Disability in Politics

Crockett’s Abbott Nickname Sparks Political Firestorm

Crockett calls Texas Gov. Abbott ‘Governor Hot Wheels’ is a phrase that has ignited a firestorm of debate, mostly focused on the appropriateness of the moniker and the double standards seemingly at play. The comment itself is a pointed jab at Governor Abbott, referencing his use of a wheelchair following a debilitating accident. The nickname’s intention is clearly to ridicule and diminish the Governor.

The controversy, however, isn’t simply about the insult itself; it’s about the hypocrisy perceived in the reaction to it. Many observers point to a long history of similar, often harsher, name-calling and personal attacks from within the Republican party, particularly during the Trump era.… Continue reading