Politics Florida Republicans Demand Miami Herald Fire Columnist for ‘Thin the Ranks’ Coronavirus Remark

Florida Republicans are urging the Miami Herald to do something about it against metro columnist Fabiola Santiago, who tweeted on Sunday that Florida residents loading beaches “ought to work perfectly to thin the ranks” of supporters of President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

On Sunday, Santiago particularly tweeted that “packed beaches should work perfectly to thin the ranks of Trump/DeSantis/Gimenez advocates in #Florida who value cash over health.”

Hours later on, Santiago erased the tweet and released an apology, saying her remarks “didn’t accurately communicate my sentiment … Regardless of political distinctions, I would never ever wish any harm on anyone.”

Her apology came after strong condemnation from prominent Trump fans and protection of her remarks by independent news media outlets, consisting of an short article at Breitbart News and protection on Fox News.

Responding straight to condemnation from the Republican politician Party of Florida, Mindy Marques, publisher and managing editor of the Miami Herald, released an apology on Twitter and said the paper would “follow up internally.”

While columnists, unlike reporters, have broad latitude to reveal their opinions, the remark by @fabiolasantiago earlier today crossed the line of acceptable commentary and does not reflect the views of the @MiamiHerald We say sorry and will follow up internally. @FloridaGOP

— Mindy Marques (@MindyMarques) April 20, 2020

Marques’ reaction was insufficient for the Florida GOP, which answered back that while the party values the condemnation the paper need to presume as to “#FireFabiola,” using Santiago’s very first name.

@FabiolaSantiago plainly longed for the deaths of Trump, DeSantis, and Gimenez fans. While we appreciate @MiamiHerald condemning her words, this rhetoric is undesirable, specifically coming from the media. The Miami Herald should deal with this properly. #FireFabiola pic.twitter.com/l7OXg0HQtA

— Florida GOP (@FloridaGOP) April 20, 2020

Rep. Michael Waltz utilized the hashtag #FireFabiola while saying it was “downright horrible” for the Miami Herald to offer Santiago a platform.

@MiamiHerald need to be ashamed.

We have actually long known that. @fabiolasantiago is a Castro apologist, but that they would give her a platform to wish death on those who disagree with her political views is downright disgusting. #FireFabiola @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/1GlDcq12 ZO

— Michael Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) April 20, 2020

State Representative Ana Maria Rodriguez also required Santiago’s ouster from the newspaper.

The @MiamiHerald need to cut ties with Fabiola Santiago. her despicable suggestion that COVID should kill @realDonaldTrump supporters stinks and incorrect. This kind of thinking is worthy of no public platform. She’s an intelligent grownup, she understood what she was saying.

— Ana Maria Rodriguez (@RepAnaMaria) April 20, 2020

Todd Chase, a Republican candidate for Congress, additional promoted the #FireFabiola hashtag.

I spent 26 years in the Navy protecting our flexibilities, so I don’t fault @fabiolasantiago for exercising her 1st Amendment right to be an ass. But the @MiamiHerald should think long and hard about who they have representing them. @realDonaldTrump #firefabiola pic.twitter.com/0AiQB8xcDK

— Todd Chase For Congress (@chaseforflorida) April 20, 2020

Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva said Santiago’s comments represent a “stain” upon the newspaper “and the actual specialists who work there.”

” Fabiola Santiago shed the frequently thin veil of impartiality long ago. Now, she decreases herself further by openly wanting the death of those Floridians who don’t share her views. It is a stain upon the @MiamiHerald and the real specialists who work there … 1/2

— Jose Oliva (@RepJoseOliva) April 20, 2020

Rep. Matt Gaetz, a frequent visitor on Fox News, called the writer’s tweet a “vile example of media hatred.”

A disgusting example of media hatred from just hours ago: @fabiolasantiago, a columnist with the @MiamiHerald, tweeting basically it would “work nicely” if crowded Florida beaches led to the deaths of @realDonaldTrump and @GovRonDeSantis supporters. https://t.co/LpLiNKT78 S pic.twitter.com/B1paRPSLRe

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) April 20, 2020

State Agent James Grant knocked Santiago’s tweet:

It’s not that @fabiolasantiago has an opinion or that she revealed her opinion. It’s that her viewpoint expressed excitement for the death of those who disagree with her politics.

A Cuban immigrant rooting for the death of political foes is peak level thick. https://t.co/EWpuYoL8CA pic.twitter.com/1mZtW6nHOG

— James Grant (@JamesGrantFL) April 20, 2020

Donald Trump Jr. commented that Santiago’s “revolting” remarks not just expose her own bias but “based on their hiring options” most likely tells readers “whatever you need to understand about the Miami Herald also.”

This tweet from a Miami Herald writer tells you all you need to understand about her, and based on their hiring options, most likely everything you need to learn about the Miami Herald also. Their ostentatious bias continues to go on uncontrolled. Revolting. https://t.co/FOmn5zxnaK

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 19, 2020

Requested remark, a spokesperson for The Miami Herald referred Breitbart News to Marques’ Twitter apology and declaration that the paper would “follow up internally.”

Some of Santiago’s critics mentioned that the writer had absolutely nothing to state about the choice by 3 Democratic guvs– New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, New York City Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont– to resume marinas and boatyards also under social distancing rules.

Others noted the absence of criticism about Manhattan’s Central Park still being open to the public while visitor centers and play grounds have actually been closed up until additional notice. Individuals magazine recently published photos showing crowds in Central Park clearly breaking the “six feet apart” standards, with numerous not wearing face masks.

Central Park Still Crowded with Individuals Despite Stay at House and Social Distancing Orders in NYC https://t.co/dfJSAdmQsf

— Individuals (@people) April 6, 2020

On Friday, DeSantis gave local towns the green-light to decide whether to reopen their beaches just if it can be done securely and under stringent social distancing standards.

Some north Florida beaches resumed while lots of in central and south Florida remain closed.

Recently resumed Jacksonville Beach only permits “necessary activities” which include “leisure activities consistent with social distancing guidelines such as strolling, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, looking after pets and browsing.”

Beach-goers can not sunbathe or bring towels, blankets or beach chairs. The beaches reportedly do not allow “lingering on the beach without moving” or events of more than 10 individuals.

Santiago’s controversial tweet embedded a Miami Herald article sensationally entitled, “Jam-packed Florida beach offers glance of what might come when outside areas are reopened.”

The Herald story consisted of 2 pictures of ratings of individuals walking on the beach, but it was not clear from the photos whether those photographed were breaching the social distancing guidelines. The closeup images appear to reveal people keeping range however those who can be seen were not wearing masks or other face coverings. The story itself does not report that anybody breached social distancing rules.

At Friday’s White Home Coronavirus Job Force’s instruction, Dr. Deborah Birx, Trump’s coronavirus response organizer, was asked about the beach reopenings in Florida. Reporters did not likewise raise the marina and boatyard reopenings in harder-hit New Jersey, New York and Connecticut or Manhattan’s ongoing opening of Central Park to the general public.

” If the county health directors believe that that’s appropriate for their county, then I’m not going to second judge an individual’s technique to this,” Birx said of the Florida beach news.

Aaron Klein is Breitbart’s Jerusalem bureau chief and senior investigative press reporter. He is a New york city Times bestselling author and hosts the popular weekend talk radio program, “ Aaron Klein Investigative Radio” Follow him on Twitter @AaronKleinShow.