Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz called out a professor and writer who made fun of a blind man seated in the front row of his Florida Man Freedom Tour in Brevard County, Florida, on Friday.
Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz called out a professor and writer who made fun of a blind man seated in the front row of his Florida Man Freedom Tour in Brevard County, Florida, on Friday.
In a now deleted tweet, Michael Leppert, on the faculty at the Kelley School, wrote of the blind man: "I love the look of that young man in the front row. He's mad—but can't figure why. Come on Matt, give him a hug."
That young man, Gaetz, said, is blind, and was sitting in "in the front row so he could listen." Gaetz tagged the schools where Leppert teaches to bring their attention to his insensitive comment on Friday.
Your faculty @MichaelLeppert reacted to my speaking tour today by making fun of a blind person who sat in the front row so he could listen.
How should we think about the fact that he advertises his association w you while smearing the disabled? pic.twitter.com/XMzkRBIp2B
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz)
"Congressman Gaetz does not believe that the academic institutions tied to Michael Leppert should stay silent as he advertises his association with them while making fun of the disabled," a spokesperson for Gaetz told The Post Millennial. "Does teasing blind people fit with their academic mission or not?"
At issue, however, is more than just one mocking tweet from Leppert, or the tacit condoning of such from the schools where he teaches. Taking aim at those who make a mockery of the disabled became a top issue for leftist journalists and academics back in 2016, which is why Gaetz, calling it out now, points to the hypocrisy of his critics, and former President Donald Trump's.
The progressive left claimed a moral high ground in regards to Trump, his campaign, his supporters, and those conservatives that support his policies, only to turn around and take part in the very same behaviors that they critiqued when they believed they came from their political opposition.
It was in 2016 that Trump was accused of making fun of a disabled reporter, flailing his arms about for comedic effect while doing so, which is something Trump had done numerous times while making fun of people who were not disabled as well.
"Yesteryears' 'tolerant Left,'" Gaetz told The Post Millennial, "has been replaced with abject meanness. They use hypocrisy and self-righteousness to deliver their vile absent a hit of self awareness. And the America Last mainstream media always has the Left's back—even when they mock a blind person at my rallies."
Leppert replied to a critic on Twitter, saying he didn't "malign anyone."
I didn’t malign anyone.
— Michael Leppert (@MichaelLeppert)
Gaetz has undertaken this speaking tour to promote the America First platform. It follows a series of rallies he and Georgia's Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have hosted across the country. The two were also part of a protest in the US House of Representatives this week to reject House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's renewed mask mandate in the House and on the House floor.
The two have also been adamant about trying to get fair trials and humane conditions for those who were arrested and are being held on, primarily, misdemeanor trespassing charges stemming from the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.
Supporters at the Florida Man Freedom tour appreciated Gaetz's attention to upholding the sanctity of their rights and liberties.
"We need to stand up for our rights," said Vero Beach's Elisa Todd, who is a registered nurse. "I'm watching first-hand the things that are going on in our country, and somebody's got to stand up for it."
"I don't like the direction the county is headed in right now with this hate for certain races and trying to correct past wrongs by doing more wrongs," Air Force veteran James Mac of Melbourne said. "I like the kind of person who stands up for what he believes in," Mac said. "I believe that's the only reason he's controversial, because he's not afraid to speak up for what he believes."
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
