Minnesota legislator criticized for NBA tweet

[The Straight Story]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A Minnesota legislator's tweet about the NBA has prompted hundreds of responses, with many on social media calling it racist.

State Rep. Pat Garofalo sent a tweet Sunday that read: "Let's be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in streetcrime."

The Star Tribune reports ( http://strib.mn/1cNB6Ys ) that when asked about the tweet, the Farmington Republican said he was "talking about NBA's high arrest rate and that they are the only major pro league that testing positive for marijuana is not a substance abuse violation."

Garofalo added: "No intent beyond that."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MINNESOTA_LEGISLATOR_NBA_TWEET?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[ZombieHorde]

1. Do the NBA players

have a higher arrest rate than the rest of the US population?

[dionysus]

2. dunno, but it pales in comparison to the NFL arrest rate

[okaawhatever]

3. Well, the bottom 21 teams in attendance (70%) had 10.5 Million people show up to watch the

games. That's only in person. I can't imagine how many million watched on TV. I think that would disprove his "nobody would notice" theory.

[Ken Burch]

4. Tell me this asshole isn't related to Janeane Garofalo n/t.

Also, please tell me he's not in a safe seat.

[Jenoch]

5. It is highly likely they are not related,

he's originally from St. Paul and she's from New Jersey.


I don't know why this guy decided to Tweet this statement, but it likely won't stop him from winning re-election.

If I were an advisor to any person who held elwctive office, I would tell the to atay off most forms of social media.