Politics

Democrat Who Mocked Greg Abbott’s Wheelchair Claims She Didn’t Say What She Said [VIDEO]

Chuck Ross Investigative Reporter
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The Texas state representative who mocked state Attorney General Greg Abbott’s disability at a campaign event attended by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wendy Davis over the weekend is accusing a political tracker of lying about her remarks, even though they are clearly heard on tape.

The Daily Caller first reported that at a campaign rally over the weekend, the lawmaker, Dawnna Dukes, called Abbott “this guy who just kind of rolls around.” (RELATED: Texas Democrat At Wendy Davis Event Said Greg Abbott ‘Just Rolls Around’ In His Wheelchair)

The remark, which was filmed and uploaded to YouTube, was seen as an insensitive reference to Abbott, who is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair.

Davis spoke to supporters after the speech and thanked her colleague, though it is unknown if she was aware of what was said before she took the stage.

Later Tuesday, Dukes addressed the story on Twitter by not only claiming that she said something not heard on the tape, but by also calling Abbott’s campaign tracker — seemingly the person who filmed her speech — a liar.

Despite Dukes’ claim to the contrary, the Democrat is heard saying Abbott is someone who “just kind of rolls around” and not just a colloquial phrase used to tease outsiders.

That left open the question of whether Dukes was accusing the person who filmed the event of doctoring the video. Dukes did not respond to an email seeking clarification.

Democrats have been accused of both exploiting and mocking Abbott’s injury, and Davis drew criticism after she released an ad earlier this month depicting a wheelchair. (RELATED: Wendy Davis Uses Greg Abbott’s Wheelchair Against Him In New Ad)

The controversial ad asserted that Abbott’s support for tort reform was hypocritical since he was granted a large payout after the 1984 accident that left him in a wheelchair. Abbott has said his tort reform mostly capped punitive damages payouts, something he did not receive from his lawsuit.

Other than Dukes, other Davis allies have been more direct in their mockery. A group of staffers with the group Battleground Texas were recorded earlier this year making fun of Abbott’s wheelchair.

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