Bill Braswell posted a meme on his personal page of a high school student wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap face-to-face with a Native American activist. Superimposed was "Patriots beat Chiefs."

BARTOW — County Commissioner Bill Braswell stepped into a national controversy Monday.

Two days later, he backed out.

The Republican posted a meme on his personal page with the now-viral picture of a high school student wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap face-to-face with a Native American activist. At the bottom of the picture was superimposed "Patriots beat Chiefs."

As of Wednesday afternoon, the post on Facebook had generated nearly 100 comments and 60 shares, a mix of condemnation and encouragement. Braswell removed the picture and its associated comments from his page Wednesday.

"It has been perceived as racist and insensitive by numerous individuals; this is unfortunate," Braswell wrote on Facebook. "It was intended to be neither."

"What I saw in the picture was a grown man trying to bully a young boy," he continued, describing his interpretation of the incident in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Friday. "It is my personal belief the entire event occurred because Nick Sandmann was showing his support for President Trump with the cap he was wearing."

Braswell had previously said he had no intention of removing the picture.

After one person described the post as "disgusting and disgraceful," Braswell wrote on Monday that he would post "whatever the hell" he wanted. "I suggest you unfollow me so your sensitive feelings are not offended."

During an interview on Tuesday, Braswell again defended his post, describing it as "perfect" given the score of the NFL playoff game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots won the AFC championship and a berth in the Super Bowl on Sunday, 37-31.

Asked if he thought the post was racist, Braswell said people "need to lighten up if they can't take a joke."

"It's hilarious," Braswell said of the post. "If you don't find it funny, unfriend me."

Others on his page didn't see it that way.

James Ring of Lakeland wrote on Braswell's page that he's a "proud Republican, combat veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, and Native American" who voted for Braswell.

"However, I find this post both offensive and disturbing for an elected official to share," Ring wrote. "This post is not funny, it's blatant racism."

Ring, whose grandmother was Chippewa, said during an interview on Wednesday that he would have been more likely to look past Braswell's post if he had admitted that he made a mistake.

"He dug his heels in the dirt," Ring said.

Braswell has a history of controversial political posts.

Earlier this month, he posted on Facebook a picture of what appeared to be smoke signals in the air with the words, "Actual photo of Sen. Elizabeth Warren announcing her candidacy for President of the United States." Trump has referred to Warren as "Pocahontas," mocking her claim that she has Native American heritage.

Other county commissioners use Facebook for family posts, election news about themselves and an occasional post about national politics.

County Commissioner Rick Wilson said Facebook was a great tool for his campaign, but the newly elected commissioner said he rarely looks at it now.

He said he had heard about Braswell's post but had not seen it.

"If you put something out there that has controversy, it opens a can of worms," Wilson said. "That creates a lot of stuff I don't need to be dealing with."

Commissioner George Lindsey is the only commissioner who doesn't use social media.

"Little good comes from that," Lindsey said. "It's more often angry than constructive.

"I just don't listen to that noise," Lindsey added.

He said he doesn't like the idea of having a heated argument memorialized.

"I just don't see any upside to it," Lindsey said. He said he responds to emails, talks to constituents on the phone and even writes letters.

"My absence on Twitter and Facebook does not make me less accessible to anyone who wants to share an opinion on an issue," Lindsey said.

Lindsey said someone emailed him Braswell's post.

Asked what his thoughts were on the post, Lindsey said, "I recognize the right of free speech. Stupid speech is still free speech."

John Chambliss can be contacted at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588.