Reporter Gets Roasted on Twitter for Accusing Rep. Maxine Waters of 'Shoving' Him

Reporter Michael Tracey got roasted by Twitter users after accusing Rep. Maxine Waters of shoving him at an event in Los Angeles.

June 5, 2017

This is a photo of Maxine Waters. — Image via Getty/Jason LaVeris
Getty

A rise in divisive politics has created tension around the globe, as factions from both sides of the political aisle clash over their beliefs. That has extended to the press covering the political scene, who have been caught in crossfire of an angry electorate and the candidates representing them.

One reporter appeared as though he might have been the latest victim of such an attack. Michael Tracey, a journalist for The Young Turks, questioned legendary Representative Maxine Waters outside an event in Los Angeles. He initially claimed he was shoved by Waters when he tried to question her.

At first, social media was ready to take his claim seriously. But the video hit Twitter soon after he called her actions "erratic" and "unprofessional," and they made things a whole lot worse for Tracey.

Once Twitter saw that Waters simply pushed his mic out of her face, rather than "shoving" him, they let loose a barrage of parodies related to his claim, comparing the event to recurring gags you might see in a Looney Tunes cartoon.

If you're going to accuse a 78-year-old Congresswoman of "shoving" you and this tape is the best you have, you'd be a lot better off just deleting that tweet you had prepared and moving on. Instead, Tracey turned a non-event into an attempt to discredit a woman whose reputation dates back decades, and his own reputation suffered as a result.

There's a lesson here, kids—understand the consequences of what you say, and especially understand them when you know the footage is out there.