With instant access to the joys of social media via the handy-dandy smart phone that’s always in your hand, the impulse to fire back (verbally, of course) at a Facebook post or tweet that’s caught your eye is something most of us would do well to repress. Too many people spout unfiltered, ill-considered stupidity that they’d never say to someone if they were looking them in the eye.
Take for example, Kentucky Republican Carl Nett. You’d think that being a former Secret Service agent might have taught him the benefits of self restraint and considering your actions before pulling the trigger (again, just a metaphor). Unfortunately . . .
Carl Nett, a former U.S. Secret Service agent and CIA contractor who is running for Kentucky secretary of state, responded to a tweet from Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) boasting about his “F” grade from the National Rifle Association, reported the Courier Journal.
And here’s how Nett responded:
The tweet in question by a @KYGOP candidate for secretary of state re: #Dems @RepJohnYarmuth. #KY03 pic.twitter.com/KvWRdK3R3Y
— Philmonger (@phillipmbailey) March 20, 2018
The outrage pitchfork mafia is, predictably, in high dudgeon over Nett’s non-threat. They know a juicy opportunity to damage a political opponent when they see one. Starting with Yarmuth himself.
A Yarmuth spokesman told the newspaper the tweet was reported to Capitol Police, saying lawmakers must be hyper-vigilant after the shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) last summer.
The Kentucky Democratic Party issued a statement calling Nett “unfit” to hold elected office, and linked the candidate to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin through campaign donations.
In an attempt at damage control, Nett took the tweet down and tried to establish his constitutional bona fides.
“Friends, I protected Barack Obama, John Kerry, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Clinton,” Nett later tweeted. “I voted for none of them. I would have DIED for any of them. My oath is to the Constitution. ALL politicians should keep that oath, first and foremost.”
But as we all know, the Internet is forever. Deleting that tweet won’t do him the slightest bit of good and candidate Nett can expect to hear about his stupid comment from now until the election. Tweet in haste, repent at leisure. You have been warned.