Earlier this week, JT Smith, a democrat running for congress in Alabama, posted a message on Twitter that could be considered hate speech. The tweet read:
“The greatest country on earth is being bullied from within. Actions of Republicans in congress are worse than #ISIL.”
The tweet quickly went viral, and not in the good way. Many were puzzled by his decision to post the tweet, and outraged by his mentioning of political opponents in the same vein as a terrorist organization that has beheaded Americans and has caused terror around the world.
He apologized for his tweet and deleted it the following day, but the damage to his reputation — and chances for election — may have already be done.
