Rep. Randy Neugebauer has come forth as the lawmaker who shouted the now infamous "baby killer" slur across the House floor last night as the historic health care reform bill was being passed. He's now saying that what he really said was, "It's a baby killer," and that his exclamation was directed at the bill and not pro-life Democrat Rep. Bart Stupak, who supported the health care reform bill in a last-minute deal. Stupak was in the middle of a speech when Neugebauer interrupted. But there's more about Neugebauer:
Neugebauer was first elected to Congress in a spring 2003 special election, after having previously worked in real estate and served on the Lubbock city council. In 2004, after the controversial mid-decade redistricting engineered by Tom DeLay, Neugebauer defeated long-time Blue Dog Democratic Rep. Charlie Stenholm by 58%-40% in a reconfigured district.
It should be noted that in addition to the "baby killer" outburst, Neugebauer is also a sponsor of the so-called "Birther Bill," introduced by Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), to require presidential candidates "to include with the committee's statement of organization a copy of the candidate's birth certificate, together with such other documentation as may be necessary to establish that the candidate meets the qualifications for eligibility to the Office of President under the Constitution."
Neugebauer's district is solidly Republican, having voted 72%-27% for John McCain in 2008, and 77%-22% for George W. Bush in 2004. Neugebauer was re-elected with 72% of the vote in 2008.
SOURCE: Talking Points Memo
He says he has apologized to Stupak.