The heckler who screamed “Baby Killer” at Rep. Bart Stupak (D., MI) during the health care debate has been uncovered. It was not, as widely assumed, a person in the public gallery. Rather it was Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R., TX) who has fessed up to the infraction, here. After Joe Wilson (R., SC) screamed “you lie” at the President during the State of the Union and Justice Sam Alito saying “not true” and shaking his head at the State of the Union (here), Republicans appear to have growing distemper in their ranks.
Such outbursts are common in other legislative bodies from the Parliament to the Knesset, but are violations of the rules of the House. Nevertheless, Wilson is now running on his outburst in his campaign, here, and has become one of the most sought after speakers in the House.
Neugebauer of Lubbock is a banker from Lubbock and insists that “I’m just trying to represent the people of the 19th Congressional District. The intensity of the American people was represented in my intensity last night. … I still believe that that Senate bill is a baby-killing bill.”
Here is his statement:
Last night was the climax of weeks and months of debate on a health care bill that my constituents fear and do not support. In the heat and emotion of the debate, I exclaimed the phrase ‘it’s a baby killer’ in reference to the agreement reached by the Democratic leadership. While I remain heartbroken over the passage of this bill and the tragic consequences it will have for the unborn, I deeply regret that my actions were mistakenly interpreted as a direct reference to Congressman Stupak himself.
For the full story, click here.
Elaine,
The point of that barb was directed at parents. Most teachers are both underpaid and under appreciated. Their jobs are made more difficult by parents who take little or no active role in educating their children. For example, I could read before entering kindergarten. This is because my mother taught me to read phonetically as soon as she realized I was paying attention to the printed word. While not common even at that time, I’m thinking today it’d be as rare as hen’s teeth.
Buddha–
“And it would less unique perspective if schools still taught Civics and History instead of acting as babysitters for inept parents.”
Civics has been cut from some school’s curricula because it isn’t a subject that’s included on mandated tests. Most teachers aren’t babysitters–many have been forced into becoming test preppers. So glad I left the classroom before the “new age” of of test-driven education had made its way into the elementary classroom. Forget literature…forget creativity…forget learning how to think outside the box! Gotta get those scores up year after year. It doesn’t matter if the kids are expanding their minds or really learning anything of value.
Buddha said “And it would less unique perspective if schools still taught Civics and History instead of acting as babysitters for inept parents.”
You’ve got that right.
***I’m going to a debate on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this evening. It should be interesting.
This Is more Of a symptom Of the Republican view that They are the elite Why Would I say This Gee they are handed that point of view every time some one brake the rules because no one is ever held accountable for there actions. And I am afraid that It will take some one to get injured or killed before any one is held accountable and even then they will try to get off by saying they are not responsible for the action s of one when We are all accountable for not holding people accountable for there Bad Actions .
Turley: You can honestly put Alito in the same category as outbursts? How can you not challenge the unnecessary, divisive, and humiliating jab of Obama’s outburst and mischaracterize Alito? True colors, shining through…
TomD.
“How long until a contemporary Republican member of Congress punches a Democrat?”
I don’t think any of them could muster the courage to come face to face with a member of the opposing party. Better to shout out epithets and other nasty comments from the safety of one’s seat. I believe most Republicans wouldn’t want to goad Democrats into fisticuffs. I’d guess most would go the Cheney Chickenhawk route and request a punching deferment if asked to get physical their political opponents.
BTW, anyone interested in contributing to a fund that will be used to purchase a one-way ticket to Costa Rica for Rushbo?
TomD,
If you want a really interesting look at the southern culture of dueling, I suggest you check out “All God’s Children,” by Fox Butterfield, which takes a long view in it’s biography of Willie Bosket and his family.
“How long until a contemporary Republican member of Congress punches a Democrat?”
Tom,
I think Vegas is running 3:1 for before the end of Obama’s term.
I, uh, believe Rep. Neugebauer when he says that he didn’t yell “Baby Killer!” at Stupak. Yeah, that’s the ticket. I, uh, totally believe that he led with a quieter, “It’s a….” Only commenting on the bill … not screaming an epithet at a colleage on the floor of the House. Totally. Not lying at all. Nope. Totally telling the truth.
The idea that the contemporary Republican Party is the reincarnation of the old Southern Democratic Party really rings true when you look at the story of South Carolina (aka “Southern”) Democratic Senator Preston Brooks beating a northern senator on the floor of the Senate with a heavy, metal ended cane because he didn’t like something that his colleague said. How long until a contemporary Republican member of Congress punches a Democrat?
Rep. Randy Neugebauer was full of loud talk when surrounded by his buds on the floor but when called to account, as an individual, for his remarks, the coward showed his true character.
Cameras on the floor have caught Neugebauer, Wilson, and Alito … no more anonymity for the guys who thought they were safe hiding in the mob. When one becomes part of a mob mentality one never expects to stand out alone.
And for the trolls, let me define “good humor” for you since you all seem to have problems with basic definitions. Good humor is both funny and reveals a truth at the same time.
“‘Republican base’ has become both a noun and an adjective.”
Mike A,
Now that’s good humor! (Insert applause here.)
Apparently Rep. Neugebauer suffers from the same reading disability that plagues Rep. Stupak and others who continue to claim that the bill permits the use of federal funds to finance abortions. With that being said, Rep. Neugebauer’s outburst is further evidence, if that is even necessary at this point, that the term “Republican base” has become both a noun and an adjective. The adults have been successfully purged from the party, leaving a disgruntled minority that disdains majority rule and that increasingly relies on epithets, hatred and invective as debate tools, juvenile minds in grown-up bodies.
“I’m trying to point out that the perspective of a lawyer is unique, and likely not representative of the general population of our country.”
And it would less unique perspective if schools still taught Civics and History instead of acting as babysitters for inept parents.
Mespo,
Does it really seem so farfetched to think that those who spend their lives being an advocate for whichever side is paying them, might not be the best ones to judge right from wrong? Then again, isn’t being a politician all about being an advocate for whichever side is paying them?
Hmm. I think I’m beginning to see a pattern. 🙂
Please don’t interpret what I say as lawyer bashing. I’m trying to point out that the perspective of a lawyer is unique, and likely not representative of the general population of our country.
Duh, what about ET did he go home 🙂 maybe he knows Al
bdaman,
I don’t understand Latin, but I think AY has accused us of eating Al. 🙂
My bad, Al should be first before both me and Duh. Who is Al anyway, I’ve never seen him post 🙂
Mespo said “Sorry, I thought it was self-evident that those who’ve spent their lives and collective energies understanding the law should also be the ones who create, enforce and adjudicate it too. Maybe we could have butchers do it!”
That is the same bias that permits you to consider self-policing, in your profession alone, to be effective and acceptable.
“Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at pleasure.” —Thomas Jefferson
Are you really suggesting that lawyers are the only “men of ordinary understanding”? Who is more likely to look for those “metaphysical subtleties”? The lawyer or the butcher?
So cool. The guy deserves a medal.
Hey, this is what change is about folks!
Chaos!