Daniel Strauss, a writer for The New Republic, recently implied that OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush deserved to die for his political beliefs.
Rush Had a History of Donating to the Republican Party
In his article, Strauss wrote: “Public campaign finance records indicate that Stockton Rush has been a consistent Republican donor over the years. Rush was not a Republican megadonor, but his donations over the years leaned heavily toward Republican candidates”.
Strauss Isn’t New to Journalism
You’d expect an experienced journalist to be more careful with their words and you’d expect the editors of a professional publication to catch issues like this but, despite Strauss’ experience, the article was still published. The writer has worked for several publications, including The Guardian, Politico, Talking Points Memo, and The Hill.
Rush Wasn’t Perfect but Didn’t Deserve to Die
Stockton Rush was far from the perfect human being, allegedly ignoring several red flags in regards to the Titan sub. The CEO was reported to have confirmed that he bought discounted carbon fibre for the sub – carbon fibre that was past its shelf life for use in airplanes. When questioned, Rush was dismissive and claimed it was “fine”.
The Negligent Practice Doesn’t Stop There
David Lochridge, who worked at OceanGate, reportedly found that an iridium satellite beacon had been secured with zip ties, that the floor was highly flammable, and that the thruster cables were snagging hazards. The employee voiced his concerns, warning Rush that he risked killing “himself and others in the quest to boost his ego” and that the Titan was “an accident waiting to happen.” He was promptly fired.
Rush Also Dismissed Reports of Strange Sounds
Footage exists of Stockton Rush dismissing a crew member’s concerns about a loud banging noise. Moreover, Karl Stanley – a sub expert – told the CEO that he heard something which sounded like part of the Titan was being crushed. Rush claimed the noise was normal creaking. In an email to the CEO, Stanley said the noise “sounded like a flaw/defect in one area being acted on by the tremendous pressures and being crushed/damaged”.
Disliking the CEO Is Understandable
All things considered, disdain for the OceanGate CEO is more than understandable. If all the reports are true, Rush is likely responsible for his death and the deaths of the four other passengers. That, combined with his past of donating to a political party with a racist and anti-LGBTQ+ history, is going to make him an extremely unlikable person to a lot of people. Regardless, implying he deserved to die is undoubtedly taking things way too far.
Online Commenters Had Plenty to Say About Strauss’ Article
As always, individuals across social media rushed to comment sections to share their thoughts. “That ain’t cool. Nothing compared to right wing media. But still not cool,” a Redditor wrote while another said, “I can’t say I care about who he donated to. He cut corners and the luck ran out”.
Not Everyone on Reddit Was So Understanding
“You missed the point. Leftist media are being scumbags for pointing it out,” a Redditor replied to the latter comment. Others critisized Strauss and The New Republic for a lack of empathy.
Twitter Was Torn
Twitter users were divided on the matter. California Congressman Darrall Issa didn’t understand Strauss’ angle. He called the article “gross” and asked why it mattered, in a life or death emergency, whether Rush was a Republican or a Democrat. Not everyone agreed, with another Twitter user telling Issa he wouldn’t “get so offended” if he didn’t “rely on rags for news”.
Emotions Were High Across the Web
In the comments of an article by the New York Post, one person said it wouldn’t surprise them if employees of The New Republic “lived in the zoo.” They said that the “degree to which these supposedly educated and intellectual people act as absolute children and with zero self-control over what they say or type” is “fascinating” to them. “Forget the lack of class. The impulsivity and lack of any emotional compass is even worse,” they continued. Another individual said, “I’m left-leaning politically, but I agree the piece is in terrible taste. When faced with human tragedy, someone’s political affiliation doesn’t matter.”
It Wasn’t a Direct Statement
Now, it’s important to remember that Strauss didn’t directly claim that Stockton Rush deserved to die. However, it is what many people – particularly Republicans and other right-wing individuals – inferred. It’s entirely possible that it wasn’t Strauss’ intention to make such an implication and that he simply meant to report on new information about the CEO in light of all the other OceanGate controversies. Regardless of his intention, as an experienced journalist, he should’ve been more careful with his words and, as a professional publication, The New Republic should’ve known better.
The Article Remains Published
Despite the uproar, The New Republic has yet to take down the article.