Mitch Perry
Last week both Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi came under heavy criticism for showing a lack of support towards the gay community after the Orlando shootings, and now the Democratic opponent of Polk County Republican Congressman Dennis Ross is making the same claim about his initial comments.
Democrat Jim Lange is running against Ross in Florida’s 15th Congressional District this year. In a posting on his Facebook page last week, Lange blasted Ross for failing to mention the LGBT community in the statement he released immediately after the massacre took place June 12.
“The LGBT community has long considered you an adversary,” Lange’s missive begins. “You have campaigned and legislated against their interests. Yet, in their darkest hour, you decide to issue a 75-word, tone deaf press release within which you fail to even mention the targeted and massacred community by name. Have you no shame?”
This was Ross’ statement, issued out on June 12.
“Cindy and I are heartbroken by the senseless loss of life that occurred in Orlando. Our community is reeling from this tragedy. I am deeply grateful to our law enforcement officials as they investigate and begin to find answers to this evil act. I ask all Americans to join me in prayer for the victims and their families. Floridians are strong, and we will heal and become stronger. God be with us during this extremely difficult period.”
Lange went further in his post, writing, “You have no moral standing to discuss the pain and anguish caused by the massacre in Orlando. You have consistently demonized this community with your “family values” brand of intolerance. They feel you have some culpability in this hate crime. It’s impossible not to agree. America is hurting now and will be for some time. If you have any shred of decency you will invoke your right to remain silent, as anything you say can and WILL be held against you from this point forward, so help me God.”
Lange (who officially qualified for the ballot on Monday) is running an uphill campaign to try to oust Ross, who has served as the congressman in CD 15 since 2010.
Two days after the attack, Gov. Scott did finally address the fact that the violence that took place occurred at a gay nightclub, tweeting, “We pray for our LGBT community. Our Hispanic community. Our state. Our nation. This was an attack on every American. We are #OrlandoStrong.”
Bondi had a noted confrontation with CNN’s Anderson Cooper last Tuesday, after he questioned her claims of being an LGBT ally in the wake of the shooting, when she once argued that gay marriage would “impose significant public harm.”
A spokesman for Ross’ campaign said they would not respond to Lange’s comments.
