Jasmine Crockett and Governor Hot Wheels

Is insult humor taking Democrats off track or fast-tracking the resistance?

Image from on . Screenshot by author.

I’ll admit it. I laughed when Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett dubbed her state’s Republican governor Greg Abbott “Governor Hot Wheels” during her speech at a Human Rights Campaign event.

Jasmine’s a shit talker. I’m a shit talker. Real recognize real.

Abbott is paraplegic and has been confined to a wheelchair since a tree fell on him in 1984. I know what you’re thinking: “too soon!”

Crockett’s remark may not have been kind, compassionate, or empathetic. But it was funny. Abbott is a public figure, and I’m pretty sure he knows he’s paralyzed. Like the 300 pound man ordering double fried hot wings in the front row of a comedy club, he has to know jokes come with the sea — err, position.

I cut my teeth in the comedy world. Here’s how the rules work. If I were to see a wheelchair bound person in the audience, I wouldn’t proactively single out their disability for ridicule. But, if Speedy had the temerity to heckle, it would take two ACLUs and the National Disability Rights Network to get me out of that axle.

In his 23 year political career, Abbott has done far worse than heckle. He has actively used his positions to punitively…