TheQuartering [11/17/2022]
Politico White House editor and MSNBC contributor Sam Stein was slammed on Twitter after he appeared to warn Elon Musk against criticizing powerful Democratic politicians.
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., posted an official Senate letter addressed to Twitter CEO Musk complaining that a Washington Post reporter had been able to create a verified account impersonating him. He tweeted, “I’m asking for answers from @elonmusk who is putting profits over people and his debt over stopping disinformation. Twitter must explain how this happened and how to prevent it from happening again.”
Musk offered a sarcastic response, “Perhaps it is because your real account sounds like a parody?”
Musk responded to one user who had suggested he was taking a major risk by poking fun at a Democrat who that may crack down on Twitter, causing Musk to reply, “Are you suggesting the Senator will abuse his political power to attack me?”
Stein was another sources that floated the warning, tweeting, “Always risky to attack members of congress. Especially risky with Dems assured of Senate power. Curious play by Musk here. He has many interests before Congress.”
Many commentators slammed Stein for his comment, hitting him for the idea of a journalist being afraid to attack a member of Congress as well as doing the government’s bidding and seeming to root for Musk to face consequences for his tweets.
National Review’s Charles C.W. Cooke tweeted, “You are a journalist. Maybe reject this premise?”