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Neugebauer Admits Yelling “Baby Killer” During Healthcare Debate

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2010/03/22/neugebauer-admits-yelling-baby-killer-during-healthcare-debate/) Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Lubbock) has admitted to yelling out the phrase “baby killer” during debate on the healthcare reform bill Sunday in the U.S. House of Representatives. It should surprise no one that such a stupid incident can be traced back to a Congressman from Texas—or this Congressman in particular. From the Dallas Morning News, we have Neugebauer’s claim that he was actually yelling more than just “baby killer:”

Neugebauer said he did not call Stupak a “baby killer” but rather called out “It’s a baby killer,” to describe the Democratic health care legislation. Neugebauer – who like all House Republicans, voted against the legislation – said the outburst came in “the heat and emotion of the debate.”

Newsweek’s “The Gaggle” has more on the incident and why Neugebauer won’t likely be held accountable by voters in his home district for his misstep:

We’re just learning that it was Texas GOP Rep. Randy Neugebauer who shouted “baby killer” at Rep. Bart Stupak last night. The moment came close to 11 p.m. while Stupak denounced a GOP motion to weaken the health care reform package after it already passed. Under mounting pressure for someone to come forward, Neugebauer made an apology a few minutes ago, and offered a clarification. He says he called the bill a baby killer, not Stupak himself, even though that’s how it sounded. In the apology, Neugebauer said he was “heart broken” by the passage of the bill, and deeply resentful that his comments were misconstrued. Neugebauer (pronounced no-guh-bow-er) is a three-term congressman who comes from a fiercely red district in the Texas panhandle, where he’s not expected to face a serious challenger this November. That means he probably won’t be punished for the remark by his constituents, many of whom probably agree with his angry sentiment (albeit perhaps not the heckle itself). But it’s likely Neugebaeur will earn the same notoriety as Rep. Joe Wilson, who was censured in the House after yelling “you lie” at President Obama last fall. It’s worth pointing out, however, that Wilson’s heckle also turned into a cash cow, bringing in almost $3 million in donations after the incident. No word yet on whether Neugebauer will also be censured, but it’s possible fundraisers on all sides will be scheming how to use the tape to their advantage.

All of this should really come as no surprise. Since Neugebauer defeated Democrat Charlie Stenholm following mid-decade redistricting in 2004, he has been nothing if not a lock-step vote for Republicans and the right-wing agenda. He’s previously earned a zero-record when it comes to supporting legislation to help the middle class, voted against health insurance for poor children, voted against earmark reform, and more. To quote one of the funniest videos from a couple of cycles ago, you just can’t send a prairie dog to do a man’s job in Congress. If you’ve forgotten about that, watch the hilarious video done by the now-defunct Blue 19th blog: