Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett mocks Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as 'Gov. Hot Wheels'

[Polybius]

Source: Associated Press

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett mocked her state’s governor during a weekend appearance, referring to Greg Abbott — who uses a wheelchair — as “Gov. Hot Wheels” while speaking at a banquet in Los Angeles.

“You all know we got Gov. Hot Wheels down there. Come on, now,” Crockett, a Dallas Democrat, said about Abbott, a Republican, while addressing the Human Rights Campaign event. “And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot-ass mess, honey.”

Abbott was paralyzed in 1984 after a tree fell on him while he was running. The accident severely damaged Abbott’s spinal cord. Abbott, now 67, was elected in 2014.

Crockett, elected to the House in 2022, was roundly criticized by Republicans for the comments, an aside she made during her speech to the civil rights group event after she thanked Morgan Cox, a group board member and fellow Dallas resident, according to video of the event posted to Human Rights Campaign’s YouTube channel

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/crockett-abbott-wheelchair-a38d50b41e35cc6e05f5d72ad74ff54f

[AZJonnie]

1. Well, that was ill-advised.

Sounds like something Trump would say. Don't be Trump.

[AZLD4Candidate]

18. Use their tactics against them and watch them howl.

[Blues Heron]

27. exactly

[Bluetus]

68. I don't endorse insults of the disabled

but it is important for Democrats to be much less predictable. And if that sometimes means we might hit below the belt, it is good to plant that seed in the back of MAGA minds.

[AllaN01Bear]

69. si.

[BlueTsunami2018]

2. Yeah....and?

I’m failing to see why this matters at all.

[Javaman]

20. It doesn't. The repukes have the "maga"-phone now and will whine about

Any and all things

[JoseBalow]

3. It's a trap

[littlemissmartypants]

4. If mockery...

Is the only tool effective against a bully, you use it.

[Mtnmama]

50. I don't think mocking him bc of a physical disability

is effective. I think there are plenty other things to mock him on.

[littlemissmartypants]

75. It appears that the language is open to interpretation.

Apparently, Representative Crockett did not specifically mention his actual wheelchair in the exchange. That detail is implied in the article but not overt. This fact leaves the actual meaning open to individual personal interpretation. Context is everything.

Crockett suggested Tuesday that she was not referring to Abbott’s condition. Instead, she posted on X that she was referring to Abbott’s policy of sending thousands of immigrants who were in Texas illegally to cities where local policy limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, such as New York and Philadelphia.

“I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable,” the post stated.

Also, the writer of the article characterized it as mockery. The mischaracterization is offensive, smells of racism and misogynistic bias.

[Walleye]

5. Crooked Hillary and sleepy Joe don't see anything wrong with it

[The_Counsel]

52. This. Exactly This.

Abbott called Beto O'Rourke a "crazy sumbitch" or something. Publicly.

The folks "outraged" by Crockett's words can just suck on it....

[Deminpenn]

6. Rs can dish it out, but can't take it

I recall Trump mocking a disabled reporter at one of his rallies back in 2016.

[raccoon]

7. That came to my mind too.

[sweetmelissa555]

8. Abbot is not Trump.

That's call Whataboutism. And I was going to say that two wrongs don't make a right but I viewed a video of Trump on Larry King's show where he was talking about himself and waving his arms in the same way. Apparently it's some strange mannerism he has but either way it has nothing to do with this situation.

[Hekate]

10. Abbott is one mean fckr. He does not care if women live or bleed out, if you know what I mean.

Abbott may be in a wheelchair, but he is a Texas politician without a shred of compassion. His physical condition is not a free pass.

Representative Jasmine Crockett is also a Texas politician, a sharp as a whip Democrat with a good heart who works for us all. We need more like her. I will defend her against him any day of the week.

[sweetmelissa555]

11. When you mock a disability

you are not just engaging in a personal attack. You are marginalizing an entire community that has already been traditionally marginalized. Pretty shocking to read a defense about dissing the disabled.

[Hekate]

13. If you think that, you know nothing about either Abbott or Crockett. Don't even.

[sweetmelissa555]

14. That's my whole point!

It isn't about the individual! It's about the community itself that is overlooked!

