New Pre-K chief deletes Twitter account

Hours after becoming the focus of media attention, the state's new director of early childhood development has deleted her overtly political – and sometimes derogatory – Twitter account.

DHHS spokeswoman Julie Henry told WRAL News Wednesday afternoon that Lightfoot had resigned her position as president of the National Physicians' Center for Family Resources. But her Twitter account remained public until it was deleted Wednesday evening. 

In postings on her "ChinaLight44" Twitter account, Lightfoot calls Hillary Clinton one of Obama's "Butch bunch" and apparently suggests that the massive Japan earthquake of March 11, 2011, may have been caused by ultrasonic waves from neighboring China or North Korea.

Lightfoot's Facebook account follows the same line, protesting Chick-Fil-A's agreement to stop funding anti-gay groups as "sad and ridiculous" and calling pro-gay protesters "anti-freedom-of-speech bigots," the "Chicago Mob" and "bullies."

The screen captures from Lightfoot's social media accounts were the topic of much online discussion Wednesday night among Democrats and the GLBT community.

Henry wasn't immediately available to clarify the new Pre-K director's positions on GLBT parents or on the Japan earthquake.