Published: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 4:49 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 4:49 p.m.
WASHINGTON - Congressman Adam Putnam on Wednesday sharply criticized the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for helping to spread a false rumor that tar
balls from the Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico had begun to
appear on one Florida beach.
The agency had posted the rumor as fact on the Twitter social networking
site today and then an hour later posted a retraction, according to a
release issued by Putnam's office in Washington, D.C.
"Florida's beaches remain open, clean and welcoming to all visitors," said
Putnam, a Republican from Bartow. "The prevailing wind and currents have
kept the plume from Florida's shores, and no oil, tar balls or other effects
of the leak have been seen here. If you have plans to visit one of Florida's
beaches, you can expect a very enjoyable time. "
In the release, Putnam admonished all organizations involved in monitoring
the oil leak to avoid spreading inaccurate information that could further
damage Florida's beach tourism industry. Many hotel and resort operators are
reporting high numbers of cancellations even though there have been no signs
of the spill on Florida's shores.
"The oil spill is a very serious matter," Putnam said. "But it serves no
purpose other than to drive people away, further hurting our tourist
industry if agencies of the federal government spread false reports. The old
proverb has it that a lie will have traveled halfway around the world before
the truth has pulled on its boots. That was coined long before Twitter was
invented."
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