[Deminpenn]

16. Abbott happens to have been disabled in an accident, but this

is turn about is fair play in politics, not disability. You don't think if the roles were reversed, Abbott would have any problem mocking her? I'm pretty sure Crockett would never make fun of a disable person under normal circumstances. R's otoh...

[sweetmelissa555]

17. Again, you're bringing up individuals.

One public personality vs. another. Let me put it like this: when a public POC gets called a racist name, it doesn't matter that person's political ideology or their reputation in general. The sting of the slur hurts their entire community. Same with the disabled. It reinforces the notion that they are less-than.

[Scrivener7]

30. As Crockett explains it, she wasn't referring to his disability.

I'll choose to believe that. If she had been referring to it, I'd totally agree with your take on it.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

32. I believe Jasmine too!! (She's terrific BTW.)

[NoRethugFriends]

81. 2 to go

[Bengus81]

36. If he wasn't disabled he'd want the Gov to stop spending tax payer $$ on WOKE ADA

things like wheel chair ramps on sidewalks,access to buildings,stadiums etc,etc. If you don't believe me then you don't have a clue about that POS.

[NoRethugFriends]

38. Arguing with that one is not useful

Heading for a tombstone on their first day here. Check out all her posts today

[spudspud]

42. Yep, don't feed obvious trolls. /nt

Last edited Wed Mar 26, 2025, 09:18 AM - Edit history (1)

[NoRethugFriends]

73. Yep. Now up to three on first day

[niyad]

55. I figured that as soon as I saw their avatar.

[Hekate]

82. Good to know it got FFR'd

[ForgoTheConsequence]

9. I can smell the outrage brewing.

Some people will be more upset about this than the fascist takeover of America. Don’t fall into the trap.

[Hekate]

12. I am on Rep. Crockett's side all the way. Abbott has no compassion for others, & she knows it...

…being a Texan herself.

[Buddyzbuddy]

15. How slow was he running?

A tree would have to be pretty big to take out an adult male and if was that large you would have had some warning prior to it falling. By my calculations he was about 26 yrs old and running with momentum. Sure, it's possible but when it comes to Republicans, you can't trust a damn thing they say.
One thing you can say about Republicans, they're
quite adept at turning a crap situation into an award winning story. Just look at the Felon in the Whitehouse. He absolutely is the perfect example of failing up. I'm guessing so is Abbott. Given the choice though, I bet he'd rather have the use of his legs than be the Governor.

[AZLD4Candidate]

19. Crockett, elected to the House in 2022, was roundly criticized by Republicans for the comments

Oh fuck you people. You people have no problems doing this to others, but when it's done to one of yours, you get self-righteous.

Blow it out your asses.

[Seinan Sensei]

21. I say take out ramps and handicap bathrooms

at the TX statehouse.
Be an example.
Why all that DEI stuff anyway?

[TheRickles]

22. Come on guys, don't fall for it. This was obviously taken out of context - see this prior DU post

https://www.democraticunderground.com/11045090|
In a statement on X, Crockett said her remarks weren’t in reference to Abbott’s use of a wheelchair

“I wasn’t thinking about the governor’s condition—I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable,” Crockett posted.

“Literally, the next line I said was that he was a ‘Hot A** Mess,’ referencing his terrible policies. At no point did I mention or allude to his condition,” she added.

[tulipsandroses]

53. Thanks for the clarification

Their faux outrage is typical misdirection. I am not falling for it.
Even if she was referring to his disability, I don't give a damn. I'm not wasting time on debating how Dems should not say mean things to republicans.

[Javaman]

23. Fuck asshole abbott

Here are a couple of this this piece of shit, who is in a wheel chair did:

Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes bill that would give people with disabilities new option to vote by mail

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/20/texas-voting-mail-ballot-disabilities-abbott-veto/

Critics say governor’s cuts to Travis County hurt Veterans Court program

https://www.texastribune.org/2017/03/09/veterans-court-worried-abbott-cuts-travis-county-will-affect-treatment/

Just two of the many many shitty things he has done to the disabled

So yeah the hot wheels comment by Crockett tracks and I support it

abbott at the end of the day is a heartless piece of shit

[PhylliPretzel]

67. IIRC

Abbott also received a large payout for his accident, but when he became governor he signed a bill limiting the payouts for others. Typical Republican hypocrisy.

[Blue_Roses]

74. This!!!

He's a big hypocrite

[oasis]

24. Abbott deserves no sympathy whatsoever.

[Paladin]

25. +1000.

