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State representative tells Giffords, "Stay out of my towns"
http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Hovey-slams-Gabby-Giffords-for-political-visit-4172323.php
NEWTOWN -- State Rep. DebraLee Hovey issued an apology Monday for negative remarks on her Facebook page telling former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to stay out of town.
"The remarks I made regarding Congresswoman Gifford's visit were insensitive and if I offended anyone I truly apologize," Hovey said in a prepared statement released Monday afternoon. "My comments were meant to be protective of the privacy of the families and our community as we work to move on, and were in no way intended as an insult to Congresswoman Giffords personally.
"Our community has struggled greatly through this tragedy, and we are all very sensitive to the potential for this event to be exploited for political purposes. This is what I wish to avoid."
While Hovey's Facebook page has since been placed on private, the Hartford Courant reported that Hovey, who represents Newtown and Monroe, posted a message Sunday saying, "Gabby Gifford (sic) stay out of my towns!!"
The message was reportedly sent from Hovey's mobile device from St. Pete Beach in Florida, just days after Giffords met First Selectwoman Pat Llodra, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman during a planned meeting at the Newtown Municipal Center Friday.
Hovey said Monday she was in Florida attending a board meeting for the Women in Government organization.
Friday's meeting in Newtown, which was closed to the press, was held shortly before Giffords met with relatives of those slain during the Sandy Hook massacre on Dec. 14 that took the lives of 20 children and six educators.
Giffords was wounded Jan. 8, 2011 during a mass shooting in her home state of Arizona that left her with a traumatic brain injury and killed six others.
Hovey, a Republican, said in her Facebook posting that the meeting was entirely "political" because only Democrats attended the event and she wasn't invited.
" ... All political types KNOW it is courteous to let sitting Reps know when another political is in their District," Hovey posted on her Facebook page. While Wyman and Blumenthal are Democrats, Llodra is a Republican.
Hovey could not be immediately reached for comment Monday.
Hovey's Facebook posting has received broad coverage in state political blogs, drawing dozens of angry comments from readers about her statement.
While news of Giffords visit was disclosed early Thursday, Llodra acknowledged at the time that she was not involved in the scheduling and wasn't sure what time Giffords would be visiting the town.
Shortly after Friday's meeting with Giffords, Llodra said the officials had talked about a variety of issues including gun control, access to mental health care and the desensitization of society to violence.
Llodra also said at the time that she believed one of the main reason's for Giffords visit to the town was to provide comfort and support to the community.
"We are here to do what ever we can to help," Gifford's husband, Mark Kelly, told Newtown School Superintendent Janet Robinson after they met briefly in the municipal center lobby on Friday. Kelly accompanied his wife during the visit.
We're so glad you came," Robinson said to Giffords after embracing the former congresswoman. "Thank you."
NEWTOWN -- State Rep. DebraLee Hovey issued an apology Monday for negative remarks on her Facebook page telling former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to stay out of town.
"The remarks I made regarding Congresswoman Gifford's visit were insensitive and if I offended anyone I truly apologize," Hovey said in a prepared statement released Monday afternoon. "My comments were meant to be protective of the privacy of the families and our community as we work to move on, and were in no way intended as an insult to Congresswoman Giffords personally.
"Our community has struggled greatly through this tragedy, and we are all very sensitive to the potential for this event to be exploited for political purposes. This is what I wish to avoid."
While Hovey's Facebook page has since been placed on private, the Hartford Courant reported that Hovey, who represents Newtown and Monroe, posted a message Sunday saying, "Gabby Gifford (sic) stay out of my towns!!"
The message was reportedly sent from Hovey's mobile device from St. Pete Beach in Florida, just days after Giffords met First Selectwoman Pat Llodra, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman during a planned meeting at the Newtown Municipal Center Friday.
Hovey said Monday she was in Florida attending a board meeting for the Women in Government organization.
Friday's meeting in Newtown, which was closed to the press, was held shortly before Giffords met with relatives of those slain during the Sandy Hook massacre on Dec. 14 that took the lives of 20 children and six educators.
Giffords was wounded Jan. 8, 2011 during a mass shooting in her home state of Arizona that left her with a traumatic brain injury and killed six others.
Hovey, a Republican, said in her Facebook posting that the meeting was entirely "political" because only Democrats attended the event and she wasn't invited.
" ... All political types KNOW it is courteous to let sitting Reps know when another political is in their District," Hovey posted on her Facebook page. While Wyman and Blumenthal are Democrats, Llodra is a Republican.
Hovey could not be immediately reached for comment Monday.
Hovey's Facebook posting has received broad coverage in state political blogs, drawing dozens of angry comments from readers about her statement.
While news of Giffords visit was disclosed early Thursday, Llodra acknowledged at the time that she was not involved in the scheduling and wasn't sure what time Giffords would be visiting the town.
Shortly after Friday's meeting with Giffords, Llodra said the officials had talked about a variety of issues including gun control, access to mental health care and the desensitization of society to violence.
Llodra also said at the time that she believed one of the main reason's for Giffords visit to the town was to provide comfort and support to the community.
"We are here to do what ever we can to help," Gifford's husband, Mark Kelly, told Newtown School Superintendent Janet Robinson after they met briefly in the municipal center lobby on Friday. Kelly accompanied his wife during the visit.
