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MSNBC Tweet Calling Republicans Racist Deleted After Online Backlash

Published on: January 30, 2014 at 12:51 PM
By Tara Dodrill

MSNBC deleted a tweet calling Republicans racist just moments after it was published and an outpouring of backlash began. The controversial tweet from the news network referred to a biracial Cheerios boxcover photo which was just launched.

The MSNBC tweet read:

“Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/biracial family”

MSNBC host Melissa Harris Perry recently apologized on air after comments on her show appeared to reference Republican racism as well. Harris Perry and her guest seemed to poke fun of a Mitt Romney family photo which included his adopted black grandson.

After the network removed the tweet alleging racism by the GOP from its official Twitter account, an apology tweet was published. The social media platform went wild after the initial tweet bashing the rightwing was published. Self-proclaimed rightwing user Michael Hausam posted both his thoughts about the MSNBC tweet and a photo of himself with his biracial daughters.

Political analyst Michelle Malkin posted this in response to the MSNBC rightwing racism claims:

“Hi @msnc cretins: I am ‘rightwing’ & my kids are biracial. Take your self-righteous hatred and shove it. RT if you agree!”

Malkin’s posted was retweeted thousands of times within moments by her Republican and Libertarian followers. She started a #MyRightwingBiracialFamily hashtag and shared images of her children as well. “We love Cheerios. Enough with your race card crap,” Malkin added. Thousands of Republican biracial family photos were posted to Twitter in rapid succession after Malkin’s hashtag caught on in cyber space.

The MSNBC apology reads:

“Earlier this account tweeted an offensive line about the new Cheerios ad. We deeply regret it. It does not reflect the position of MSNBC.”

Many Twitter users as well as members of other social media platforms do not feel the apology goes either far enough or is sincere. Comments questions the true mindset of MSNBC abounded. Many do not believe that the news network does not push a race card or Republican racism mindset due to the comments and posts made by hosts, guests, and official company social network feeds.

Republican National Committee Head Reince Priebus sent a letter to MSNBC President Phil Griffin demanding that the network officially apologize to all conservatives. Priebus is also urging Republicans to boycott the news channel.

An excerpt from Reince Priebus’ letter reads:

“Until he [Griffin] takes internal corrective action and personally apologies – not just to the RNC but to all right-of-center Americans – I’m banning all RNC staff from appearing on, associating with, or booking any RNC surrogates on MSNBC.”

[Image Via: Shutterstock.com ]

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