Congressman Andy Harris is calling for the resignation of the president of the Harford County Education Association after he tweeted a “sarcastic” comment about the fatal train crash carrying Republican congressional officials.
The teacher’s union official, Ryan Burbey, has since deleted his initial post on Facebook but posted an apology referencing his joke:
"I am sorry. I posted an insensitive comment about the GOP train wreck into the dump truck. "Karma" I was being sarcastic. I did not read the article to see that anyone was hurt. It was not meant to offend anyone or make light of someone being harmed. I don't want anyone to ever be hurt or killed. Those who know me know this. I took the photo down. I am sorry if you were offended. It was not a partisan smear. I found the incident ironic given that Congress has failed to fund Amtrak safety measures. I hope folks can forgive a moment of insensitivity."
Rep. Harris, whose district includes parts of Harford County, released the following statement Thursday:
“As a member of the Education Subcommittee on Appropriations, I am appalled by Mr. Burbey’s decision to mock yesterday’s train crash that resulted in Christopher Foley’s death. This type of toxic, blindly partisan rhetoric is counter-productive and hateful, and it has no place in our educational system. Mr. Burbey has clearly disgraced his position as president of the Harford County Education Association. Because blatant partisanship and such stunning lack of compassion have no place in public education, he should resign immediately, and owes a sincere apology to the family of Mr. Foley, the other individual who was critically injured, and to all the citizens of Harford County whose trust he violated.”
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