Following a visit to a gun manufacturer in South Carolina on Tuesday, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday tweeted an image of a gun engraved with his name and the caption “America,” inviting mockery on Twitter.
America. pic.twitter.com/TeduJkwQF3
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) February 16, 2016
Twitter users followed suit with their own images of “America.”
.@JebBush America. pic.twitter.com/7LlXYsdvZd
— Mashable (@mashable) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/tHlu4CRyU0
— Robert Bryan (@rbmnjd) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/xqFkPWthiZ
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/SxBMww5RbB
— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/J46SK1yJd1
— Wil Wheaton (@wilw) February 17, 2016
america pic.twitter.com/6AOCgdu9id
— ben™ (@benicus_rex) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/6SPpJuW5me
— Mariya Alexander (@MariyaAlexander) February 16, 2016
America pic.twitter.com/mwOS6XJdca
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/xjJOo9c3fC
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/AJwfz2Y0Fz
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) February 16, 2016
i dont know why we’re doing this but
America pic.twitter.com/KMR4MnW5lS
— Holly Green (@winnersusedrugs) February 16, 2016
America. @JebBush pic.twitter.com/cjJnTQXqZR
— Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano) February 16, 2016
America. https://t.co/iJF59ZXLE0 pic.twitter.com/Lc1mx7MbUm
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) February 16, 2016
Delete your account. https://t.co/UT19AT3Qyg
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 16, 2016
Bush’s campaign called on CBS News to apologize after a reporter described some of the mockery aloud on air.
“There were some people who were supportive, but many said, ‘Your campaign is dying. Please, Governor Bush, don’t take your own life.’ Only in jest, but it shows you how painful things have become for Bush here in South Carolina,” CBS’ Major Garrett said on air, according to a clip recorded by Mediaite.
Kristy Campbell, a spokeswoman for Bush, told CNN on Tuesday that CBS “should apologize.”
“In addition to the mainstream-media’s total lack of understanding when it comes to gun rights and gun culture, it is absolutely inexcusable to make light of suicide,” Campbell said.