December 4, 2020, 1:40 pm
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy unloaded on Florida Representative Matt Gaetz after photos emerged of the congressman at a crowded gala full of maskless Republicans in Jersey City. After not-really-accidentally calling him “Representative Matt Putz,” Murphy told him in no uncertain terms to stay away from his state.
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“That guy in the middle, the tall, handsome fella in the gray suit, that is Representative Matt Putz — oh sorry, Matt Gaetz — and based upon his past performances, it is obvious being a knucklehead is not beyond the pale for him,” Murphy said at a news conference. “He was actually Sarah Palin’s backup act for this event.”
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“Sarah Palin’s backup act,” for the record, is one of the most vicious burns we’ve witness in quite some time.
Murphy then brought up the photo of Matt Gaetz in the full gas mask he wore on the House floor early in the year to mock the initial mask recommendations made by public health experts, calling it “a scene out of Dr. Strangelove.”
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“What a fool. He and they should be ashamed of themselves,” he continued. “I hope you’re watching Matt — you are not welcome in New Jersey, and frankly I don’t ever want you back in this state.”
Murphy later tweeted these photos and once again referred to the congressman as Matt Putz, confirming that this was not a slip of the tongue.
Gaetz attended the gala put on by the New York City Young Republicans, who for some reason held the event in New Jersey, on Thursday night as a guest of honor. After Murphy’s press conference, #MattPutz was soon trending on Twitter.
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“Mad I didn’t think of it,” wrote comedian Titus.
Gaetz responded to his own verbal slaughter by pretending to be flattered by Murphy calling him “handsome” and dissing every resident of New Jersey, and then himself.
“Thank you for calling me handsome, Governor!” he tweeted, “I’m only considered handsome in New Jersey, though.”
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“In Florida I’m barely a roundup 6.”
Gaetz has been a consistent anti-masker and general COVID-denier since his gas mask stunt in March in spite of being exposed to the virus and having to quarantine for two weeks just days later. He again tested positive for COVID-19 in early November, though he claimed that the test only detected antibodies and that he had “no live virus” in his system.
*First Published: December 4, 2020, 1:40 pm
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