Gavarone goes out of bounds

A state senator went all creepy at social media in recent weeks, posting attacks on the president-elect — and others — and making false statements about what the potential impact of a controversial gun law she championed will be. After one offensive post on Jan. 13 stirred backlash Theresa Gavarone blamed the person managing her social media accounts for the mistake. But her try at correcting the first Tweet led to even more followers questioning her integrity. I agree entirely with what one Twitter user said in response to Gavarone's feed. "When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression." Gavarone claims she's not the one posting at her page. I hope that is true. I believed the Sen. Gavarone I met, interviewed, the one we reported about in news stories and in lead up to the November election was intelligent and thoughtful. The person tapping the keyboard behind her Twitter feed seems a little bit hateful, a little bit racist and downright super-spreader arrogant. The keyboard tapper is dealing out posts in a fascist manner, identifying false victimhood and blaming false enemies for causing fake misery. In one post, white males were the victim because they might not get their fair share of pandemic relief money if "minority-owned businesses and female-owned businesses" got an equal and fair share. I agree entirely with what another Twitter user said in response to Gavarone's feed. "Sounds like you need new staff that respects the diversity of our country. At the end of the day, you're responsible for your social media. You should be ashamed." It's a surprise, even, that a junior state senator would have funding available — in the midst of a pandemic and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression — to hire a social media accounts manager. Even in better times, that would seem disingenuous. But if she does have a taxpayer budget to hire someone to be her on social media, I suggest she re-evaluate the person she's got and perhaps have someone in that job with empathy who will have integrity and be a force for good. And for her next post, Gavarone or whomever she hires to be her on social media, should write about what white privilege means to her.