Peter Schorsch
It’s a banner day for St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. After years of planning, preparation and, to put it mildly, taking heat from everyone who hated the Pier just because it wasn’t the inverted pyramid, his day to celebrate is here.
It’s bad enough the city’s banner celebration had to be silenced from a roar to a whisper because of COVID-19, now Kriseman and his family have to deal with this heartless trolling.
A Twitter user by the name of FloridaGirl (@floridayys) commented on a picture of Kriseman and his lovely wife, Kerry Kriseman, with the vilest of comments.
“Why do liberal females hate themselves so much that they castrate their femininity with those nasty butch haircuts? Fugly.”
To be clear, Mrs. Kriseman is a cancer survivor. Her short hair is a display of heroism, over slaying the beast that is cancer.
This twitter user was commenting on a photo of the Kirsemans in Rep. Anthony Sabatini’s (R-Black Face) hometown of Howey-in-the-Hills for their son’s golf tournament.
Sabatini used a wholesome image of a Mayor and his wife enjoying something that had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the family values Sabatini claims to love so much.
But like so many things, Sabatini was triggered by the fact the couple were wearing face masks, a precaution meant to protect everyone, but especially those vulnerable … like someone overcoming cancer.
Sabatini may not be the one who commented on Mrs. Kriseman’s hair, but his disgusting rhetoric invites those who would.
In fairness, “FloridaGirl” has since deleted the offending tweet. The deletion came only after Mrs. Kriseman bravely stood up for herself.
“I happen to love myself, whether my hair is (passed) my shoulders as it was until Dec. 27, or just growing back after surviving major surgery treatment that also included two blood transfusions and other side effects,” she wrote.
In another, she pointed out that she loves her hair.
“Because until May I had no hair. Since December 2019, I had 6 chemotherapy treatments and 28 days of radiation.”
FloridaGirl deleting her offending tweet seems to suggest she didn’t know Mrs. Kriseman was a cancer survivor, but it doesn’t matter.
Even if Kerry Kriseman had short hair because she favored the no-nonsense style over longer styles, it was an ad hominem attack welcomed by people like Sabatini.
He’s taken on a Trump-style pattern that includes cutting down those with whom he disagrees by any means necessary.
There is no decorum.
He jokes about arming residents against protesters. He calls those who have differing political views names, inciting not policy, but insults that don’t further the conversation.
So it matters not that Sabatini was not the one to hurl a heartless insult *this time.*
Hate begets hate and Sabatini has shown himself a sultan of hate.
Plenty of conservatives reject the science behind mask-wearing, but most do so without resorting to trolling and name-calling.
Sabatini set the tone for this sort of hurtful rhetoric, for ad hominem attacks that do nothing for anyone.
He needs to keep his brand of neanderthal politics in Howey-in-the-Hills. Better, he needs to kick it to the curb altogether.
Play with dignity or get out of the game.
And to Mrs. Kriseman, you keep rocking your beautiful hair, whether it stays short or grows long. You are fierce, and you are lovely.
10 comments
DisplacedCTYankee
July 6, 2020 at 10:32 am
Only Floriduh would have a town named “Howey in the Hills.”
S.B. Anthony
July 6, 2020 at 10:53 am
Sabatini is a despicable, vile human being who should be relegated back to the slimy
bottom of the rock from which he crawled when he’s up for re-election. But no faith
in the hillbillies who elected him, so they deserve what they get. And to Florida Girl,
who posted under that Twitter thread, she’s an embarrassment to the female gender and, obviously,
ugly on the inside.
Linda
July 6, 2020 at 8:54 pm
Mrs Kriseman you are every decent woman’s hero. I’m sure you didn’t allow such a low life to enter your personal space. Like they say, you can’t fix stupid. And your husband has been our steadfast, levelheaded leader here in St Petersburg. Thank God we have him as our Mayor. DeSantass has failed us and I can’t even imagine how he sleeps at night with so much blood on his hands. He’s incompetent and dangerous, just like the Toddler in Chief Trump. I will be praying for you and your hubby. Thank God for his leadership and may you both be blessed with health, wisdom and blessings.
Respectfully,
Linda Beattie.
BlueHeron
July 6, 2020 at 9:21 pm
Mrs. Kriseman, You have the heart of a warrior. I am thankful to have such a person as the First Lady of St. Petersburg. You are an inspiration.
Stay safe and be well.
James Bleyer
July 7, 2020 at 9:28 am
Article on point. Bravo!
Michael. Teresky
July 7, 2020 at 9:24 pm
As a st pete resident what concerns me is the price we r paying for this. Pier. And the upkeep which what was projected. What a joke
Don Marchand
July 15, 2020 at 6:06 pm
I believe you miss the point entirely. This article is about political stupidity and bullying. It’s about Sabatini and his antics. Your harangue about the pier belongs somewhere else.
Keith Morgan
July 7, 2020 at 1:46 pm
Someone please explain to me exactly what the mayor of St Petersburg has to celebrate. This city is a pit and I can’t wait to leave. It just gets worse and worse every year. According to national crime statics, St Petersburg is “safer than 8% of US cities”. That means 92% of the cities in this country are safer to live in than good old St Pete. Sounds like a great place to live and raise a family, right? So I ask again, what exactly is it our mayor should be celebrating?
BlueHeron
July 7, 2020 at 11:06 pm
I will hold the door open for you. Buh bye.
Lisa Shiflett
July 8, 2020 at 7:21 pm
So, agree with you, or leave. What an intellectual you are! LOL I know a lot of people who have left St. Pete but no one who wants to move there.
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