Twitchy getting to you? Rubio's Chief of Staff protects his Twitter account; Update: Claims he's taking a Twitter break

adambrickley | 9:06 PM on May 02, 2013

It’s official, Sen. Marco Rubio’s Chief of Staff is no longer an available source for Twitchy stories. Cesar Conda, whom we’ve knocked multiple times for his grandiose misstatements about Rubio’s proposed immigration legislation, has protected his tweets so that mean little Twitchy-birds can’t find them.

That’s a sign of free, open debate! Or not.

@CTIronman Thanks. I just thought he hadn't posted in a while. I've applied!

— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) May 2, 2013

On tenterhooks: Will Rubio chief of staff @CesarConda give me permission to view his now-protected tweets? #walkaroundblocktocalmnerves

— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) May 2, 2013

@kausmickey @CesarConda – Cesar's tweets are now protected…? That's a big red flag right there. #harbingerofdefeat

— ┊radιo corpѕ ? (@radiocorps) May 2, 2013

We submitted a “follow” request to Conda this morning. So far our request has not been approved.

People protect their tweets all the time, but it’s a bit of an unusual step for a widely watched policymaker — especially someone whose tweets have become a subplot in a contentious legislative battle.

If someone needs to protect his account so that critics can’t critique his declarations, that’s telling. A strong argument does not need to be hidden from public view.

Update:

The Washington Examiner’s Byron York reached out to Conda to ask why he locked down his Twitter account.