Bob Koss, MNGOP Senate staffer, calls John Kriesel a 'piece of shit' -- and gets fired [UPDATE]

Bob Koss, MNGOP Senate staffer, calls John Kriesel a "piece of shit" -- and gets fired [UPDATE]

By Aaron Rupar Fri., Nov. 2 2012 at 1:16 PM

Koss (left) called a decorated veteran and Republican legislator a "piece of shit" because he has the audacity to support gay marriage.

Between Michael Brodkorb and Bob Koss, the MNGOP sure knows how to hire 'em, don't they?

SEE ALSO:
-- Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer says disabled Purple Heart recipient John Kriesel has "no courage"
-- Michael Brodkorb says marriage amendment is cynical MNGOP get-out-the-vote ploy

Last night, Koss, a MNGOP Senate caucus legislative assistant (apparently for Sen. Joe Gimse, R-Willmar) who describes himself as a "Wisconsinite outsourced to Minnesota, happily engaged, free-thinking conservative," outed himself as either a really angry drunk, or a man with a deep-seated hatred of disabled veteran Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, or both. Because during an ugly Twitter exchange, Koss called the decorated war hero a "piece of shit," "disgusting," and a "self serving SOB," among other niceties.

Kriesel, a Republican who departs from MNGOP orthodoxy by proudly supporting gay marriage, apparently really knows how to rile up his fellow Republicans. His acrimonious exchange with Koss came just days after Minnesota for Marriage's Andy Parrish called him a "pretend Republican," adding that "John K is all about John K." The dude has his legs blown off in Iraq serving our country, and these are his fellow Republicans calling him these things all because he has the audacity to not give a rip whether you're gay!

Here's the blow-by-blow of the Koss-Kriesel throwdown:

Immediately after Koss dropped his "piece of shit" line, a number of folks, including DFL activist Zack Farley, opined that it should cost Koss his job:

@bobkoss, you work in a taxpayer funded position and called an elected official a piece of shit. You better be fired by morning.
-- Zack Farley (@zackfarley) November 2, 2012

Kriesel, for his part, said it was no big deal:

I retweet idiots for fun, but they don't bother me. I've been through way too much in my life to let a couple people ruin my day.
-- John Kriesel (@johnkriesel) November 2, 2012

An hour or so later, Koss attempted an apology:

@johnkriesel I want to say I'm sorry for how this evolved. It's very personal to me but I approached it in the wrong way. God bless. #mnleg
-- Bob Koss (@BobKoss) November 2, 2012

But Kriesel wasn't having it (Koss later deleted all the offending tweets):

@bobkoss what you said about me "playing my veterans card" was beyond classless. Can't say crazy stuff then just magically retract it.
-- John Kriesel (@johnkriesel) November 2, 2012

What does the future hold for the MNGOP's best and brightest, Mr. Bob Koss? Perhaps a job search... only time and Dave Senjem will tell.

:::: UPDATE ::::

-- 1:16 p.m. -- Koss is no longer employed by the MNGOP Senate caucus, MPR's Tom Scheck reported moments ago.

Though Scheck reports that Steve Sviggum, the spokesman for the MNGOP Senate caucus, wouldn't discuss details about the circumstances of Koss' departure, Koss was fired, according to WCCO's Pat Kessler.

From Scheck:

Sviggum on Koss: "He's not an employee of the Senate anymore. I think it speaks for itself."
-- tomscheck (@tomscheck) November 2, 2012

Tags:

Bob Koss, John Kriesel

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jillionaire

1 Like

These boys are *owned* by their corporate handlers, so let the schoolgirls play tweeter..

Jeff Cagle

Loved Kriesel's responses. Hope he doesn't give up on politics forever.

bobbobson

Frankly, I am sick of all of this.

Kieron

Hey, pass the popcorn!

brentcohen

That fat putz Koss should stick his head in that microwave if it fits. #mixinasaladyouprick

Lady_612

@KirbysLeftEye Holy fuckballs @BobKoss is an idiot. I hope he his GOP ideals mean he won't collect UI.

KirbysLeftEye

@Lady_612 @BobKoss I'm just so glad his behavior caught up with him. He was one of the rudest people I've encountered on Twitter.

Lady_612

@KirbysLeftEye Why was he running his mouth at you?

Lady_612

@KirbysLeftEye Oh, yeah. That's right. What a fucking moron that guy.

KirbysLeftEye

@Lady_612 It was something about when that legislator said something about not seeing american flags at houses with vote no signs.

