On Thursday, the official Twitter account for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) sent out a tweet regarding a Democratic Congressman’s personal life.

Looks like Mrs. Cunningham likes a man who supports baseless impeachment…wonder if this will come up in @RepCunningham‘s

marriage counseling? https://t.co/vohwHpDi5Q #SC01 pic.twitter.com/SN2ppw1th4 — NRCC (@NRCC) September 26, 2019

The photo in the tweet is a screenshot of an Instagram post from Rep. Joe Cunningham’s (D-SC) wife Amanda. In the post, Amanda Cunningham shares a tweet from 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke writing about impeachment proceedings, adding the caption: “Beto getting bolder and I like it.”

The NRCC tweet, which shows Cunningham’s Instagram post, reads, “Looks like Mrs. Cunningham likes a man who supports baseless impeachment … wonder if this will come up in @RepCunningham‘s marriage counseling?”

The tweet received significant blowback, with commenters calling it “gross” and “embarrassing.” One user even called the tweet “everything that’s wrong with politics in the digital era.”

Jon Favreau, former speechwriter for Obama, wrote, “You’re f***ing garbage. Go lose more elections.” The NRCC account sent back a meme of a shaking PC Principle from “South Park,” with a text overlay that reads, “Triggering Intensifies.”

Political analyst and former McCain and Kasich strategist John Weaver wrote, “What is wrong with you people?”

NRCC Communications Director Chris Pack replied, “It’s not our fault that @RepCunningham’s wife publicly complains about having to pay for her marriage counseling, John. Take it up with her.”

It’s not our fault that @RepCunningham‘s wife publicly complains about having to pay for her marriage counseling, John. Take it up with her. #SC01 https://t.co/xlhy2wImdx — Chris Pack (@ChrisPack716) September 26, 2019

User @conorjrogers hit back, writing, “That it’s ‘not your fault’ doesn’t mean you turn it into an attack and troll someone seeking therapy. It’s not like you’re making some kind of argument here about why counseling shouldn’t be covered, just being crass and attacking a spouse. Take a step back and look at this.”

That it’s “not your fault” doesn’t mean you turn it into an attack and troll someone seeking therapy. It’s not like you’re making some kind of argument here about why counseling shouldn’t be covered, just being crass and attacking a spouse. Take a step back and look at this. — chasten for president (@conorjrogers) September 26, 2019

Pack’s reply was in reference to an Instagram video from Amanda Cunningham in which she complains that mental health-related appointments aren’t being covered by her insurance.

In her self-described “rant,” Cunningham holds up paperwork from BlueCross BlueShield, and states in part:

…once again, all of my mental health therapy sessions are denied, in addition to all of our marriage counseling sessions, and it’s just mind-blowing to me that these basic, well-known needs, that mental health is health care, are still being denied, that we’re still fighting for these absolutely basic things. It’s unbelievable to me … because this is ridiculous. This affects us, our family, [and] it affects everyone else who’s seeking mental health and needs support doing so.

When I reached out to NRCC Regional Press Secretary Camille M. Gallo on Twitter for comment, she directed me to her email.

In my follow-up email, I asked Gallo who authored the tweet. I also asked Gallo if she believed it was appropriate or in good taste to use the Cunninghams’ marriage counseling as a weapon against the representative, and to imply that Amanda Cunningham’s support for candidate Beto O’Rourke might translate into a personal relationship issue.

After several hours, Gallo looped Pack into the conversation. Pack replied:

First, we cited a newspaper story. If there is an issue with it, perhaps the Democrats should take it up with the publisher who wrote on her publicly complaining about her taxpayer-funded health care not being good enough. Second, Democrats should be the last people to talk about what is off limits given how they have treated the President and First Lady, Vice President and Second Lady, First daughter, and most recently, the Vice President’s press secretary.

On Friday, Rep. Cunningham replied to the NRCC tweet, using it as a fundraising tool: “Amanda is my rock – and the @NRCC just hit rock bottom. I respect my wife and all women, y’all should give it a try. Let’s show them there’s a price for living in the gutter.”

Amanda is my rock – and the @NRCC just hit rock bottom. I respect my wife and all women, y’all should give it a try. Let’s show them there’s a price for living in the gutter. DONATE https://t.co/cPKKC18Xi8 https://t.co/JCHcMfADYh — Joe Cunningham (@JoeCunninghamSC) September 27, 2019

Cunningham added in a second tweet, “This is why people hate politics. It’s time to teach the @NRCC a lesson about attacking our families. Help me fight back.”