The official US Girl Scouts Twitter account posted the congratulatory message on Wednesday in a now-deleted tweet, the day after Barrett was sworn in as Supreme Court justice to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The message featured pictures of all five women who have been appointed to the nation's highest court.

As innocuous as it might have seemed for a girls group to celebrate a historic accomplishment by a woman, the message was met with disgust among critics on Twitter. “It guts me to see you do this,” said Pam Keith, a Democrat House candidate in Florida. “It feels like a deep and personal betrayal.”

Writer Gennifer Hutchison agreed: “Barrett's views run counter to everything the Girl Scouts I know and love stand for. This is a terrible message to send to the girls.” Hutchison was among many former Girl Scouts who suggested that Barrett's life runs contrary to the group's law, which speaks of being fair, honest, friendly, helpful, considerate, courageous and strong.

Amid a wave of fury and indignation on social media, the Scouts followed up with another missive hours after the initial post explaining that it had removed the offending tweet after it was “quickly viewed as a political and partisan statement” which it insisted “was not our intent.”

Girl Scouts of the USA is a nonpolitical, nonpartisan organization. We are neither red nor blue, but Girl Scout GREEN. We are here to lift up girls and women.

Media adviser Alex Leo took the criticism a step further, questioning Barrett's judicial qualifications. “I'm a former Brownie and Girls Scout, and this is pure trash,” Leo said. “Feminism does not mean celebrating unqualified hacks pushed into positions of power by corrupt idiots.”

Other reactions were even more unhinged, suggesting that Barrett is out to kill girls. “This isn't about partisanship,” said Democrat activist Kendall Brown. “It's about what Amy Coney Barrett's place will mean on the court for millions of Girl Scouts – namely, losing our rights and having our lives jeopardized.” Vice magazine writer Jelisa Castrodale quipped: “Some fun new badges for the Amy Coney Barrett era will be 'Diagnosing your dad's respiratory ailments,' 'making a coffin you can eat,' and 'remembering women's rights.'”

Few angry observers called specifically for a boycott of Girl Scouts cookies, but several said they won't be eating the product themselves, and some suggested alternatives, such as homemade thin mints. Writer and podcast host Wynter Mitchell said the congratulatory note about Barrett confirmed her suspicions that the group is “who I thought you were. Don't come to my door!”