A state senate staffer lost his job Friday after a Twitter squabble with outgoing state Rep. John Krieisel.
The incident started over a political ad featuring Kriesel, a veteran who lost both legs in Iraq, expressing his support for gay marriage – one of only two Republicans to vote against putting the marriage amendment on the ballot come Election Day.
The ad didn't sit well with Bob Koss, a legislative assistant with the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus.
On Twitter Thursday night, Koss wrote: "Just saw the @JohnKriesel gay marriage ad. Really glad the RINO (Republican in Name Only) will be leaving the legislature good riddance."
Kriesel tweets back, "Thanks douche bag," and then things get nasty.
Koss tweets: ""Wow, so the piece of s*** representative confirmed by long standing belief #mnleg." Later saying, "@johnkriesel Go ahead and play your veterans card to shreds as you've done. You're a self serving SOB and I pity you."
An hour later, Koss apologizes, adding "God bless," but the damage was done.
This afternoon a spokesperson said, "he is no long an employee of the Minnesota Senate,' but wouldn't say if he resigned or was fired.
The Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus has a social media policy that advises staffers to avoid taking stands on controversial issues, and also not to directly engage DFL members.
It doesn't say the obvious – disagreements are fine – but don't call a veteran who courageously gave this country so much a piece of anything.
FOX 9 spoke with Koss very briefly on the phone Friday, but he also declined to say whether he was fired or if he resigned.
Kriesel did not return calls Friday, but looking at his Twitter feed, it appears he's gone hunting up north.
A GOP senate staffer is out of a job after critiquing Rep. John Kriesel's support of gay marriage.
