Compassionate Conservatism

Charming. Republican Representative Barbara Cubin (R-Wyoming) threatened to slap her libertarian challenger after a debate. That candidate, Thomas Rankin, has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair.

"My aide and I were packing up to leave the debate, and Barbara walked over to me and said, 'If you weren't sitting in that chair, I'd slap you across the face.' That's quote-unquote," Rankin said.

Rankin said several people witnessed the exchange, although he wouldn't name them, and that he was getting phone calls about it before he got home Sunday night. The story was first reported Monday night on the Casper Star-Tribune's Web site.

Cubin has not apologized, and, without acknowledging the threat, has nonetheless justified it by accusing Ranking of “misrepresenting her positions and insulting her integrity during the debate.” Her spokesman also said, “She’s over it.”

Good for her. Way to bounce back from threatening someone and demeaning him by saying the only reason you won’t carry through on it is that he’s disabled.