Still No Personal Apology from Hovey

Yesterday, former congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords went skydiving to mark the third anniversary of the Tucson mass shooting that left a bullet in her head and six other people dead. Once again Ms. Giffords courageous actions say to us all that life is precious and hope coupled with good work can overcome violence.

Here in our area I am reminded of another anniversary. It was just about a year ago that Gabby Giffords came to Newtown to console victim’s families following the Sandy Hook tragedy. Quietly and without much fanfare she went about that work…that was until Republican State Rep. DebraLee Hovey Interjected herself by stating publically “Gabby Gifford stay out of my towns!!”

While Ms. Giffords was here in Newtown offering words of comfort, Hovey was in sunny Florida spewing words of hate and charging politics.

After her comments received condemnation from both local and national press, Ms. Hovey offered a statement that read more like an explanation than an apology, making the case that her words were a byproduct of her own grief.

Hovey never sought out Ms. Giffords in person or in writing to offer a personal apology for her arrogant hateful words. Although many suggested that such an apology was in order, Hovey would instead rely on local Republican operatives like Monroe P&Z Commissioner Jim Weinberg to run interference. Weinberg would write a piece in the local press titled“Rep. Hovey used poor wording in her comments but had the right message”.

Hovey should do the decent thing, reach out to Ms. Giffords and offer a personal apology. Even at this late date a personal apology is deserved to this most courageous woman who continues to remind us that life is precious, fragile and too often met with violence and that we should all work together to build safer communities.

http://www.today.com/news/gabby-giffords-skydive-my-way-saying-im-alive-2D11883525