Titanic Crew's Oxygen Depleted, But Focus Shifts To Sub CEO's Political Affiliation

Earlier, while the crew was still in danger, progressive-liberal publication, the New Republic, published an article about the Republican affiliation of Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate and a crew member on the submersible. The article, titled "OceanGate CEO Missing in Titanic Sub Had History of Donating to GOP Candidates," was met with widespread criticism online. The backlash was so severe that the New Republic removed its corresponding Twitter post from the platform.

The article, written by Daniel Strauss, highlighted Rush's history of donating to Republican candidates. Strauss noted that Rush was not a significant Republican donor, but his donations over the years leaned heavily toward Republican candidates. The article also mentioned that Rush had donated $1,500 to former Republican Rep. John Culberson, who had a 100 percent scorecard rating from the conservative Family Research Council, a 92 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union, and a 4 percent lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters.

 WATCH: BYRON DONALDS ENGAGES WITH HAMAS SUPPORTERS

The article's focus on Rush's political affiliation was criticized by many, including investigative reporter Matt Taibbi, who called it a "new low on Twitter." National Journalism Center program director T. Becket Adams also criticized the article, saying that the New Republic's use of the past tense in the headline ("had") suggested that the publication knew something the rest of us didn't. Adams added that the entire article was a "how-to for how NOT to do journalism."

 THE UNSEEN VICTIMS OF WAR: HOW RUSSIA'S INVASION LEFT THOUSANDS OF DISABLED UKRAINIANS IN PERIL

The New Republic removed the article from Twitter and published another piece, this time bemoaning the massive interest in the fate of the OceanGate Titan crew. Staff writer Alex Shephard suggested that the media had ignored the frequent maritime deaths of illegal immigrants in the Mediterranean.

 WATCH MAYOR ADAMS: "YOU DON'T TAKE OVER OUR BUILDINGS AND PUT ANOTHER FLAG UP"

June 22, 2023

The New Republic was not alone in its insensitivity. Elie Mystal, a leftist MSNBC contributor and correspondent for the Nation, tweeted about the sinking of conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

 WATCH: DOJ SET TO INDICT TEXAS DEMOCRAT REP.HENRY CUELLER, WHAT'S AT STAKE, YOU ASK?

The focus on Rush's political affiliation during a life-threatening situation was widely criticized as insensitive and inappropriate. The crew of the OceanGate submersible is still missing, and our thoughts are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time.