Yes, after a somewhat lengthy hiatus, it's back. How could I not, when the government shutdown fiasco is causing more and more of the vile, poisonous reptiles to crawl out of the woodwork and humiliate themselves in public? And this entry's subject really outdid himself today, with his vile, bullying and ultimately cowardly actions toward a woman doing her job in a situation he put her in. I'm talking, of course, about the odious Randy Neugebaur.
If Neugebauer seemed familiar even before his loathsome on-camera performance today, there's a reason for it. The arch-conservative Texan (who, like Louis Gohmert, is one of the products of Tom DeLay's mid-term redistricting scheme) first disgraced himself during this infamous incident back in 2010 during the final House debate before passage of Obamacare, when he yelled something very nasty at Bart Stupak.
In a dramatic gesture, the pro-life Stupak rose to speak against the amendment saying that it was nothing more than an effort to deprive 32 million Americans of health insurance. Democrats rose to applaud the much-maligned Stupak.
"It's your bill!" shouted several chastened members from the GOP side, as the chamber descended into chaos. Once order was restored, a GOP member then shouted at Stupak: "Baby killer!"
More chaos. "Who said that?!" demanded a Democrat.
The shouter was not identified, but one reporter in the gallery thought it was Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.). It was not, he told reporters in the Speaker's lobby as the vote on the amendment, which eventually failed by a vote of 199-232, was still going on.
"It was on the floor, but it wasn't very far behind me," Campbell told reporters. "But it was definitely on the floor, but it wasn't me. I don't think it's appropriate at all."
Campbell told reporters that it sounded as if it was said with a Southern accent.
And indeed, it was
our little Randy, who finally fessed up:
Neugebauer, a three-term member of Congress from Texas, issued a statement of apology on Monday, saying that the statement was not directed at Stupak.
"In the heat and emotion of the debate, I exclaimed the phrase 'it's a baby killer' in reference to the agreement reached by the Democratic leadership," Neugebauer said. "I deeply regret that my actions were mistakenly interpreted as a direct reference to Congressman Stupak himself."
So he did the requisite groveling and that was that and he retreated back into the asylum, just another anonymous lunatic among many.
Until today:
“
How do you look at them and deny them access?” Neugebauer asked the unidentified ranger. “I don’t get that.” In his breast pocket, he carried a small American flag.
“It’s difficult,” the ranger responded.
“Well, it should be difficult,” the congressman shot back.
“It is difficult,” she reiterated. “I’m sorry, sir.”
“The Park Service should be ashamed of themselves,” Neugebauer insisted.
“I’m not ashamed,” the ranger replied
No, she shouldn't be ashamed. Look in the mirror sometime, Randy. Unless, of course, viewing the fetid, black, rotten thing you have instead of a soul causes you to melt like a puddle. And melt, of course, is exactly what this Big Tough Southern Man did when confronted by onlookers who didn't take kindly to his bullying.
A few onlookers got involved in the conversation, including one federal employee wearing a bike helmet. “This woman is doing her job, just like me,” he told the congressman. “I’m a 30-year federal veteran. I’m out of work.”
“Well, the reason you are is because [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid decided to shut down the government,” Neugebauer said to the man.
“No, it’s because the government won’t do its job and pass a budget,” the onlooker said before the congressman turned and walked away
Great
Sir Robin impersonation there, chicken guts.
Dan Amira over at New York Magazine's Daily Intelligence live-blog of the shutdown put it best:
Anyone want to see something truly disgusting? Here's Texas congressman Randy Neugebauer, a Republican who supports the shutdown, telling a park ranger, as news cameras roll, that she should be "ashamed" for keeping tourists out of the World War II memorial. As if it were her call. As if she was responsible for shutting down the government. Bravo for speaking truth to power, Randy Neugebauer. You're a big man.
A big man in his own mind. A small and wretched coward in everyone else's mind.
What else can you say about a man who, for one day, actually made Ted Cruz look like only the second biggest A-hole from Texas?