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During a recent event in Los Angeles, Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett made headlines for her controversial remarks directed at Governor Greg Abbott. Speaking at a banquet for the Human Rights Campaign, Crockett referred to Abbott, who relies on a wheelchair due to paralysis resulting from an accident in 1984, as “Gov. Hot Wheels.”
In her speech, the Dallas Democrat remarked, “You all know we got Gov. Hot Wheels down there. Come on, now. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot-ass mess, honey.” Her comments drew sharp criticism, particularly from Republican lawmakers.
Abbott, who was elected governor in 2014, suffered a life-altering injury when a tree fell on him while he was jogging, severely damaging his spinal cord. As a prominent figure in Texas politics, his leadership has been marked by various contentious decisions, particularly regarding civil rights and health policies.
Crockett, who joined the House in 2022, faced backlash for her remarks; Texas Senator John Cornyn condemned her comments on the social media platform X, calling them “disgraceful” and “shameful.” The backlash continued as critics emphasized the inappropriateness of mocking someone’s disability, regardless of political alignment.
Despite the uproar, neither Abbott’s nor Crockett’s office responded to requests for comments regarding the incident. Additionally, Crockett has been under scrutiny for her recent anti-Musk remarks, suggesting that tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is involved with the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, “be taken down.”
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and partisan divide in Texas politics, as well as the challenges that public figures face when discussing sensitive topics related to disabilities and personal conduct in the realm of governance.
Source
abcnews.go.com