The "Governor Hot Wheels" description has been around for years, now; Crockett damn sure didn't invent it. The exact settlement amount Abbott collected from that unfortunate tree-falling incident is somewhat unclear, but around $10,000,000 seems to be a solid ballpark figure. And the evil measures that Abbott has put in place during his reign deserve overwhelming condemnation from Democrats. As usual, I'm on Crockett's side---and I have my own personal acquaintance with physical disability.

[LtTx]

44. Not to mention

That he championed tort reform after he got his settlement. He is a POS

[Paladin]

60. Even by Texas Republican standards, Abbott is a vile scumbag.

The only TX politicos I despise as much are Sen. Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Always a pleasure, casting votes against these shit-stains...

[LtTx]

85. And don't forget Paxton. nt

[Scrivener7]

26. Ill advised wording which she explained.

If it HAD referred to his disability, it would have been unacceptable.

[Irish_Dem]

28. About damn time the Dems fight back, and fight back hard.

I am doing the same thing in my posts.

Knocking the snot out of the evil ones.

[JCMach1]

29. Even Republicans call him that here in TX

Because he is so hypocritical and ambitious.

Politically incorrect, but 💯% nicer than most things i call him on a daily basis.

[JCMach1]

35. Just saw the Abbott interview on Hannity, the comments hit

Home, Jasmine hurt his feefees. More like Governor ❄️

[Escape]

31. Absolutely nothing wrong with this now.

Trump changed the rules of etiquette. Crockett, and others, have no restrictions on name calling or other forms of insult.

Apparently, a majority of the American people love and respect this sort of thing now.

[Vinca]

33. That's a whole lot nicer than what I call him.

[walkingman]

34. "Hot Wheels" is much a much nicer description than anything I could say about him.

[Dulcinea]

58. I usually call him Roller Nazi.

Governor Hot Wheels sounds too much like a compliment.

[walkingman]

72. Good one, my DW calls him "Dickless" ☮

[mwmisses4289]

37. Newsflash: calling him hot wheels

has been going on for years, usually when he does something incredibly stupid.

[BeyondGeography]

39. I really don't care

[twodogsbarking]

40. In this case I must say that I feel sorry for the wheelchair.

[Paladin]

64. Yeah. I mean, ALL wheelchairs have to put up with assholes.

But having to cart around an asshole like Abbott seems like cruel and unusual punishment...

[3auld6phart]

41. Gov. Hot wheeels

Evvery time I see a picture of that pathetic assholes.. . I think of To mmy Udo played By Richard Widmark. “ kiss iof Death” . A piece of total excrement

[LtTx]

43. He is routinely referred to that way

By many Texans. Maybe not always in public, but it is a common nickname for him. Has been for years.

[tulipsandroses]

45. Fuck him and his chair. He does not represent the disabled

Fuck him and RWers and their typical faux outrage. When they are outraged about what is actually happening to every day Americans that are disabled, I will care about Gov Hot Wheels.
You know like cutting social security access and benefits for disabled. D.E.I. also applies to disabled folks. Dismantling the Board of Ed will have devastating consequences for disabled kids.
I didn’t hear their outrage when Trump mocked a disabled reporter. Or when he mocked John McCain for not being able to raise his arms.
These assholes have argued to allow teachers to beat disabled kids.
I’m not playing their stupid games.
Gov Hot wheels is a disgusting piece of trash.

[Lokee11]

46. Like someone else mentioned -

That is a lot nicer than what I call him too!

I'd like to roll his punk ass right into some barbwire in the Rio that he likes so much!

Fuck Him!

[bronxiteforever]

47. This will get more media attention than the dead women

of Texas who died during miscarriages.

https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/Xdq24cuRnNBEO4FOSw8ODAe61PE=/2500x1675/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/
Josseli Barnica With her surviving daughter in 2020.
A Texas woman died after the hospital said it would be a crime to intervene in her miscarriage
https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-abortion-ban-josseli-barnica-death-miscarriage/

https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/nVhaJuHglpea8ikbsW2TSYWANms=/2500x1675/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/

Wrapping his wife in a blanket as she mourned the loss of her pregnancy at 11 weeks, Hope Ngumezi wondered why no obstetrician was coming to see her.

