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A Democrat smeared my governor for using a wheelchair. Really?

Nicole Russell   Paste BN

The first time I interviewed Greg Abbott, a staff member brought me into the governor’s office at the Texas Capitol. A few minutes later, Abbott, who has used a wheelchair since a tree fell on him in 1984, opened the door and entered the room. I walked across the room and held out my hand, forcing the governor to stop. Abbott looked me in the eyes and returned the handshake with a smile. Then he made his way to a table where the interview commenced. 

I felt embarrassed that I’d made the governor stop to acknowledge me. But if this faux pas bothered Abbott, he did not let on. He’s a gracious person. 

This week, one of the de facto leaders of the Democratic Party – Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, smeared Abbott as “Gov. Hot Wheels” during a Human Rights Campaign banquet in Louisiana.  

Crockett’s nasty comment highlights Democrats’ tendency to be mean and personal in the wake of their election losses in November. 

In a post on social media, Crockett walked back the cruel remark, claiming she was referring to the fact that Abbott authorized migrants to be bused from Texas to sanctuary cities. That seems like a spectacular obfuscation, which Crockett created once she received heat for her comment about the governor. 

My latest: I expected to be embarrassed and outraged by Trump. Instead, I feel lucky.

Democrats frequently have been angry and nasty since President Donald Trump was elected to a second term. Rather than taking a step back to recognize their own problems, they have gone on the attack, insulting not only Republican leaders but the millions of Americans who voted for GOP candidates. 

Crockett’s smear is callous and nonsensical. Abbott has led Texas as it's become one of the most successful states in the nation. The state boasts a $2.6 trillion GDP, larger than the economies of Canada or Russia. People are flocking to Texas in droves – and for good reason.  

I’ve interviewed Abbott several times since that first experience. He’s not only a sharp attorney and savvy politician but also a kind human being. Once he asked about what position my son played in football. I’m still embarrassed to admit I couldn’t recall. Abbott just laughed.  

During another interview about the large amounts of fentanyl crossing into Texas because of President Joe Biden’s border policies, Abbott told me that he’d met parents whose children had died because of exposure to fentanyl. The governor wept telling me about one encounter. As a mom, I empathized with this reaction and was touched by his humanity. It was not an act. 

Abbott’s human touch governing Texas is what the nation needs – not Crockett’s gross attacks. Her comments are yet another example of why the Democratic Party is floundering. 

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