Politics & Government
Jaime Harrison campaign aides apologize for their old homophobic, anti-Semitic tweets
Two staff members working on Democrat Jaime Harrison’s U.S. Senate campaign have apologized for years-old anti-Semitic, homophobic and sexist tweets that recently surfaced.
Campaign spokesman Guy King, a gay Black man who according to the campaign has been open about his sexuality since high school, apologized for the tweets sent out between 2010 and 2014 while he was in high school and college that used sexual language that objectifies women.
“These words are not consistent with my character or what is in my heart,” King wrote in an email written to his fellow campaign staffers and shared with The State. “As a Black gay man, I know how hurtful words like this can be and have experienced the pain that comments like this can cause. I hope anyone hurt by these words accepts my heartfelt apology.”
Political Director Bre Maxwell, who previously worked for House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn as a district scheduler, sent out tweets in 2012, 2013 and 2014, when she was she between the ages 27 and 29 that were anti-Semitic.
“They do not reflect who I am, my values, or the principles I work so hard to uphold,” Maxwell wrote in an email to campaign staff members. “I have been on the receiving end of hurtful remarks because of my background, and never wanted my words to be a source of pain for any community. I will be dedicating myself to learning from my mistakes.”
In one tweet, Maxwell was critical of the word ghetto.
“Naw this isn’t ghetto because ghetto is a Jewish term and the jewish Americans are wealthy ... this is a mess.”
In another tweet, Maxwell said, “Hitler’s side chick is all over my (timeline). She’s Jews but I guess her dumb self didn’t realize Hitler was a Jew.”
In one tweet, she also used a gay slur.
The tweets were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
Harrison, who is challenging three-term Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham, in an emailed statement called the comments reprehensible.
“That language has no place in our state,” Harrison said. “Although these tweets are many years old, inexperience is no excuse for such inappropriate language, and I have addressed this personally with these individuals and my entire team.”
Campaign manager Zack Carroll said in an email the matter would be handled internally.
“These inappropriate tweets are inconsistent with the values of our campaign and violate our employee policies,” Carroll said in an email to The State.
The S.C. Republican Party called on Harrison to “correct his staff’s rhetoric.”
“Not only are these tweets insulting and degrading, they show what Harrison’s campaign staff thinks about the issues,” said SCGOP Executive Director Hope Walker. “The foul language shows the Democrats’ main talking points only apply when it suits their agenda, and that’s just one more reason why S.C. will reelect Senator Graham in November.”
Harrison and Graham are locked in a close race, with a poll having the race tied at 48%.
Maxwell also praised Louis Farrakhan’s speech at former Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry’s funeral.
In one tweet, King says “girl tonight your the prey and im the hunter (sic).”
The tweet is a quote from the song “Scream” by Usher, in which Usher sings about a consensual sexual encounter.
A tweet about rape was a quote from the show The Boondocks.
SC Equality Executive Director Jeff Ayers defended the Harrison campaign.
“I have known Jaime and his team for a long time, and the statements made on Twitter don’t represent the fine team I know,” Ayers said in an emailed statement. “Bre was once a board member for SC Equality and has done amazing work for the LGBTQ community. Let’s get back to focusing on the campaign.”
Danielle Vinson, a professor of politics and international affairs at Furman University, said the tweets may matter in the eyes of voters as staffers and their comments may reflect upon the candidate.
Previous statements and actions have come more into light with the MeToo movement.
“As a candidate, you can’t control everything your staff ever said, but you can’t ignore it,” Vinson said.
Vinson said the age of the person and context of the tweets are important, and it’s important for staffers and campaigns to acknowledge the mistakes and work to correct it.
Vinson said staffers should consider cleaning up their social media or updating their privacy settings.
“I think it makes sense. You will be in the public eye because of what you’re doing,” Vinson said.
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