Wyoming murder "really a hoax," congresswoman

[JonLP24]

Source: SeattlePI

As Congress approved legislation to expand the legal application of hate crimes, cosponsor Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., proclaimed on Wednesday that "We have
declared America to be a hate-free zone."

It may not be that easy.

During debate on the legislation, a Republican congresswoman from North Carolina questioned the decade-old Laramie, Wyoming murder that galvanized a national drive to impose penalties on hate-driven crimes.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., used the word "hoax" to describe the killing of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was tied crucifixion-style to a fence, repeatedly pistol whipped and left for dead. He later died in a local hospital.

". . . We know that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery," Foxx told the House. "It wasn't because he was gay This -- the bill was named for him, (the) hate crime bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."

Read more: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/167655.asp?from=blog_last3

---

To comply with the 4 paragraph rule if you read on her statement is contradicted by court testimony in which the girlfriends said the men were determined to find and rob a gay man. :mad:

[Skinner]

1. Disgusting. (nt)

[xchrom]

2. ...

:grr:

[Kerrytravelers]

3. bwwwaaaahhhh... it's already been added to her Wiki page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Foxx


And look what else it included:

An April 29, 2009 weblog posting by Politico.com collumnist Glenn Thrush cited the following observations of Rep. Foxx's remarks:

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."<10>

While Ryan Grim, of the Huffington Post, cites Rep. John Lewis (D - GA) responded to Rep. Foxx's remarks with the following statement:

"She should be ashamed," said Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), himself a victim of a hate crime during the struggle for civil rights. "That is unreal, unbelievable. The law enforcement people and almost every reasonable person I know believes he was murdered because he was gay."<11>

------------------------------------------------


Good. Her stupidity is right there for all to see, even those who don't pay much attention.

[rurallib]

8. Some people hate stupidity. Better vote for the bill Virginia.

[Downwinder]

16. Which came first Fox or Foxx they both sound the same?? n/t

[Nevernose]

4. That's the latest talking point on Matthew Shepard.

It pops up every now and again, usually when some legislature is considering hate crimes.

[prolesunited]

21. I've never even heard that before

What do they offer in the way of "proof"? Or, are they just hoping that if they repeat it enough, people will believe it?

[JonLP24]

22. I believe it is the 20/20 report that gives up the what they need to make these claims

Wikipedia summary.
In late 2004, ABC's Elizabeth Vargas reported on an investigation into the murder for the television program 20/20. Though Vargas primarily relied on personal interviews with people involved with the matter, the report was billed as exploring "New Details Emerging in the Matthew Shepard Murder."<3> At the forefront was the possibility that the murder had in fact been motivated by drugs rather than Shepard's sexual orientation. McKinney, Henderson and Kristen Price (McKinney's girlfriend) claimed in these interviews that the attack was a result of heavy drug use, a robbery and a beating gone awry.<3> Price, in her interview with Vargas, ultimately openly remarked: "I do not think it was a hate crime at all. I never did."<3> This statement contradicted Price's first interview with 20/20 in 1998, in which she said (of McKinney and Henderson's attack): "They just wanted to beat him bad enough to teach him a lesson, not to come on to straight people, and don’t be aggressive about it anymore.”<16> In the report, Price and McKinney's long-time friend Tom O'Connor, on whose property McKinney and Price once lived, both stated their belief that McKinney was bisexual. O'Connor stated that he and McKinney had sex in the past. However, when Vargas asked McKinney whether he had ever had a sexual experience with another male, he said that he had not.<3>

The 20/20 report also mentioned a statement by O'Connor that Shepard told him he was HIV-positive.<3>

Retired Police Chief of Laramie, Commander Dave O'Malley — who was also interviewed by ABC and criticized the 20/20 report — pointed out that the drug motive does not necessarily disqualify the anti-gay motive: "My feelings have been that the initial contact was probably motivated by robbery because they needed money. What they got was $20 and a pair of shoes ... then something changed and changed profoundly... But, we will never, ever know because Matt’s dead and I don’t trust what said."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard#ABC.27s_20.2F20_report

It's not conclusive proof and the girlfriend even contradicts herself for whatever reason. I saw a guest on Glenn Beck that said "ABC already confirmed it was just a robbery and not because he was gay."

edited to add if it was just a robbery then why did he use the 'gay panic defense'? :shrug:

[Nevernose]

23. While Jonpl24 offered some substantive "proof"

They don't really need that, do they? Homophobia isn't based on logic, it's based on fear; they don't need proof to spread bullshit around. And yes, they ARE hoping that the more they spread it, the more people will believe it. That's how fascism works.

