Posted on 09/28/2019 10:25:58 AM PDT by billorites
A Democratic judge in Texas apologized for saying Republican Gov. Greg Abbott “hates trees because one fell on him.”
Abbott, 61, was paralyzed when he was 26 years old after an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging in Houston in July 1984. The incident paralyzed him from the waist down, and he has since used a wheelchair.
The crowd reportedly laughed at Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt’s comment made Friday at the Texas Tribune Festival. The remark was made in the context of the Texas Legislature overriding local ordinances like Austin’s tree ordinance.
In her apology later Friday, Eckhardt said her remark was “flippant,” “inappropriate,” and there was “no excuse” for it.
"In my panel today at the Texas Tribune Festival on 'Public Enragement' I spoke about the importance of being able to disagree without being disagreeable. Then I said something disagreeable," Eckhardt said in a statement. "I want to apologize to Governor Abbott. I made a flippant comment that was inappropriate. The comment did nothing to further the debate I was participating in, much less further the political discourse in our community, state, and nation. While the Governor and I disagree on a number of issues, that is no excuse to be disagreeable."
Travis County Republican Chairman Matt Mackowiak said Eckhardt showed a “profound lack of compassion” toward someone who has a disability.
“Judge Eckhardt apparently believes that his disability is open to ridicule if it helps her make a political argument. This joke represents a profound lack of compassion from Judge Eckhardt,” he said. "There is no place for insulting Americans with disabilities and Judge Eckhardt should know better.”
Abbott sued the homeowner and the tree service company that had inspected the tree before it fell on him. He was awarded millions of dollars in a 1986 settlement that provides him a six-figure yearly income for the rest of his life.
“Money doesn’t heal anything. Money doesn’t allow me to walk. It doesn’t allow me to dance with my wife. It doesn’t allow me to pick up my daughter. It doesn’t allow me to walk my daughter down the aisle when she gets married,” Abbott said in 2013. “If you could name the person I could write the check to, I’d send all this money right back if I could walk again.”
Sounds like an appropriate apology without the usual “But” or other minimizing statement at the end.
Good for her fessing up.
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt's comment made Friday at the Texas Tribune Festival.
She's a [blue language redacted]. Thanks billorites.
Leftwing morons who shoot of their big mouth and then “apologize” for it are real flaming ***holes. AMERICANS need to start refusing to accept their apologies. That crap is getting old.
I only read the headline. Our culture is in a tailspin and it is being aided by the media, politicians and judges that act like politicians. I guess I could throw sports figures and Hollywood in there too.
#### her she’s a POS
Why do we forgive so easily OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER on the right?
Trump’s the only one with balls.
When you make such a mistake you can't apologize quick enough.
You answered your own question with your last sentence.
“ Good for her fessing up.”
She forgot to add this:
“Because of my lack of good judgement and my obvious political bias, I resign, effective immediately.”
That damn disablphobe judge needs to resign.
PDJT has been attacked over and over for three years because he made hand gestures that some interpreted as mocking someone with a disability. It may have had no relation and there has never been a pattern of his mocking anyone with a disability.
This judge deserves public censure, at least. The people who laughed are also disgusting.
Maybe because Jesus said to.
Democrats are a hateful bunch of scumbags, this is a reminder of that fact.
Dems use the “love trumps hate” sign to mean the exact opposite of the bullying, nasty behavior they exhibit.
Forgive, yes. Excuse, no. Forget, no.
Jesus said to turn the other cheek.
I'm willing to turn all four cheeks, ONE TIME EACH. After that? well...
Wow.
WOW!
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