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GOP Florida lawmaker criticized for politicized Jose Fernandez tweet

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A Republican Florida lawmaker was criticized Sunday for politicizing the death of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez.
Matt Gaetz, who represents District 4 in the Florida House of Representatives and is running for Congress, tweeted shortly after it was confirmed that the 24-year-old Fernandez had died in a boating wreck early Sunday off Miami Beach.
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"To all who will kneel during the anthem today — just remember how Jose Fernandez risked his life just for the chance to stand for it," Gaetz tweeted Sunday morning, referring to the Cuban native's efforts to reach the United States from the communist island country. The tweet referenced the trend of professional athletes — following the lead of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick — who kneel in protest during the national anthem.

To all who will kneel during the anthem today - just remember how Jose Fernandez risked his life just for the chance to stand for it

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) September 25, 2016

Fernandez escaped Cuba in 2007 after serving jail time for three failed attempts to leave the country. On his fourth try, he jumped into the water and rescued his mother after she fell out of their boat.
Lorenzo Veloz, a spokesman with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said Fernandez was one of three men who died in the boating accident.
Twitter users reacted swiftly to Gaetz’s tweet, with sports commentator Keith Olbermann calling the candidate a “cheap exploitative humanoid scumbag.”

@mattgaetz Delete your account, you cheap exploitative humanoid scumbag.

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Gaetz responded later to other posts, tweeting that “My point is that while America remains imperfect, so many do so much to enjoy our freedoms. Seems ungrateful to kneel. Just my opinion.”

He later tweeted that he wished "the national discussion was more productive on this stuff."

In his first tweet after hearing the news of Fernandez’s death, Gaetz said he was “crushed” by the news.

I just saw the news on Jose Fernandez. As a Marlin fan, a Floridian and an admirer of the Cuban-American experience I am crushed.

Fernandez was finishing his best major league season, going 16-8 with a 2.86 ERA. He was an all-star for the second time.
He was set to start Monday's Marlins game against the Atlanta Braves.
Gaetz won the GOP primary for his district Aug. 30.

Cox Media Group

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