We're so glad you came," Robinson said to Giffords after embracing the former congresswoman. "Thank you."
Yes you can still say that. Don't let this tragedy define your town. Continue to describe it just like that...From what I have seen of the town (on tv ), it's simply divine...:)
@ Mrs. P, good advice!
@newtowngirl, welcome to the forum. I think this is going to turn into a very positive experience, this forum transition. Sometimes arguments can be stimulating but I look forward to real thought provoking ideas and sharing without all the contentiousness.
Welcome :)
"Hi, and thank you. I was googling some stuff about Sandy Hook and this group came up, so I have been reading for a few days before I got a membership.
That shows me you've got the cohonas...We are a lil dysfunctional on this board...Actually, a lot of the dysfunction as seem to magically disappeared within the last few days....
This looks like an interesting place.
All jokes aside. It really is..The only time it does ever get heated is when the conversation turns to politics....I do hope you stick around:)
"All my life, when asked where I'm from, I would say that I'm from a little town in Connecticut that nobody ever heard of. I can never say that now. I am going to miss that."
Yes you can still say that. Don't let this tragedy define your town. Continue to describe it just like that...From what I have seen of the town (on tv ), it's simply divine...:)
That shows me you've got the cohonas...We are a lil dysfunctional on this board...Actually, a lot of the dysfunction as seem to magically disappeared within the last few days....
This looks like an interesting place.
All jokes aside. It really is..The only time it does ever get heated is when the conversation turns to politics....I do hope you stick around:)
"All my life, when asked where I'm from, I would say that I'm from a little town in Connecticut that nobody ever heard of. I can never say that now. I am going to miss that."
Yes you can still say that. Don't let this tragedy define your town. Continue to describe it just like that...From what I have seen of the town (on tv ), it's simply divine...:)
When I first heard on the news of the Giffords intent to visit the town, I thought oh my, not a good idea. I am sure the
Giffards intent is just to be helpful, but the fact is that those 26 people did not survive their ordeal and as horrible as it is for the Giffords, Im not sure now is the time. This is so raw for those families and they dont need added press to make things harder.
I do think this person needs to get a little education on how to handle sensitive topics in a more sensitive way. It was kind of rude in the way it was done, altho I do kind of agree with her.
Giffards intent is just to be helpful, but the fact is that those 26 people did not survive their ordeal and as horrible as it is for the Giffords, Im not sure now is the time. This is so raw for those families and they dont need added press to make things harder.
I do think this person needs to get a little education on how to handle sensitive topics in a more sensitive way. It was kind of rude in the way it was done, altho I do kind of agree with her.
My heart goes out to you and all your friends and loved ones. To be that closely connected to this tragedy...well, I don't have the words to express how I feel about what happened there. I wish your hometown healing, although I suspect that will never be entirely possible. I just cannot imagine how this must have felt.
Hi, and thank you. I was googling some stuff about Sandy Hook and this group came up, so I have been reading for a few days before I got a membership. This looks like an interesting place.
I grew up in Newtown, though these days I live in a neighboring town. The events of December 14 have rocked the world. I'm usually pretty good at expressing myself but this is beyond me. in the days that followed the world has descended on Newtown with satelilte trucks and news crews. People have come from everywhere to leave tokens at the many, many memorials. We have had funerals day after day, horrible heartbreaking funerals and services with honor guards, little coffins, shell-shocked families and thousands of people come to pay tribute. It has been agony.
Now the children have returned to school, the first horrible shock is over. Now its time to find a way forward as best we can. I hate the thought of politicians squabbling over ownership of this catastrophe.
All my life, when asked where I'm from, I would say that I'm from a little town in Connecticut that nobody ever heard of. I can never say that now. I am going to miss that.
I grew up in Newtown, though these days I live in a neighboring town. The events of December 14 have rocked the world. I'm usually pretty good at expressing myself but this is beyond me. in the days that followed the world has descended on Newtown with satelilte trucks and news crews. People have come from everywhere to leave tokens at the many, many memorials. We have had funerals day after day, horrible heartbreaking funerals and services with honor guards, little coffins, shell-shocked families and thousands of people come to pay tribute. It has been agony.
Now the children have returned to school, the first horrible shock is over. Now its time to find a way forward as best we can. I hate the thought of politicians squabbling over ownership of this catastrophe.
All my life, when asked where I'm from, I would say that I'm from a little town in Connecticut that nobody ever heard of. I can never say that now. I am going to miss that.
"Friday's meeting in Newtown, which was closed to the press, was held shortly before Giffords met with relatives"
Did she not know this?..It's so hard! I can't judge her for her response. That whole town is still trying to heal....
This horrible tragedy has forever changed me and I'm not even from Newtown..I really do hope and pray that ALL the families in Newtown find solace and peace...
Hi there @newtowngirl..Welcome to CE. I'm MrsP...
Did she not know this?..It's so hard! I can't judge her for her response. That whole town is still trying to heal....
This horrible tragedy has forever changed me and I'm not even from Newtown..I really do hope and pray that ALL the families in Newtown find solace and peace...
Hi there @newtowngirl..Welcome to CE. I'm MrsP...
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