Florida Republican fires aide for falsely calling Parkland students actors

[RandySF]

NOTE: This artocle does not mention that Kelly used a Florida State email account to spread the smear.



Republican state Rep. Shawn Harrison fired his aide on Tuesday after he said two students who survived the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting were “actors that travel to various crisis (sic) when they happen.”

“I am appalled at and strongly denounce his comments about the Parkland students,” Harrison tweeted about Benjamin Kelly. “I am again sorry for any pain this has caused the grieving families of this tragedy.”

The news broke on Twitter when Tampa Bay Times Washington correspondent Alex Leary reported that Kelly, who was Harrison’s district secretary, said David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez, two of the most outspoken students since the tragedy occurred last week, were both actors.

Kelly then shared a link to a YouTube conspiracy video, featuring one of the students. He later confirmed his termination in a tweet, but did not say the information he provided was false.

“I’ve made a mistake whereas I tried to inform a reporter of information relating to his story regarding a school shooting,” Kelly said. “This was not my responsibility. I meant no disrespect to the students or parents of Parkland.”



http://floridapolitics.com/archives/256946-republican-lawmaker-fires-aide-falsely-calling-parkland-students-actors

[MagickMuffin]

1. Wait WHAT??? "This was not my responsibility....."

You made the statement.

Who else should be responsible for your thoughts, words and deeds???

Perhaps the dead kids, perhaps you could blame them. After all that is the GOP's mode of operandi!

[Cha]

2. Good, I'm glad he got his ass FIRED.

[sarge43]

3. Wait! What! A republican politician did the right thing?!

Is it possible this trend could continue? Like support sensible gun laws?


Never mind.

[Orange Free State]

4. A stopped clock is right twice a day

And a blind squirrel finds nuts every so often. I am not holding my breath for a Repuke to do the right thing again.