Wheelchair Ad Sparks Controversy In Divisive Governor’s Race

[Jefferson23]

By Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times/MCT

October 14, 2014

Texas gubernatorial hopeful Wendy Davis defended a controversial TV spot criticizing her opponent who is paraplegic, saying Monday that the advertisement was meant to highlight his alleged hypocrisy and not his disability.

“In 1984, Greg Abbott sought out and received justice following a horrible injury, rightly so,” Davis said at a news conference in her state Senate district in Fort Worth. “But then he turned around and built his career working to deny the very same justice that he received to his fellow Texans rightly seeking it for themselves.”

Davis, a Democrat trailing Republican Attorney General Abbott, made the same case in the 30-second spot released Friday to widespread criticism. The ad, which opens with a shot of a wheelchair, notes that Abbott received millions of dollars in a legal settlement after a tree fell on him while he was jogging in 1984, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

“Since then, he’s spent his career working against other victims,” the ad states, citing three cases in which Abbott, as attorney general or a member of the state Supreme Court, opposed damages sought by individuals who suffered grievous injuries.

in full: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/10/14/wheelchair-ad-governors-race/19759/

[KamaAina]

1. The chair is empty. It's meant to represent all the people Abbott screwed over.

Not Abbott himself. But leave it to the M$M to pounce all over this and call Wendy a mean old ableist.

[Jefferson23]

3. I love how she called him out. n/t

[sendero]

2. The MSM..

... gotta love the fact that ANYONE pays ANY attention to ANYTHING they have to say.

"Controversial" means "effective, and we don't like it".

The ad is factual, the issue is real and demonstrative of the Republican "I got mine screw you" mindset and anyone that doesn't like it can pack sand.

[Jefferson23]

5. Precisely. n/t

[Newsjock]

6. Sheesh

Already debated ad nauseam at DU.

[Jefferson23]

7. Too bad. n/t

[yeoman6987]

17. Why?

[Jefferson23]

19. Because it is of interest to me and I have not participated in this discussion before today. n/t

[yeoman6987]

22. That is a very nice reply.

I hope she makes it but they screwed her even worse today with mandatory IDs. Who has time now to run and get an ID especially if they don't have a birth certificate?

[Jefferson23]

25. You're welcome. I know, it sucks big time, she would be great for the people of Texas. n/t

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. It's factual so the republicans don't like it.

Tort reform for thee, but not for me.

[Jefferson23]

12. That should be on a campaign button. n/t

[mr_liberal]

9. People already know he's disabled so its not about that.

I think along with his hypocrisy, it makes him look like a dumb ass because he became disabled "because a tree fell on him" lol, and that he got rich because of a lawsuit not because of hard work.

People dont know how he got disabled or how he got rich, thats what the add points out, and thats why I think it works.

[yeoman6987]

20. Anybody who would laugh at him due to in your words "a tree fell on him"

Is horrible. I can't imagine any sane person laughing at such a thing.

The commercial is the least of her worries. They just ruled that IDs must be used to vote in November.

[UTUSN]

10. Wingnuts got nothing but mongering: Fear mongering; veterans baiting/mongering; all types mongering

They've always accused Libs of being charitable/humanitarian IN THE ABSTRACT but not personally giving. They cite how RAYGUN, maybe once or twice, dug into his pocket to handing a C-note to a homeless, but they neglect to mention that wingnut POLICIES slash and burn services/cash to hundreds of thousands and millions of needy people.

So it's a sign of their panic that the DAVIS ad is EFFECTIVE and they DISTRACT by the strawman of "attacking a man in a wheelchair."

But the so called "Liberal" yakkers have played along with this, claiming that the wheelchair image is "crude" and "insulting," while they also pass on by with a brief mention ABBOTT's hypocrisy in his reaping millions by suing and then shutting the door on everybody after him doing the same.

One "Liberal" commentator (the name escapes me) twisted himself into a pretzel, saying that the few seconds of the empty wheelchair was somehow offensive, while then saying that the rest of the ad was factual, but then saying that without the wheelchair seconds, the ad would have not have been noticed. Well, that's the point.

Texas wingnuts have been jubilant from before the beginning of the campaign saying no Dem but especially DAVIS never had a chance, but even if it's true, they seem not to like that she has made a mark.

[Jefferson23]

11. She called him out, no matter how it turns out, she spoke the truth. Voters have a right to

know what an ass he is.

[UTUSN]

13. Predictably, Tweety is jumping on the wingnut express, "ads highlighting her opponent in a wheelchai

Right now he's on GRIMES in KY. Next, blasting DAVIS. The panel is a MACGILLIS from The New Republic and James CARROLL of the Louisville (newspaper). They're all pounding GRIMES for not telling her vote.

[Jefferson23]

14. Pathetic, he could try and deal with the truth of the schmucks record vs Davis, but that would

be asking too much.

[UTUSN]

15. Tweety: "We gotta talk Texas." Playing the whole ad. Watch them parse the true message.

Now he's playing a clip of ABBOTT on HANNITY, "her prerogative to attack a guy in a wheelchair."

Tweety: "image wise it doesn't click with me. Even the Republicans weren't stupid enough to attack ROOSEVELT (via) the wheelchair."

[UTUSN]

16. Tweety: "She's not going to win the election with THIS THING." "She's young" n/t

[Jefferson23]

18. Omg, what a jerk. n/t

[bigdarryl]

23. Why didn't he show the ads Abbott aired in a wheelchair that he toted as his strength

Tweety is full of shit trying to stick up for the republicans.Where was he when they were calling her abortion barbie

[PeaceNikki]

21. I support her and this ad. Abbott's campaign and supporters have used her being a single mother and

her PERSONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS TO TERMINATE PREGNANCIES against her. They called her Abortion Barbie " and made posters of her as a doll with a fetus. Fuck them and their delicate feelings.

Sorry for freaking out with the caps, but I feel strongly. She attacked him for fighting against other victims getting relief. Not his handicap. Not his wheelchair.

[bigdarryl]

24. Agree 110%

They have been attacking her from the start of this campaign which some of the attacks were downright sexes

[Jefferson23]

26. Yep, absolutely. n/t

[Politicalboi]

27. Reminds me of the

"You didn't build your own business" bullshit.