If ever we needed evidence that hysterical cancel-culture-style Internet politics comes for everyone, here we have it reaching up to the highest levels of the federal government in the span of like 24 hours:
Vice President Kamala Harris' newly announced communications director Jamal Simmons is apologizing for decade-old tweets on "undocumented folks" that resurfaced after news of his appointment.
A trio of tweets from November 2010 got renewed attention in the day since Simmons' hiring was reported. In one, he wrote, "Just saw 2 undocumented folks talking on MSNBC. One Law student the other a protester. Can someone explain why ICE is not picking them up?." Minutes later, he responded to a user saying he was "not mixing anything or suggesting ICE shld pick them up. Just seems odd u can go on TV & admit breaking law & not be arrested."
And, in what appears to be an attempt to do clean up, Simmons tweeted again that same day, "I'll try this again: Just saw 2 undocumented folks talking on MSNBC and have serious legal question. Why wouldn't ICE pick them up."
Okay, first of all, boss move, Mr. Simmons: You caught flak for asking why ICE wasn't picking up some illegal immigrants on television, and when you got backlash for those remarks you rephrased it by asking... why ICE wasn't picking up some illegal immigrants on television. Mad respect for staying the course.
Simmons's latest apology, however, does detract from that admirable performance:
I sincerely apologize for offending those who care as much as I do about making America the best, multi-ethnic, diverse democracy it can be. I know the role I am taking on is to represent the Biden-Harris administration, and I will do so with humility, sincerity and respect."
Lame. He asked a perfectly reasonable legal question a decade ago! That's not even worth an explication, let alone a simpering apology.
Of course, from what we hear of what it's like to work for Kamala Harris, he's probably gonna have to get used to making simpering apologies, so maybe he's just practicing.
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