AndyParrishMN

@Kidsonthekorner @MaxFlyersFan No he is not a pos. will you separate his military service from his political life now?

AndyParrishMN

@MaxFlyersFan I separate his honorable service to our country in the military from his political life.Until you can do that we won't discuss

Julie Haas Myers

I'm guessing the imbecile was drunk tweeting, right? Why else would he be so foolish as to post a political rant on a social media site....oh wait, this is facebook...never mind...

Dana Froehlig

when this d bag koss cant get a job in mn, he should take his sorry ass back to white trash wisconsin

CRZ.

But "douchebag" is OK? Kriesel isn't totally blameless here, although I can understand why the impartial observer might think he's earned a free pass.

MicheleBachmann topcommenter

@CRZ. Only a huge douchebag like Bob Koss would think to make this point.

Sallyjos topcommenter

1 Like

His boss Joe Gimse is in one of the most contested races for the State Senate, so perhaps he'll lose his job that way.

However, Gimse's rival DFL Lyle Koenen voted for the marriage amendment while still serving in the House.

Koenen was elected to replace the late and much-loved Gary Kubly, a thoughtful Lutheran pastor who quit supporting the amendment after seeing the hatefulness of some of its supporters firsthand at the capitol.

I think it's safe to say that had not Kubly been taken from us by Lou Gehrig's disease, redistricting would have matched this gentle, civil man with Gimse, and both the Willmar area Republican and his legislative aid would be looking for work next Wednesday, no contest.

And that would be sweet for those who watched the vilification of former Senate Majority leader Dean Johnson, another Lutheran pastor, over this issue. Indeed, Johnson who had been censured by his local Republican BPOU when he supported including LGBT people in Minnesota's Human Rights law, switched parties in large part because of he thought gay people are people.

It's not surprising given that local history, that Gimse would have a guy like Koss on staff. These attitudes would be perfectly acceptable to the folks in the Willmar area who brought Gimse forward after chasing out Johnson.

So why not trash Kriesel, if that's your political culture? Lovely.

MichaelCrost

What happened to free speech?

Joey

3 Like

@MichaelCrost Nothing. Free speech is there. Speech without consequences is not something that exists, however.

cruhland

@Joey @MichaelCrost Free speech is protected from government censorship. MNGOP is a political organization, not a branch of government, so free speech is not guaranteed to employees.

taylo589

@citypages YES! I love it when politics gets messy!

CinBlueland topcommenter

I'm really hating MN R leadership. Clowns like Sutton and Brodkorb playing games and now this tool shows up..

Koss needs to be fired and taught a lesson that we can have different ideas on various issues. We're not all going to toe the party line.

jimkosmo

4 Like

I always thought of myself as a Republican, but if narrow-minded idiots like Bob Koss speak for the party, count me out. Koss doesn't even belong in the same sentence with John Kriesel, a guy who is honest enough to stand up (even if it's on prosthetic legs) for what he believes. We need more people in government who follow their conscience, not directives from some political hack.

jenboyles

I knew he'd find a way to bring God into it somehow.

ned0

1 Like

Nice to see Koss' ready to drop a Hot Pocket into his desk-side microwave and fire up his tube TV -- perfect accompaniment to his corn-fed social views.

sd20dfl

@citypages Koss should be fired. We should not allow such disrespect of a veteran who sacrificed so much for our country.

GeekAaron

I see @BobKoss's tweets are now protected.

Southsider

@GeekAaron If you would like to let Mr. Koss know how you feel you can email him at robert.koss@senate.mn

erinmgibson

@rbmattson if @BobKoss isn't out of a job by lunchtime, it's an absolute travesty.

MicheleBachmann topcommenter

Not surprised Republicans have problems with respecting a war hero and his military service. That's how Republicans are. Look at thow they treated John Kerry, George McGovern, Max Cleland, and Tammy Duckworth. The Republicans told lies about the military service of those war heroes so why wouldn't they do it to Kriesel? That's why Republicans nominated and support a draft dodging liar like Mitt Romney. When America needed soliders, Mitt Romney hid in a mansion in France. The Romneys have also said the reason none of their children have served in the military was because they worked on their Dad's campaign and that was the same as military service. It's a simple choice people. You can't say you support the troops and then vote for the guys that call them "pieces of shit." Obama respects the truth enough to use them to kill Bin Laden, Republicans chose to us Afgani troops over American troops to catch Bin Laden in Tora Bora and you can see how that turned out. Send a message and vote DFL on Tuesday, let's send Mitt Romney back to his mansion in France where he can keep dodging taxes and military service.