Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) has received criticism for his suggestion that Kyle Kashuv, a Parkland shooting survivor and vocal gun rights advocate, get stoned in California.
Was I just encouraged by a Congressman to smoke weed when I am 21? Yes, legally, but still. Holy smikee, batman! pic.twitter.com/a2kExgeUPx
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) April 15, 2018
Lieu’s tweet was in response to a Kashuv tweet calling California a “kakistocracy.”
California's kakistocracy is collapsing after its lamentable journey https://t.co/FQVucNS4Co
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) April 15, 2018
People online thought it was a bit odd for a sitting congressman to suggest a teenager get stoned, even if he said Kashuv should wait until he’s 21.
https://twitter.com/JohnathanJett/status/985577192615792640
If I were the parents of Kyle Kashuv I'd have local law enforcement tapping on Ted Lieu's door. https://t.co/PFeixW9Mrl
— Tonya (@watchingfoxes) April 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/SheepdogSmokey/status/985904868169830405
Yeah… today's left…the idiot Congressman @tedlieu encouraging youth to visit California, not for college or education, but to smoke weed… https://t.co/RROJo2AJdj
— Tony Shaffer (Pronouns: Apocalypse/Now) (@T_S_P_O_O_K_Y) April 15, 2018
Others pointed out that those upset were being willfully misleading about the contents of Lieu’s tweet.
https://twitter.com/quinncy/status/985698590247956480
In response to the backlash, Lieu deleted the tweet and issued an apology. “While I am proud of California’s legal cannabis law, I can see why saying this to you can be misinterpreted because you are not 21,” he wrote. “I hereby apologize. You should listen to your parents.”
I have now read the comments to my response to you. While I am proud of California's legal cannabis law, I can see why saying this to you can be misinterpreted because you are not 21. I hereby apologize. You should listen to your parents. I will hereby delete the prior tweet.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) April 15, 2018