Unbelievable!!! Matthew Shepard killed in non-bias "robbery," Repuke Foxx says

[Perky]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0409/Matthew_Shepard_killed_in_nonbias_robbery_Foxx_says.html


North Carolina Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx is questioning whether the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay University of Wyoming student, was a bias attack motivated by his sexual orientation.

Shepard's mother Judy was in the gallery at the time, according to a senior Democratic aide.

The socially conservative Foxx, arguing against a new Democratic hate crimes bill that includes new protections for gays and lesbians, described the description of Shepard's murder as a anti-homosexual attack a "hoax" -- and questioned whether prior bias crime legislation should have been named after him.



“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."

She added: "This -- the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.

"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."

Two young men -- Russell Arthur Henderson and Aaron James McKinney -- were convicted in connection with the crime, with multiple witnesses testifying to their anti-gay aspect of the crime. Both also intended to rob the Sheppard home after the attack, according to press accounts.

McKinney testified that Shepard attempted to grab his leg earlier in the evening and that had spurred a "gay panic" that provoked an extraordinarily violent outburst -- with his lawyers claiming McKinney had suffered homosexual abuse as a child.

[xchrom]

1. that's what they do -- they deny us at every turn.

even when we are murdered for just being in the most horrific ways.

[That Is Quite Enough]

2. Fuck you, Virginia Foxx, I hope you ------ and --- painfully.

:nuke:

[firedupdem]

3. Disgusting! That poor mother had to hear that! They would have

escorted me out of the building because there would have been a real problem! Such nasty people! :puke:

[LaurenG]

4. What total bs. I lived in Denver when Matthew was murdered

it was a huge deal because we were so close geographically. Of course people who rob us always tie us to fences and beat us to death for our sexual preferences. Fuckers!

[madeline_con]

5. Contact Foxx here:

http://www.house.gov/formfoxx/IMA/issue_subscribe.htm

[Julian_the_apostate]

18. When I e-mailed this benighted ogress, I tried to be polite...

I pointed out her error in judgment: the gay panic defense used by the perps, the trial statements...and then I just gave in and told her to stop embarrassing herself and her district with her ignorance. Overall a pretty tame response from me considering how sick her statement made me feel. Foxx's sense of right and wrong is a hoax.

[Cha]

6. I'm glad P Obama called those

a$$Holes out today..they contribute nothing but lies and more lies.

[EFerrari]

7. The majority of Republicans said similar things today in the House.

They were as horrible as possible.

[JuniperLea]

10. All they have left is their hate...

And that is what they bring out in their followers too.

[EFerrari]

14. Anyone looking at video of that session today would have to see the truth of that.

They were very deliberately letting their districts know that they, too, hate gay people.

[Hawaii Hiker]

16. socially conservative political people, are, for the most part,

mentally unstable....They are devoid of any sanity, compassion, empathy, & class....

I HATE social conservatives with a passion....

[EFerrari]

17. They're pretty much sociopaths looking for a rationale, as far as I can tell.

They're not social and they don't conserve anything except their anti-social influence on our culture.

[AllentownJake]

8. I'm glad that was said

I hate that it was said in front of his mother, however, I'm very happy that this is the face they are showing the country.

[JuniperLea]

9. Fringe is right

These people are disgusting. Thank Goddess their party is in its death throes... and by natural causes!

[Howardx]

15. fringe?

more like mainstream republican these days. any minute now she will send out a fundraising letter claiming she is being attacked by the far left and only cash now can help.

[JuniperLea]

20. Haha!

When is your fundraising letter going out?

[lunatica]

11. Beat himself so bloody that he never recovered, then tied himself to a fence

All after being robbed fair and square!

Flawless logic.

:sarcasm:

[Jackeens]

12. Foxx should be charged under that very hate crimes bill - as much a scumbag as any Holocaust denier.

[Union Yes]

13. Shepard's parents should sue Faux. This is a blatant lie from Hate Central.

[LostinVA]

22. I think you need to actually read the OP -- this isn't Fox News

[walldude]

19. I met Matt's mom once at a fundraiser

I was the audio guy, John Waters was the keynote speaker. We didn't get to talk much but I came away thinking she was one of the strongest women I ever met. Compassionate, tough, and driven. Thank god for it because apparently she's going to need all that strength to stand against this.

She needs to call a lawyer and see if she has a libel or defamation case.

[tularetom]

21. The creep admitted he beat the kid because he was gay and had made advances

What else does this bitch foxx need to hear?

I think Mr McKinney doth protest too much. He beat up Matthew Shepard because he was afraid of his own reaction to Matthew's advances. In other words he liked it and was afraid people would find out he had teh gay.

[Bluenorthwest]

23. They lie like humans breath

And thanks to Reps Wasseman Schultz and Cohen for speaking out.

[Ocracoker16]

24. Foxx is a shameless homophobic Republican bitch

She has nerve to say something like that. I am glad that Debbie Wasserman Schultz fired back at her for belonging to the Republican party which is just a fringe group these days.

I am glad that it passed the House. This legislation is far overdue.

[Colobo]

25. That woman is pure trash. Her heart is nothing but a nest of worms.

[Canuckistanian]

26. With his mother in the gallery, too

Stay classy, Republicans.

[rocktivity]

27. Watch for flying shoes.

x(
rocktivity

[mix]

28. I was in Wyoming for the first time when Shepard was murdered.

I will never forget the reaction of an acquaintance--an old Meeteetse cowboy--to the crime.

"The problems of the big city have come to Wyoming."

Fucking idiot.