One-Term Wonder Congressman Cresent Hardy has already been spotlighted as the most likely Congressmember to lose their seat this cycle. This dubious distinction is largely because of his penchant for making disparaging comments about “the 47%,” the Employee Non Discrimination Act, welfare recipients, and now, children with disabilities.
Oh, and Hardy doesn’t just think people with disabilities are a drain on society. He also thinks elderly people and immigrants who stay longer than three months are drains on society. It’s worth noting that he is also concerned with anyone that “pulls up in a welfare district in a big fancy Escalade”.
“Congressman Cresent Hardy’s offensive views about people he deems to be a ‘drain on society’ are an embarrassment for people in Nevada’s 4th District,” said DCCC Spokesman Tyler Law. “Today, Hardy callously refused to apologize for criticizing people with disabilities and tried to blame his comments on Democrats – a sad attempt to score political points instead of taking responsibility for his actions.”
BACKGROUND
Hardy Validated Romney’s “47 Percent” Comments, Stating that it was True and Even “Bigger Now.” “’Can I say that without getting in trouble like Gov. Romney,’ Cresent Hardy, a state assemblyman, said in a video posted online by the Nevada State Democratic Party. ‘The 47 percent is true. It’s bigger now.’” [Huffington Post, 9/24/14]
Hardy Compared ENDA to “Segregation Laws,” Promoting Class Divisions. Hardy said: “‘When we create classes, we create that same separation that we’re trying to unfold somehow,’ he said. ‘By continuing to create these laws that are what I call segregation laws, it puts one class of a person over another. We are creating classes of people through these laws.’” [Las Vegas Sun, 2/18/14]
HEADLINE: No, Employment Protections Aren’t Like Segregation [Editor Op-Ed, New York Times, 2/20/14]
HEADLINE: Cresent Hardy, GOP Congressional Candidate, Compares ENDA To ‘Segregation Laws’ [Huffington Post, 2/19/14]
Jon Ralston: Hardy’s Comments Were “Pretty Tone-Deaf” And “Inflammatory In Almost Any Context.” “That’s still pretty tone-deaf because the use of that word, segregation, obviously is inflammatory in almost any context.” [Ralston Reports, 2/19/14]
Referred To Elderly As “A Draw On The Government.” “Hardy recalled that he had taken care of his own parents in their old age and he expected that his children would take care of him when the time came as well. ‘I have no plans to become a draw on the government,’ Hardy said. ‘I think we need to return to those practices in this country.’” [Moapa Valley Progress, 7/27/11]
Hardy: We Need Immigrants Who Are Not “Drains On Society.” During his headquarters opening in August 2014, Cresent Hardy said, “I’ll just give you one issue that happens up in Yerington, Nevada. They have to bring almost 3,000 immigrants here because nobody wants to do that kind of menial work in our society anymore; which, I come from that I’d still go back to do that today, I don’t care if I have to. But, nobody wants to do it, so we have to bring immigrants here just to harvest things in. But the process takes longer to go, from year-to-year, to get them back here. They only stay for three months then they’re gone. These are the type of people we want. They come, they do their job and they leave. They want to go back they don’t want to be citizens. They don’t want to be any type of drain on society; they just want to be able to take care of their families.” [Headquarters Opening, 8/28/14; Washoe Dems, 8/28/14; NV State Democratic Party, accessed 3/30/15]
Hardy Criticized Welfare Recipients Who Abuse The System By Driving Fancy Cars. ‘”If somebody pulls up in a welfare district in a big fancy Escalade, do you think they need welfare at that time?’ Hardy asked. ‘I believe what the founding fathers said: ‘We’re entitled to equal rights, not equal things.’” [Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 9/24/14]
Hardy: I Would Not Let My Children “Be A Drain On This Society.” “I don’t need a teacher to teach my children. My wife has done a wonderful job of that. All four of them, in college or graduated from college. Guess what? I can afford to put my children through college, but I didn’t because I didn’t want to destroy their lives. I want them to have to work for it. They’ve earned their education. Guess what? They loved their education. They’re moving on. They will not be a drain on this society.” [Recession, Revenues and Nevada’s Recovery Town Hall Forum, 4/18/11]