Schakowsky campaign manager takes heat for using expletives in Twitter post
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The campaign manager for Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky is taking heat for an expletive-laced Twitter post about opponents of the proposed Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero in New York.
At the conservative National Review, publication National Review, blogger Jim Geraghty noted Alex Armour posted a message on his open Twitter page declaring opponents were “(expletive) dumb (expletive) who haven't read the 1st amndmnt .
The tweet has provided grist for Schakowsky's critics in the conservative blogosphere as well as Joel Pollak, the Republican challenger for her 9th Congressional District seat.
Pollak called Armour's remarks offensive and labeled his Twitter feed the voice of Schakowsky's campaign.
“I think it shows that Jan Schakowsky's campaign has an intolerant attitude toward people with different views, as well as contempt for those who disagree, said Pollak, a 33-year-old Skokie attorney. “He has the right to say whatever he wants, but the question then becomes is that who the people of the 9th District want to represent them. When he is speaking out as an individual, there is no separation between his personal views and political views.
In a statement e-mailed Wednesday, Schakowsky said: “Even though he thought it was a private communication to his followers, I have made it perfectly clear to Alex Armourand all of my staffthat the use of that kind of language is inappropriate.
Armour, who has been Schakowsky's political director and campaign manager for six years, has since blocked public access to his Twitter page.
“I don't really have any official comment, he said Wednesday. “It (his Twitter page) is now closed. I was under the impression that it was a little more private than it was.
Twitter is a leading social networking and microblogging site that allows people to follow friends, celebrities, politicians and others through a series of status updates limited to 140 characters.
Pollak said Armour used the blog to comment on Schakowsky's campaign and her pro-Israel record. He also kept followers updated on her public appearances, whereabouts and stances on issues.
“I believe he had more followers on his Twitter page than she does on her campaign Twitter page, Pollak said. “He was tweeting comments not just about Jan Schakowsky but Republicans who disagree. He clearly intended it to be public. I think he ought to have separated his political page from his personal page.
