralyzed. Many people quickly said bad things about Crockett’s response, including Texas Senator John Cornyn, who called it “disgraceful” and “shameful.”
Jasmine Crockett’s Response to Criticism
As a response to the backlash, Jasmine Crockett explained that she meant her statement to criticize Abbott’s migrant relocation policy of sending migrants to cities governed by Black mayors, not to ridicule his disability. She stated, “I wasn’t thinking about the governor’s condition—I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable.”
Reaction from Disability Rights Advocates
In spite of her clarification, the incident has come under scrutiny by disability rights groups, who condemned the comment as disappointing. They stated that these types of remarks contribute to the stigma that bars disabled individuals from many public areas.
Political Fallout
Because of the trouble, there have been political effects as well. Randy Weber, a Republican from Texas and U.S. Representative, has said he will file a motion to censure Jasmine Crockett. The office of Governor Abbott has not yet said anything about what took place.
