Juan Salinas II
Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s office has addressed his recent tele-town hall comments that triggered criticism from disability advocates and families.
Last week, reporters tried to ask Pillen about his use of the term “libtards” three times during the tele-town hall, but a spokesperson stepped in before the governor could answer.
Pillen, through a statement on Wednesday, said that he has always supported “Nebraska’s developmentally disabled community.” The governor’s spokesperson pointed to him clearing the “long-stalled DD waitlist, speeding service access to Nebraska families who had waited for years, and substantially increased special education funding for our schools.”
“He is a fierce advocate for the inherent dignity and value of all people,” said Laura Strimple, Pillen’s communications director.
Strimple said the governor didn’t direct his comment to the developmentally disabled community or their families, “nor did the thought ever cross his mind.”
Rather, he was referring to the group of liberals who continually dress in Handmaid’s Tale outfits as a form of political protest and disrupt official events, as well as other left-wing radicals who have poisoned our political discourse and sowed division throughout our society,” Strimple said.
State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, in a social media post, said, “The governor is missing the point. Ableist slurs are harmful because they equate disability with something contemptible.” She criticized his comments, saying, “Disabled Nebraskans deserve leadership that takes their dignity seriously.”
Pillen’s Democratic challenger for governor, former State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, said the comments were “disappointing.”
The nonprofit Disability Rights Nebraska said it finds “the repeated use of this term to be highly unprofessional and lacking in integrity.”
Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who often criticizes President Donald Trump on his tone and rhetoric, during a press conference last week said he had thoughts on Pillen’s comments but said, “I think I’ll just keep it to myself.”
Multi-state agribusinessman Charles Herbster, who is deciding whether to run against Pillen in a potential Republican primary election rematch, said in a social media statement that Pillen “deserves to be challenged on the words he uses” as it’s “part of the job.”
“What was on full display is that he does not like being challenged on his authority or record.” The longtime Trump donor said, “I’ve said it before, he acts as if he has all the answers, and if you question him, you’re either a liar or a ‘libtard,’ in his words.”
