Democrats to Paul Ryan: Our summer interns are more diverse than yours
It started out as a fun photo, a selfie that House Speaker Paul Ryan took with interns working for Republicans on Capitol Hill this summer.
Ryan is smiling. The interns are smiling.
“I think this sets a record for the most number of #CapitolHill interns in a single selfie. #SpeakerSelfie,” Ryan wrote when he posted the photo to Instagram.
But very quickly, the picture drew fire.
Why are most of the interns white, social media asked?
The photo made the rounds under hashtags such as #RepublicansSoWhite and #WhiteWash. News publications around the world published it, noting the lack of diversity.
Paul Ryan selfie with capital hill interns #TooMuchWhite https://t.co/xrskb2x95m pic.twitter.com/J0sHOGJV33
— Kevin Smith (@mr_kevinsmith) July 17, 2016
..Paul Ryan has managed to capture all the many colors of whiteness with his latest selfie with interns...such an inclusive leader..
— Franky Stein (@franksnstein) July 18, 2016
The Paul Ryan "Capitol Hill Interns" Selfie looks like a scene from The Wolf of Wall Street - only less diverse. pic.twitter.com/5lBuxzrcyR
— dan barker (@danbarker) July 17, 2016
Ryan got blowback from Democratic colleagues, too.
.@SpeakerRyan, in this day & age, there’s no excuse for not having diverse staff & interns. https://t.co/8SUrigUxaK
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) July 18, 2016
Proud of my phenomenal & accomplished summer 2016 intern crew, who come from many walks of life. pic.twitter.com/HV9IyQpOMJ
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) July 18, 2016
The Democratic Interns on Capitol Hill 2016 #DemInternSelfie pic.twitter.com/ZzUMl4hKoc
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) July 20, 2016
Thank you to all my hardworking #CapitolHill interns! We had a great group this summer. #BecerraSelfie pic.twitter.com/VEJIiL3UtJ
— Xavier Becerra (@RepBecerra) July 18, 2016
Other interns noticed. Audra Jackson, who is working this summer for Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Texas Democrat, gathered fellow Democratic interns for their own selfie.
My intern Audra Jackson led Democratic Interns in their own selfie 2day showing #DemInternDiversity #DemInternSelfie pic.twitter.com/83UcIOKS5s
— US Rep E.B.Johnson (@RepEBJ) July 19, 2016
Ryan has not commented on the photo. TMZ, however, caught up with Michael Steele, former Republican National Committee chairman, at the Republican convention in Cleveland this week and showed him the photo.
“Need to work on that thing,” Steele said.
This story was originally published July 21, 2016 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Democrats to Paul Ryan: Our summer interns are more diverse than yours."