[JonLP24]

24. I didn't offer proof

I was pointing to what RWers are referring to. The report is BS while the guy claims to have sex with McKinney meanwhile McKinney says he never had sexual relations with another man. Also the girlfriend contradicts herself in testimony, 1998 interview compared to the 2004 interview and just because drugs are involved doesn't mean they aren't anti-gay.

I wish you would've read the analysis of the report because it shows you the holes. Don't try to make it appear like I'm offering proof. I'm just merely pointing to what republicans against the bill use as "proof" to make their disgusting claims.

[Nevernose]

25. That's why I put the word "proof" in quotes

Because what they say is bullshit, and we all know it.

Relax, bro :D. Sorry if I misrepresented you; that wasn't my intention.

[JonLP24]

27. Sorry, I wasn't sure what that meant. Also I expect an occassional flame here and there

so I was rather defensive. I apologize for snapping back at you like that. :hi:

[madaboutharry]

5. It continues to amaze me that

dumbasses like this get elected to office.

I have noticed a pattern: The biggest dumb shits in congress are republicans. Bachmann, Cornyn, this moron, Kyle, Inofe ....the list just goes on.

I don't think anyone could come up with a list of democrats this stupid.

[askeptic]

20. No kidding! Scary to contemplate

the kind of people who could put in such a person. Even though I disagree with the idea of "hate" crime, the man was murdered, and the motive was hate.

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. Jesse Helms rotten soul obviously entered this pathetic woman. Embarrassment to NC.

[Zynx]

7. Virginia Foxx is evil. I don't use that word lightly.

She should resign, curl up in a cave somewhere, and gnaw on rocks for the rest of her life.

[Lancer]

9. She's a psychotic, but here's the reason she got elected the first time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaSQ-LNp9Nk

Lemme get this straight -- Vernon Robinson wanted to return to the land o'"Leave It To Beaver," where his family couldn't have bought a house on the same street with the Cleavers and where Robinson couldn't have gone to the same school with the Beav or drunk from the same water fountain at the ballpark.

[mrbarber]

10. She's from North Carolina?

A hearty "FUCK YOU" From Asheville, you evil, soulless wench.

[WestSeattle2]

11. Repug? North Carolina?

Should we expect anything remotely resembling intelligent debate from that quarter?

Don't hold your breath.

[mrbarber]

12. Hey now....

We kicked out Elizabeth Gore (rot her bones) didn't we?

But yeah, it's pretty rednecky and hateful here, I work with several homophobes who are scary in their beliefs.

[WestSeattle2]

17. Actually I was referring to just NC repugs...not y'all..... :)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

38. Elizabeth Gore? Dole?

[Historic NY]

13. Olbermann just mashed her to bits for her stupidity.

[handmade34]

14. excellent KO

...I sit in amazement that people like her represent citizens of the U.S.

[moose65]

19. She doesn't "represent" anyone!

All she does is repeat Republican talking points and bash Democrats at every turn. Unfortunately, she's in a gerrymandered district and she probably has the seat as long as she wants it. She is an embarrassment to NC. We've been trying to kick her out of office but so far there hasn't been a dynamic Democratic candidate for the seat.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Doc Martin]

18. [phone] Foxx D C Office - Phone her

[struggle4progress]

26. Y'know, Virginia, it doesn't look like an ordinary "let's grab his wallet and absquatulate" robbery:

They told him they were gay, beat the crap out of him in the truck, drove off to an isolate place, tied him to a fence, beat him some more, fracturing his skull -- and then took his wallet. If they just wanted the wallet, it was surely theirs for the taking by the time the kid was tied up: there wasn't any need to continue the beating or fracture his skull. Then they went back and enlisted the help of their girlfriends in covering the whole thing up -- and, of course, that's where the "just a robbery" story got invented. Again, if this was just a robbery, why did the guys try to argue in court that his homosexuality plunged them into a panicky temporary insanity? Of course, if they didn't like his sexual orientation, they didn't have pretend to be gay themselves or offer to give him a ride. No, it's clear enough: our brave frontiersmen decided to crack a gay skull for fun, picked their victim, mortally injured him, took his wallet as a souvenir, and then went home and bragged to their sweeties about their kick-ass macho evening. And it's also clear that you, Virginia, are a moron



