Texas deputy attorney general pays the price for mocking Simone Biles

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Americans and gymnastics fans alike were shocked this Tuesday at the news that Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles opted to withdraw from an event after failing to land a challenging vault. Biles' announcement came as a shock because many saw her as the American face of the Tokyo Olympics; however, while some were disappointed, others applauded Biles for her courage to stand up for herself and put her health above the sport.

Of course, many of those who took the opportunity to immediately criticize Biles were conservatives. After a conservative media publisher posted a video of Kerri Strug’s performance from 25 years ago, during which the legendary gymnast battled through a serious ankle injury to help the U.S. women’s team, other conservatives took to criticizing Biles in a less subtle way. “Contrast this with our selfish, childish national embarrassment, Simone Biles,” Aaron Reitz, Texas’ deputy attorney general, wrote in a tweet that included the Strug video.

Other Texans quickly joined Reitz, including a conservative radio host who wrote a column on how Biles’ decision “reveals our softened world,” the Houston Chronicle reported. But of course, not every conservative or Texan agreed with this bigotry. Reitz’s boss, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, called out Reitz’s inappropriate behavior indirectly by noting that he learned “one of our employees” made a “very inappropriate and insensitive tweet.” He added that the matter would be “handled internally.”

Paxton also took the opportunity to show his support for Biles, stating,: “I know Simone Biles—she is a fantastic athlete but an even better person. Mental health is far more important than any athletic competition and I fully support her decision.”

Within six hours of Paxton’s comment, Reitz not only deleted his original tweet but issued an apology on Twitter. “I owe [Simone Biles] an apology. A big one,” he said. “I can’t imagine what Simone Biles has gone through. Simone Biles is a true patriot and one of the greatest gymnasts of our time. I apologize to her, and wish her well.”

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/7/29/2042521/--Childish-national-embarrassment-GOP-mocks-Simone-Biles-for-prioritizing-mental-health

[Skittles]

1. jeez

how fucked up do you have to be if KEN FUCKING PAXTON calls you out on it???

[malaise]

2. THIS

[Skittles]

3. whassup malaise

it's crazy fucked up here in Texas; the heat must be getting to Paxton....I mean, that's evidence he may be an actual human fucking being

[malaise]

4. We've been having some afternoon rain this week

so it's not unbearable. It's 82°F now but will be in the 90s tomorrow. Shoudl get some more rain on Sunday.
The good news is that the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico are quiet FOR NOW. This will warm up next month.

[Skittles]

6. here it's triple degrees, but an imminent COLD FRONT will knock it down to.....mid-ninetles!

[malaise]

8. In 2019 the temperature here went above 100 - 102.3F

That was a first for Kingston. Can't wait for September when it starts cooling down.

[Skittles]

10. I can do without the 111 degree heat index

I am Nordic and only survive with A/C!!!

[walkingman]

14. Wrong, the MF is far from being a "decent" human being. He is a dumbass redneck shitkicker.

[mcar]

11. Right?

[Blue_true]

5. I saw a particularly scary picture a few minutes ago.

The picture was taken at an angle that showed Biles’ face as she came down out of the air during that vault. It is clear that she was terrified, her face was contorted and her eyes were wide. Something clearly was wrong and she knew there was no safe way for her to continue, and if she tried, she would have removed her teammates from medal contention.

[moonscape]

12. Or worse, seriously injured herself. n/t

[Blue_true]

13. Yes. nt

[NQAS]

7. And struggle stopped competing

Her coach forced her to continue competing. Ah, good times.

Then Struggle left gymnastics and is remembered that one thing for one thing. Simone Bikes has moved named after her. She runs a gymnastics center. She is generally regarded as the GoAT. I wonder if her being Black has anything to do with the contempt from smug white men?

[UTUSN]

9. "handled internally" - by PAXTON hah. Teh paxt having good week Drumpf picking

him over Pee Shrub, this chance to pretend decency, sued by DOJ ...

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. I recall being appalled that Kerri Strug was

bullied into performing another vault when she'd already broke her ankle. That kind of thing should NEVER happen.

I've never been a gymnast, never competed in any sport, but I've always thought that taking care of yourself and your body is extremely important. I have no idea what it is like to be Biles. But I do know she needs to make her own decisions here. The same assholes who say, "My body, my choice" when refusing to vaccinate have the NERVE to say Biles can't make her own decisions about her body? Really?