Grieving parents at each convention, but no equivalency
The Republican convention featured Pat Smith whose son Sean was killed in Benghazi, Khizr Khan, father of Humayun Khan, spoke at the Democratic convention. Democrats are being called hypocrites for defending Khan while criticizing the crass use of Smith. Steve Benen points out that the contexts are quite different.
Last week, for example, on the opening night of the Republican National Convention, organizers gave a prominent role to Pat Smith, Benghazi victim Sean Smith’s mother. It was a deeply unfortunate display: Smith, still struggling with the kind of pain few of us can imagine, used her time on the stage to repeat discredited conspiracy theories.
“She deserves to be in stripes,” Smith said of Clinton, adding, “I personally blame Hillary Clinton for the death of my son.” Given the facts, even those presented by congressional Republicans themselves, Smith’s remarks were ugly and wrong, and it almost certainly wasn’t appropriate for Republican organizers to exploit her grief to peddle conspiratorial nonsense.
A week later in Philadelphia, Khizr Khan, whose son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, died in Iraq at the hands of a terrorist, addressed the Democratic convention. In the process, he delivered one of the most powerful moments of either party gathering.
But wait, conservatives will ask. Why was Smith’s appearance worthy of criticism, while Khan’s appearance is celebrated? Isn’t that hypocritical?
The answer is no. The differences should be obvious.
Khan spoke the truth about Trump’s proposed Muslim ban, about American principles of diversity and respect, and religious liberty under the Constitution.
Smith talked up a conspiracy theory that even congressional Republicans no longer support.
Khan spoke of defeating Trump at the ballot box. Smith spoke of imprisoning Clinton for reasons that defy explanation.
To see these two appearances as effectively identical because of their superficial similarities is to have missed the point of their remarks entirely.
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Copyright 2016 Liberaland
9 responses to Grieving parents at each convention, but no equivalency
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whatthe46 July 31st, 2016 at 20:12
“…their superficial similarities is to have missed the point of their remarks entirely.” SOSDD!
Red Mann July 31st, 2016 at 20:23
There not enough desks to bang heads on or enough faces to palm slap at this level of detachment from reality. The right is suffering from RDS, reality detachment syndrome.
whatthe46 July 31st, 2016 at 20:39
couldn’t have said it better.
fahvel August 1st, 2016 at 02:25
well said Red!
anothertoothpick August 1st, 2016 at 07:12
The dems were very kind not to hold some kind of a memorial during the convention for the 13 embassies and 60 deaths that happened under dubya.
Red Mann August 1st, 2016 at 07:45
Who is this “dubya” of whom you speak and what attacks? No such thing ever happened.
fredoandme August 1st, 2016 at 07:53
nice.
inspire August 22nd, 2016 at 18:40
The more I see, the more I feel like Khan’s family was sat up by Clinton’s campaign as a target for Trump attack. Hillary know this will happen.
Trump is a fool attacking Mr. and Mrs Khan (as Hillary planed). Hillary is an EVIL using fallen solder family for her own political gain.
and you ask why I say #NeverHillary ?
Ned Nutley August 26th, 2016 at 14:23
Imagine a letter from Trump to the relatives of a soldier
who died in war — Dear whomever, your killed in battle
father / son / spouse was a LOSER, and I hate LOSERS,
you’re FIRED, sincerely Donald T.
and what was it he said again to McCain, “I prefer my
heroes to not get killed, OK?”