Puerto Rico’s Speaker of the House Suggests Adviser’s Racist Obama Tweets Were “Unacceptable”

As her adviser (and Chief of Staff) continues to face a controversy for racist tweets she made about President Obama, Puerto Rico's Speaker of the House Jenniffer González issued a statement suggesting that comments such as the ones Heidi Wys Toro's made were "unacceptable."

Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico's Speaker of the House

The statement does not specifically call out Wys Toro for the tweets, nor does it mention that Wys Toro will face any disciplinary action for what she tweeted. Here are are two screen captures of what Wys Toro has tweeted:

González says that people need to be careful on social media, and she can't be overseeing the comments of others and how they behave on social media. Here is a of what González issued (with our English translation included):

Las expresiones que se difunden no son aceptables, no representan mi sentir y son responsabilidad exclusiva de quien las escribió. Esta Cámara y esta Presidenta no se solidarizan para nada con las mismas. Si alguien ha sido víctima de la burla he sido yo, si alguien ha tomado con mucha madurez y tolerancia el ataque bajo hacia mi persona he sido yo, si alguien ha tenido el aguante para llenarse de paz con una combinación de sentido del humor ante el ataque bajo de muchos y muchas, he sido yo. Jamás favorecería este u otro tipo de expresión que se aleja de mi estilo.

El pueblo sabe que no soy partidaria de este tipo de burla como tampoco la patrocino. Quien me conoce bien, sabe que no es mi forma de pensar.

Aprovecho la oportunidad para hacer un llamado a todos y a todas los empleados y contratistas de la Cámara de Representantes a ser prudentes en el uso de las redes sociales, lamentablemente, esto dejó de ser algo de uso personal y todos y todas nos exponemos al rebote de las mismas. Es imposible y no me corresponde monitorear las cuentas de cada contratista o empleado de la Cámara de Representantes, sea del partido que sea, porque algunos pudieran cuestionar su derecho a la libre expresión.

No obstante, es responsabilidad de cada cual medir su expresión respetando siempre los derechos que también sabemos exigir. Reitero mi pedido para modificar este tipo de expresión en beneficio de todos y todas.

Here is our English translation:

The opinions and expressions being shared in public are not acceptable. They do not represent my opinion and are the sole responsibility of the person who wrote them. This House and this President will not sympathize at all with them. If anyone has been the victim of jokes, it has been me, if someone has approached such attacks taken with great maturity and tolerance, it has been me, if anyone has had the stamina for peace filled with a combination of humor to the under attack from many and many, it has been me. Never would I favor this or any other type of expression. That is just not my style.   

The people know that I am not in favor of this type of ridicule nor do I sponsor it. Anyone who knows me knows that's not my way of thinking.   

I take this opportunity to appeal to each and all employees and contractors of the House of Representatives to be prudent in the use of social networks. Unfortunately, this was no longer something personal and everyone we expose ourselves to will come back to us. It is impossible for me to monitor the accounts of each contractor or employee of the House of Representatives, nor matter what party they belong to, because some might question his or her right to free expression. 

However, it is the responsibility of each person to monitor their opinions while respecting the rights that we know we should all adhere to. I reiterate my request to modify this type of opinion for the benefit of all.