Newtown Lawmaker Apologizes For Criticizing Giffords Visit

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM


DAVID TAINTOR 3:44 PM EST, MONDAY JANUARY 7, 2013

Connecticut state Rep. DebraLee Hovey (R) issued an apology after criticizing former Rep. Gabby Giffords' Friday visit to Newtown. Jamison Bazinet, a spokesperson, told TPM Monday that Hovey would not comment further. Here's Hovey's full statement:

"The remarks I made regarding Congresswoman Gifford's visit were insensitive and if I offended anyone I truly apologize," Rep. Hovey said. "My comments were meant to be protective of the privacy of the families and our community as we work to move on, and were in no way intended as an insult to Congresswoman Giffords personally. Our community has struggled greatly through this tragedy, and we are all very sensitive to the potential for this event to be exploited for political purposes. This is what I wish to avoid."

Rep. Hovey, who was in Florida attending a Board meeting of the Women in Government national organization during the Giffords visit, has been a strong advocate for her district and has called for a dialogue on mental health issues, improving school safety and gun control.

"The events of December 14th affected all of us deeply and like many others I am still working through my grief and trying to come to terms with what happened, how we as a community and a state move forward and how we can prevent horrific events like this from occurring in the future," she said. "My deepest condolences continue to go out to the families, the community of Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown and Connecticut."

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Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/newtown-lawmaker-apologizes-for-criticizing-giffords-visit

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background info here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014359434

[hlthe2b]

1. Too little too late, IMO... I hope she loses her position for this overtly callous reaction

[SoCalMusicLover]

2. Sad Sack Apology From A Sad Human Being

That's how these pathetic folks think they can just put out an insincere apology, and everything will just all go away.

Why don't you THINK, you douchebag, before opening your mouth and proving your incompetence for all the world to see?

"If I offended anybody, I apologize."

In other words, I still meant what I said, but if I offended someone, my apologies.

This person is an elected official. That's why our country will never be great.

[catbyte]

3. I HATE HATE HATE those bullshit Republican non-apology "If I offended anyone" apologies.

Fuck you, Hovey. Pardon my French.

[Botany]

15. Bingo!

"If I offended anyone" please you were insulting of a brave woman who
has been shot through her head and through great effort of her own showed
up to offer support to people in need.

BTW Giffords' visit was private and only to those who wanted to see her.

[Little Star]

4. Sounds like she was in Florida, shit faced, when she made that obnoxious comment?

[busterbrown]

5. Christ almighty, If democrats can’t get this guy out in the next election.........

[niyad]

6. she is not a guy

[CTyankee]

7. If she were so damned concerned about gun control issues and school safety, she should

have embraced Gabby's visit, not disparaged it! So what if Gabby is a Dem. She's a former member of Congress now anyway. And getting nasty on Dick Blumenthal is a big mistake. He is one of the most popular public officials in CT, if not THE most popular.

She was incredibly stupid in making those remarks...

[DFW]

8. An apology that came only once she got creamed in public for her insensitive comments

When she has survived her first gunshot wound to the head from a whack job with a thirty round pistol, THE I'll listen to her "apologies." Until then, I hope she comes up with a twenty year case of severe laryngitis.

[Glitterati]

9. Not one mention of the person she insulted! GABBY!

Why the hell didn't she apologize to GABBY? That's who she insulted.

[Cha]

10. So DebraLee Hovey got some raw feedback about what an

insensitive ignorant b**** she was.. before she gave her non "apology"?

And, yes, she needs to really apologize the Gabby Giffords. Otherwise she's just bullshitting.

[bluestateguy]

11. Any apology that has the words "if I offended anyone" is not valid

So I reject this.

[McCamy Taylor]

12. Bashing a survivor of gun violence is so low.

[AtheistCrusader]

13. IF I OFFENDED

Typical non-apology.

[Caeser67]

14. Yea Right

Because Ms. Giffords knows nothing about the effects of gun violence. Apology not accepted.

[Paladin]

16. Not Good Enough, Lady. (nt)

[chelsea0011]

17. In a town that has been overwhelmed with outsiders for weeks, she

decides to pick on a mass shooting survivor for coming to town?

[Kelvin Mace]

18. OK, before I even read the apology: A Prediction

It will be a qualified apology.

Now, let's take a look.

Yep!

"The remarks I made regarding Congresswoman Gifford's visit were insensitive and if I offended anyone I truly apologize"

Typical non-apology.

[struggle4progress]

19. Translation: "Whoa! I really caught holy shizz from everybody for sayin what I said!"

[JoeyT]

20. I don't know how I missed the first one.

I was kind of amused by this: "It was political. The Lt Gov was there, Blumenthall was there and ALL political types KNOW it is courteous to let sitting Reps known when another political is in their District. So……. There was pure political motives."

Mostly because I've never heard of "political types" doing that. The only people I know of that do that are criminal organizations.

[onehandle]

21. What's her gungeoneer handle? nt

[DryRain]

22. Contact her directly!

http://cthousegop.com/contact-debralee-hovey/

[marshall]

23. Those families should be grateful Gifford took the time to come to their town

They've lost their children, and Giffords is there to comfort them.