Republican lawmakers blasted a homophobic post that appeared on GOP Rep. Andy Ogles’ X account on Tuesday, saying it was “gross,” “disgusting,” a distraction and had no place of their social gathering.
Ogles has stated {that a} staffer was responsible for posting on his X account, “Homosexuality has no place in America. Happy Nuclear Family Month” — a post that has since been deleted.
“Gross, disgusting tweet, inappropriate. All Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation, should enjoy the protections of America, our Constitution, and all of our blessings,” Rep. Nick LaLota of New York advised NCS when requested concerning the post.
LaLota argued the post additionally despatched the mistaken message concerning the social gathering’s focus forward of the midterms however that he personally noticed it as a chief alternative to clarify to his constituents that he’s not on the perimeter of the GOP.
“There’s some wacky people on both sides of the aisle, on both extremes, and politically it provides me an opportunity to contrast myself with some of that wackiness,” he stated.
Ogles stated on X later within the day Tuesday, “Earlier today while working on the farm, my phone began going crazy because of a post made by a member of my comms team. The post was stupid, hurtful and a complete distraction from my America First focus. The employee has been reprimanded.”
NCS has reached out to Ogles’ workplace to request touch upon the criticism the post has obtained.
Rep. Mike Lawler, one other Republican working in a swing district, advised NCS he really texted with Ogles after the occasion and was advised it was a staffer, however inspired Ogles to “do better.”
“I’m not going to dispute his statement, but the fact is that tweet was offensive. I know it was offensive to many colleagues and staff members here, and you know it was pretty clear that it was f**ing stupid so,” Lawler stated.
Lawler continued “everybody has family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, staff that are in fact homosexual, and to somehow insinuate that they are less than or not Americans, or should not be Americans, is idiotic and offensive. And I was clear about that yesterday. I’m glad he deleted the post, but do better.”
Conservative Rep. Tim Burchett, who is also from Tennessee, advised NCS that he too was disenchanted by the post.
“I thought it was wrong. You know what people do in their own dadgum bedrooms, is their business,” Burchett stated.
Speaker Mike Johnson additionally addressed the now-deleted X post throughout a press convention on Wednesday, saying it was “right” to take it down.
“The Bible is unequivocal, We’re supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves. Everybody is supposed to treat every single person with dignity and respect whether we agree with them or not. That’s a Christian virtue, that’s a biblical virtue, it’s an American virtue. It’s part of we are,” Johnson stated. “Andy took it down and did it publicly. He should have done that. It was the right response.”