Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) triggered a slush of ridicule on Twitter after complaining that the White House hangup up on him when he called to speak to President Biden about a Cuban human rights activist being who was arrested during The Trump administration is still detained on the island.
A spokesperson for Scott said Friday that the senator’s first call was sent to a voicemail and his second call resulted in a disconnection.
Scott then took to Twitter to slam the White House for “shameful cowardice” because he couldn’t talk to the president.
“The White House just hung up on me when I called to talk to someone about the horrific torture and abuse Jose Daniel Ferreris is experiencing as a prisoner of the illegitimate communist Cuban regime,” Scott tweeted.
“This isn’t just weakness, it’s shameful cowardice. I won’t tolerate it,” he added.
Ferrer, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba opposition group, was arrested in October 2019 on charges of abducting and assaulting a man, charges he has denied. He was convicted in February 2020.
As expected, Twitter users reminded Scott about his silence when Ferrer was arrested while Trump was in the White House.
Read Scott’stweet and some of the responses below.
The @WhiteHouse just hung up on me when I called to talk to someone about the horrific torture & abuse @jdanielferrer is experiencing as a prisoner of the illegitimate communist Cuban regime.
This isn’t just weakness, it’s shameful cowardice. I won’t tolerate it. #SOSCuba
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 15, 2021
Why would you call the White House with a CIA matter? Was someone looking for a reason to act like a drama queen?
— Truth ☯️ ♎ (@KCAddison68) December 18, 2021
Obama tried to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, Trump axed it, you should have spoken up during the last presidency.
— Reg (@Redgmac) December 15, 2021
You care about Cuba but not those fleeing countries and coming to our borders?
The answer is build the wall!
It leads me to ask, how do we pick and choose what we care about?
We have people fleeing their own area's risking life and encounters with cartel.— SherryAnn (@SherryW10377709) December 15, 2021
I'm confused….. Do you want the CIA to stage a rescue mission? Is that what you're asking for?
— Sarah Burris (@SarahBurris) December 15, 2021
The United States has no power to control the Cuban legal system, Rick Scott. But I'm delighted that the White House hung up on you. I would have done the same. #GOPCoupAttempt
— Cathy Voisard 🆘 🌊 (@ZPoet) December 15, 2021
That first part made my day
Most of America would hang up in you too, “Senator”
— Cathy (@CathyNotToday) December 15, 2021
Richie, the richest member of congress, because he pillaged Medicare has killed nearly 70,000 floridians. Blowing rhetoric to distract.
— Evie (@Evie653785531) December 15, 2021
Imagine a world where American politicians showed this much concern for our own citizens wrongly incarcerated. I guess that bridge is just too far to stand up for. pic.twitter.com/wCbZVHLNJ8
— Mo (@MoMothegooddog) December 15, 2021
Question: were you this concerned when Mr. Ferrer was arrested in October of 2019?? I know I don't always keep up with everything, so I hope your concern has been consistent through the years regardless of which US administration is in control…
— Suzanne (@SuzanneFLCPA) December 15, 2021
“Once again, I am calling to talk to you about human rights abuses taking place in Cuba!”
“Sir, for the last time, this is White CASTLE”— Tampa News Force (@TampaNewsForce) December 15, 2021
Whoa, whoa, whoa. How is the Cuban government "illegitimate"? Explain that one. Its government is recognized by every country in the world.
— Giraffe Nuts – "Can't touch this!" (@commissar1969) December 15, 2021
Sure Rick. Remember when you set up a hotline for nursing homes during a hurricane and didn't anwser their calls and 13 people died in a nursing home. Then you erased the voicemails before they could be turned over.
— Rsfury98 (@rsfury98) December 15, 2021
Why didn't trump handle it? He had the same opportunity.
— Leslie Warlick (@WarlickLeslie) December 15, 2021
Maybe because the @WhiteHouse doesn’t have to talk to election deniers and insurrection supporters. Maybe when you start acting democratically in USA first then you can preach to POTUS about authoritarian abuses in Cuba. After all, you know all about authoritarians first hand.
— Hands On Cuba (@handsoffcuba) December 16, 2021
Pretty sure you can't just call up the White House and expect to talk to the President, even if you are a Senator. Those kind of calls are arranged through proper channels and then THEY call you.
— Robert Bell (@cabal1202) December 18, 2021
