Leftist Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress (CAP) and a former campaign staffer for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, tweeted her glee that Fox News acting CEO Rupert Murdoch’s mansion in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles was burned down in a wildfire.
Tanden retweeted an NBC News report of Murdoch’s mansion going up in flames, with the caption: “There’s a God. And she’s unhappy.”
Twitter screenshot of Neera Tanden delighting in Rupert Murdoch’s house burning down.
Tanden received a great deal of flak for this comment.
“If you live in LA, this is what a Clinton flack thinks of your suffering,” one user tweeted.
https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/938481726241812480
New York Post op-ed editor Seth Mandel noted that Tanden cheered on the fire “like a ghoul.”
https://twitter.com/SethAMandel/status/938485118557188096
Around the same time, liberal TV personality Chelsea Handler had to evacuate her house. She added a political twist to the message: “It’s like Donald Trump is setting the world on fire. Literally and figuratively. Stay safe everyone. Dark times.”
Just evacuated my house. It’s like Donald Trump is setting the world on fire. Literally and figuratively. Stay safe everyone. Dark times.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) December 6, 2017
Does this make Donald Trump God?
Conservative author Charles C. Cooke replied to Tanden’s tweet, asking: “Why does God hate Chelsea Handler?”
Why does God hate Chelsea Handler? https://t.co/1g2RosHe8C
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) December 6, 2017
After some of the backlash, Tanden clarified that she wasn’t wishing such destruction on her political enemies, she just wanted to “note the Karma.”
I do not hope for such things at all. I just note the Karma.
— Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) December 6, 2017
A few hours later, Tanden caved and deleted the tweet. “I’m deleting this tweet. It wasn’t funny when so many are hurting and scared. Feel badly about it,” she said.
I’m deleting this tweet. It wasn’t funny when so many are hurting and scared. Feel badly about it.
— Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) December 6, 2017
Flames engulfed the Murdoch Moraga Estate, a $30 million home and vineyard. The wildfire has spread over 50 acres, and has been dubbed the Skirball fire due to its proximity to the Skirball Cultural Center.
Tens of thousands of people have left their homes as fires devastate Southern California.
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