Over the course of six hours on June 11, 2023, Porsha Ngumezi had bled so much in the emergency department at Houston Methodist Sugar Land that she’d needed two transfusions. She was anxious to get home to her young sons, but, according to a nurse’s notes, she was still “passing large clots the size of grapefruit.”

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-abortion-death-porsha-ngumezi/

So please tell me again how much should I care about Abbott being called a name when their blood lies upon his head?

[HereForTheParty]

48. It detracts from her overall messaging, which has been brilliant

nm

[DetlefK]

49. Yes, it was absolutely in bad taste, and No, we should absolutely not care.

The party of "Let's Go Brandon" is having the vapours about decorum and civility.

[The_Counsel]

51. I Love Rep. Crockett, but Yeah...That Was Kinda Childish. BUT...

No more childish than the Orange Bully has been for nine years plus.

Nothing to see here. Move along...

[Oopsie Daisy]

54. Not something I would have done... but it's funny as hell! Especially since she's using THEIR tactics *

* against them. See how they whine and cry and HOWL! 🤣😂🤣😂😂

[Red Raider 85]

56. Good. I am sick of lilly-livered, milksop, overly cautious Dems.

Light some fires baby! Cook ol' Hot Wheels. He is a TERRIBLE person, a real scumbag doing harm to millions of Texans. Fuck him and his hurt widdle feelings. Ain't no bigger whiny snowflake babies than the MAGAts.

[Paladin]

65. +1000. (nt)

[hadEnuf]

57. Tough.

FAFO.

[ificandream]

59. Abbott has been a Trump rat. I think he deserves a little of the crap he gives out.

Glad to see Democrats responding like this. The magas won't learn anything from it, but it'ls fun to see them hypocritically whine.

[Fla Dem]

61. Excuse ME!!! The Rethugs are unhinged because of that!! To me it was almost a complementary nickname.

A nod to how well he gets around in a chair.

Considering all the "NASTY" names their fearless leader calls Democrats they have no business telling Democrats what's OK and Not OK in the name calling business. The "A-hole".

List of names Trump has called people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nicknames_used_by_Donald_Trump

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4929331-trump-insults-harris/

Vulgarities, insults, baseless attacks: Trump backers follow his lead
https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2023/11/19/donald-trump-insults-vulgarities-republicans/

[mountain grammy]

62. I would think Abbot would take it as a compliment

It certainly wasn't a slur. He's on wheels and on fire about women's healthcare.

"Hot wheels" seems pretty mild for a man hellbent on killing women.

[aeromanKC]

63. Hot wheels is a million times better than what I would call the sub human pile of waste!!

MAGAt's are the biggest snowflakes on the planet. Seems I do not recall demanding Trump apologize to the reporter he mocked with waving arms.
Fuck the MAGAt's and Trump!!

[Paladin]

66. +1000. (nt)

[AllaN01Bear]

70. snork

[The Grand Illuminist]

71. Looking at this war room wise....

If something bad happens to Texas-30, expect Abbott and those who support him have their backs turned like nothing happened.

[Faux pas]

76. Fighting

them with their weapons is how I see it. More power to us all!

[exboyfil]

77. It is ill advised when it distracts from meaningful discussion of issues

Also it is offensive to those who are in wheelchairs.

Contrast it with a direct insult like sleepy Joe - not sure those with Narcolepsy will become offended. Both insults are wrong and unprofessional.

Abbott shouldn't be defined by his need to use a wheelchair, but by his policies, actions, decisions, and personal behavior.

[Norrrm]

78. Trump mocking

[maxsolomon]

79. Dems must be perfect.

Only Repukes get to insult and slander.

[Hekate]

83. We'll just tickle them with our little feather dusters while they sharpen their knives and bloody us some more

When they go low, we go high. With all due respect to Michelle Obama, where has that gotten us?

[AStern]

80. Abbott sued whomever put him in that wheelchair and has done everything under the sun to insure someone else can't

I'm not sure what your point is here other than attempting to show Democrats as hypocrites in regard to compassion.

Sadly for Abbott, his actions against the most vulnerable Texans wipes out any empathy he may have had.

If he weren't disable, he'd bend over backward to make sure builders etc. wouldn't have to cater to them.

[Blue Owl]

84. Sorry I was distracted by tRump mocking a disabled reporter -- what was that now?