Ever heard of Nevada GOP Congressman Cresent Hardy? Me either. But when I read what he had recently told a Nevada Libertarian group regarding the disabled, I became very angry.
Hardy made the following remarks at the?Libertarian Political Expo in Las Vegas:
?I have three children. One of them is summa cum laude and two were magnum cum laude. The other one, he didn’t need an education. He works for Raytheon, smarter than all the rest. He works hard, he builds things that are genius. Some people have that ability.?But they all work hard. They are raising their own families. They will not be a drain on society, the best they can. Hopefully they will never have some disability that causes them to have to utilize that.?
Instead of standing up and being a braggart, perhaps Mr. Hardy should be thanking God or his lucky stars, or whatever deity he may believe in for the fact that his children are healthy and happy. I know I do that on a daily basis whenever I look at my daughter.
What irks me the most about what the Congressman said is that it sounds as if he thinks those who are disabled have done so as a matter of choice. As if a man who is blind willed himself to that state of being. As if a little girl in a wheelchair wakes up each morning, considers her fate, and says, “Yes! I am gonna go drain society of everything I can get today!”
I mean, how big of a empty-headed asshat can one man possibly be?
As you would expect, reaction to Hardy’s remarks was swift and negative.?Nevada State Democratic Party spokesperson Zach Hudson released a statement which read, in part:
?If Cresent Hardy wants to talk about ?drains on society,? he should point a finger at his buddy, deadbeat rancher Cliven Bundy, not disabled children. Hardy has compared employment non-discrimination laws to ?segregation,? agreed with Mitt Romney that 47% of the American people are ?freeloaders,? and now called children with disabilities ?drains on society.??Cresent Hardy’s comments are outrageous and he owes an immediate apology to every Nevadan with a disability.?
Personally, I would go even further: I think Congressman Hardy owes an apology to every single American with a disability. Doesn’t this man realize that each and every one of us is merely one unfortunate accident away from being disabled ourselves? Instead of patting himself on the back, Hardy should take a moment to consider just how blessed he is.
Listen To Congressman Hardy’s Comments For Yourself
