Representative Virginia Foxx (R-Dumbass) calls the the Matthew Shepard murder a hoax. Video and transcript below the fold.
The hate crimes legislation is named after an unfortunate incident that happened when a young man was murdered, but we know that that young man was killed in the course of a robbery-it wasn't because he was gay. The hate crimes bill was named for him, but it was a hoax.
Virginia Foxx is an embarrassment to the state of North Carolina. Unfortunately, her district, NC-5, is solidly red. She has won both of her congressional elections with a solid 57-58 percent of the vote. (source). However, if a serious, Blue Dog challenger was well funded by the NC Democratic party and the national party, they could mount a serious challenge. Given that AppState is included in her district, there's a possibility for a really good candidate, even. The 5th is represented in the state Senate by 2 Democrats, Steve Goss and Linda Garrou (possibly. Part of Forsyth county is in Foxx's district, but I can't tell if it's Garrou's part.) Garrou is well-connected and could win the nomination for the district if she wanted it.. In the House, it is represented by at least 1 Democrat, Ray Warren, and at least 4 Republicans.
Redistricting could also be our friend in this respect. If we can't oust her in 2010, the Dems solidly control both houses of the General Assembly and the Governorship. We should be able to cut that district up in 2010 and leave her stranded come 2012.
Sorry for the short diary, I wanted to get this out there. If someone else posted before me, tell me and I'll delete.
One interesting thing about Foxx: She was attacked in the GOP primary for accepting donations from a gay rights group during her time in the state Senate. Her defense? They gave her some money in her first rum for state Senate, but quickly stopped once they saw her voting record. (from wiki)
Call her office:
Phone: (202) 225-2071
Phone: (336) 778-0211
Phone: (828) 265-0240
-From Greg in Tn