Republican Dan Patrick Invoked Bible Messages Seemingly Against LGBT People In Apparent Response to Worst Terror Attack Since 9/11
At 8 AM EDT Sunday morning news was spreading that 20 people had been shot to death in an Orlando, Florida gay nightclub, Pulse. The death toll has now been raised to 50 dead.
Also at 8 AM, then 30 minutes later, Texas Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who has been working hard to position himself as a national leader against the LGBT community, posted two tweets.
The first bible verse, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows,” from Galatians 6:7. The next, from Psalm 37:39: “The Salvation of the righteous come from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.” The second included the message, “Have a blessed Sunday!”
Both include the Lt. Governor’s campaign logo at the bottom.
In response, on Twitter, many expressed their outrage:
Some have suggested the tweets could have been pre-scheduled. If true, the Lt. Governor has had nearly four hours to correct this and offer an apology, and he has not.
UPDATE: 12:18 PM EDT –
The Dallas Morning News reports Dan Patrick’s “campaign said the tweet had been scheduled days before the shooting. The tweet has been replaced with a verse from Psalms.” That’s actually false. The first was not “replaced” by a tweet from Psalms. The first was deleted, the second remains, and no other tweets have been posted. Nor has any apology been offered.
Here’s a screenshot of the first tweet:
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Hat tip: Joe.My.God.