Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ (D) spokeswoman is under fire for a tweet she sent about “transphobes.”
On Monday night, Hobbs’ press secretary Josselyn Berry responded to a tweet writing, “Us when we see transphobes.”
She included a GIF of a woman holding two pistols.
The tweet came hours after a person opened fire in The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, killing three children and three adults. Law enforcement told reporters the shooter identified as transgender.
Her tweet set off a firestorm on Twitter.
The Arizona Freedom Caucus tweeted, “[Hobbs] Press Secretary locked down her Twitter to try [and] hide her disgusting tweet calling for violence against Democrats’ political opponents on the same day a trans activist shot up a Nashville Christian school killing 6, incl. kids Unlucky for her, we have the receipts.”
.@KatieHobbs’ Press Secretary locked down her Twitter to try & hide her disgusting tweet calling for violence against Democrats’ political opponents on the same day a trans activist shot up a Nashville Christian school killing 6, incl. kids
— Arizona Freedom Caucus (@AZFreedomCaucus) March 29, 2023
Unlucky for her, we have the receipts. pic.twitter.com/0YmahSQUqL
The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh wrote, “Really? This is what your press secretary thinks about this tragedy. Fire her immediately. No other answer will be acceptable.”
Really? This is what your press secretary thinks about this tragedy. Fire her immediately. No other answer will be acceptable. pic.twitter.com/cAW3pdROsS
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 29, 2023
“The (D)ifference is that if a Republican press secretary tweeted something like this which is more appalling given the timing, *fellow Republicans* would be the first ones to criticize it and call for that press sec to be fired. Democrats don’t hold each other accountable, and I include media in that category,” tweeted Christina Pushaw, the rapid response director for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
The (D)ifference is that if a Republican press secretary tweeted something like this which is more appalling given the timing, *fellow Republicans* would be the first ones to criticize it and call for that press sec to be fired. Democrats don’t hold each other accountable, and I…
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) March 29, 2023
Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) wrote, “When Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot, I and many Republicans condemned the violence. I even offered security for every Member of Congress from WI. The press secretary is the voice of [Katie Hobbs] They both should resign. Immediately.”
Failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake (R) tweeted, “If a conservative made light of a mass shooting [and] called for more violence, they’d be personally [and] professionally destroyed. But a member of Katie Hobbs’ staff did just that [and] the media is silent. We don’t partake in cancel culture – but the media’s bias has never been clearer.”
If a conservative made light of a mass shooting & called for more violence, they’d be personally & professionally destroyed.
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) March 29, 2023
But a member of Katie Hobbs’ staff did just that & the media is silent.
We don't partake in cancel culture – but the media’s bias has never been clearer. pic.twitter.com/UwUk7AMPZU
Berry apparently tried to shield herself from criticism by limiting access to her account to only people who follow her – which is not helpful if you are a press secretary.
UPDATE: @katiehobbs press secretary, @joss_berry has made her account private after encouraging more gun violence after the Christian school shooting the other day… pic.twitter.com/Q131nfjd3z
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) March 29, 2023
But unfortunately for her, the internet is forever. And the screen shot of her tweet will live on.
Berry either lives under a rock, only looks at a specific part of Twitter, absorbs absolutely no news during her day, and was somehow entirely unaware of the shooting. In which case, Hobbs may want to consider whether being press secretary is a good job for her.
Or she was aware of the shooting and decided that tweeting her message was a good idea.
This is a free country, and people have a right to express themselves.
But if you decide to send a stupid and insensitive tweet at such a tragic time, you should better be prepared to get some strong reactions. And many have called for Berry to be fired for her tweet.
Yet, we should not want to have a society where someone messes up with their comments, issues a genuine and heartfelt apology, and gets fired anyway.
But you can be sure if the shoe was on the other foot, and a press secretary for a Republican governor tweeted a similar comment about a “groomer” after a hypothetical shooting at a drag show, their name would be plastered all over the media for days until they were fired and excised from polite society.