October 10, 1998
Gay Man Beaten and Left For Dead; 2 Are Charged
By JAMES BROOKE
http://www.nytimes.com/ads/marketing/laramie/19981009_laramie1.html
... Mr. McKinney and Mr. Henderson posed as homosexuals and lured Mr. Shepard out to Mr. McKinney's pickup truck just after midnight early Wednesday. Beating him inside the truck, the pair drove him one mile southeast to an isolated part of a new rural subdivision ... There, it said, the men tied their captive to a fence and pistol-whipped him with a .357 magnum handgun "while he begged for his life." Relatives said that Mr. Shepard also suffered burns on his body. After beating .. the young man .. the assailants stole his wallet and shoes and left him tied to the fence ... http://www.nytimes.com/ads/marketing/laramie/19981009_laramie1.html

Gay Student Dies From Beating
By E.N. SMITH
... Their girlfriends -- Chastity Vera Pasley, 20, and Kristen Leann Price, 18 -- were charged with being accessories after the fact ... Henderson and Ms. Pasley live in a rural, windswept trailer park amid weeds, engine parts, fishing tackle and barking dogs ... http://www.skeptictank.org/ghtbt13.htm

[Barack_America]

34. Yeah, if that's a typical Wyoming "mugging", remind me never to visit there.

I'll stick with the civilized muggers of Philly and NYC.

My God, what an offensive and cruel statement. And thanks very much for the background.

[fishwax]

28. a vile excuse for a human being

Boggles the mind that she used to be an English Professor :crazy:

[JonLP24]

29. KO said she said all this while his mother sat in the gallery

Which makes me even more outraged over this. :mad:

[struggle4progress]

32. Joan Walsh at Salon also says his mother was there

[struggle4progress]

30. Remember her name and contribute to her Democratic opponent next year

She represents the conservative Winston-Salem area, and I really doubt we can replace her with a progressive. But we could make her run for her money, and we might have a shot at taking her down: last October, she was only two points ahead of the Dem candidate Carter, though she ultimately beat him 58-41. My interpretation: a "moderate" (not progressive) Dem with adequate funding could kick her to the curb in a close race

[JonLP24]

31. Great idea. I bookmarked this thread for that reason

Hopefully I remember when the time comes but usually I'm aware of all threads I got bookmarked most of the time.

[TorchTheWitch]

33. WTF??? OMG! I'm complete aghast

What the fuck is this crazy woman talking about??? A HOAX??? My GOD! The young man was MURDERED for shit sake!

Even if he wasn't murdered because he was gay what the fuck difference does it make in voting for the bill??? Jeebus Crispers, it's not like there isn't a list of people that could wrap itself twice around the block of all the people who have been preyed on because of their gender or sexual orientation!

Oh. My. GOD! What universe does this beastly woman come from! :wow:

[CRK7376]

35. Grrrrrrrrrr

I'm sorry all, Virginia Foxx is the Repug Rep from my district. She's an idiot and embarrassment to my State.

[OneAngryDemocrat]

36. Fred Phelps and his "GOD-HATES-FAGS" Westboro Baptist Church

Unless the Republican Party IMMEDIATELY distances itself from this horrible person's comments, they are complicitly aligning themselves with Fred Phelps and his infamous "God-Hate's-Fags" Westboro Baptist Church.

The "Church" Phelps heads up has waged an ongoing campaign against anti-gay Hate Crime legislation, and has outspokenly referred to the murder of Matthew Shepard for being gay as a hoax for quite some time.

FOR MORE INFO, GO TO:

http://www.westborobaptistchurch.com/written/reports/20051027_laramie-project-lie.pdf

[myrna minx]

37. She should be ashamed of herself. Disgusting. n/t