On Tuesday afternoon, the National Republican Senatorial Committee published a tweet they will long regret. Whoever was in control of the page, whether it be an anonymous intern or a member of the leadership, tweeted this criticism of Illinois Representative Tammy Duckworth:


For those unfamiliar with Duckworth, you may wonder why this tweet has garnered so much ire. It is possible that whatever clueless person who tweeted this message wasn’t even aware that Rep. Duckworth lost both of her legs during a tour in Iraq, earning Duckworth a purple heart. Duckworth was serving in Iraq in 2004, co-piloting a Blackhawk helicopter when it was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade, resulting in her extensive injuries. 


Right.

So, the insensitive tweet, posted with either ignorance or malice, was quickly deleted. But this is the internet, and nothing is ever really deleted. Many people rushed to post screenshots of the tweet, condemning the organization both for their message and for their attempt to hide the error with no apology.

 

The NRSC, by the way, is a committee which is devoted to keeping a Republican senate majority. It assists Republican candidates with fundraising and election planning, but apparently doesn’t keep a close eye on its social media accounts.

NRSC’s twitter had been criticizing Duckworth for days because she is a Democrat running for the Illinois Senate seat against incumbent Republican Mark Kirk. The NRSC claims that Duckworth has “turned her back on Veterans,” but apparently that terminology was just not effective enough.

So, NRSC, where is that apology?

Sydney Robinson is a political writer for the Ring of Fire Network. She has also appeared in political news videos for Ring of Fire. Sydney has a degree in English Literature from the University of West Florida, and has an active interest in politics, social justice, and environmental issues. She would love to hear from you on Twitter @SydneyMkay or via email at srobinson@ringoffireradio.com