GOP Endorser Mocks Opponent's Stutter

Classy, GOP, classy. Just when you thought the Republicans couldn't be more classless, the Virginia governor's race came to the fore when a prominent endorser for Republican Bob McDonnell mocked the slight stutter of Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds (pictured).

Sheila Johnson was taped discussing the importance of communication skills in the state's next governor at a rally for McDonnell's campaign. Yeah, right. She said:

"We need someone who can really communicate. And Bob McDonnell can communicate. The other people that I talk to, especially his o-pop-pop-pop-pop-pponent (unclear) could not articulate what needed to be done."

I have already forwarded news of this affront to the National Stutterers Foundation. As they note on their website, many notable people have overcome stuttering, including James Earl Jones, Bruce Willis, Bill Walton, Tiger Woods, Jimmy Stewart, and Carly Simon. That's just a short list, mind you.

This appears to be the face of the Republican party: can't beat someone, make fun of them. Remember when Rush Limbaugh mocked Michael J. Fox for his Parkinson's? He said that Fox was on drugs, so he shouldn't have exhibited the twitches he did. What Dr. Limbaugh didn't know is that despite the drugs that Fox takes, his motions are perfectly symptomatic of the disease.

At the time, Elaine Richman, a neuroscientist in Baltimore who co-wrote "Parkinson's Disease and the Family" said:

"Anyone who knows the disease well would regard his movement as classic severe Parkinson's disease. Any other interpretation is misinformed."

Misinformed is kind. Cruel is another word I would use. Let's not forget, it's not the style with which a speech is presented that is most important, but the content.

Watch Johnson on video below: