Washington Post columnist feels it's wrong for a party to exploit a mother's grief — this week

Most of those who were able to see Pat Smith — mother of Sean Smith, who was killed in Benghazi — give her emotional speech at the RNC Monday night were moved by her powerful message. (Many missed it, as Donald Trump for some boneheaded reason called into Fox News during the convention, causing the network to preempt her appearance.)

It is always so painful to watch Pat Smith speak about her son's murder.

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 19, 2016

https://twitter.com/TheWordUpdate/status/755198502389551104

Painful is right. Her passion & pain is so strong. God bless her.

— Mary In the Pacific Northwest (@maryintheUSA) July 19, 2016

It’s worth clarifying that Smith has appeared on TV before more than once to tell her story because she wants it told, but she’s managed to get little to no traction outside of Fox News.

Pat Smith, lost son in #Benghazi: “I want to see Hillary in jail. It was her department and she’s been lying." pic.twitter.com/7ohlyqBUsU

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 14, 2016

Still, she keeps trying, though there’s not much else she can do but watch as Hillary “What Difference Does It Make?” Clinton prepares to move back into the White House.

Josh Rogin, columnist for the Washington Post, thought Smith’s appearance at the RNC was just plain wrong, as she was being used by the RNC and Trump for political purposes.

I feel for Pat Smith, but the RNC and Trump are using her and her son's death for politics and that's wrong.

— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) July 19, 2016

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As political as claiming an internet video caused the attack in Benghazi?

— BayAreaFrau (@bayareahausfrau) July 19, 2016

that reminds me of that stunning piece in WaPo where Josh Rogin nailed Hillary for using politics to blame Benghazi on a Youtube

— HolgerAwakens (@HolgerAwakens) July 19, 2016

https://twitter.com/Melvin_Udall_/status/755198748318236672

she's a grown woman who accepted the invitation.

— Dbright21 (@Dbright21) July 19, 2016

You and every other male dem who think Pat Smith is some brainless woman the GOP can control make me sick #sexism @joshrogin

— Southern Baptist Renegade (@FrohockRyan) July 19, 2016

https://twitter.com/paton_richard/status/755204432992739328

https://twitter.com/NHMommy1/status/755208317639725056

you are pathetic. she's been saying this from day 1. Just like Hillary's been lying from the beginning. pic.twitter.com/RzNvizDijE

— ScottOnCapeCod™ (@ScottOnCapeCod) July 19, 2016

Just take out the first part of your sentence b/c you don't feel for her. Has it occurred to you that she WANTS TO BE HEARD?

— Beatlegal09 (@Beatlegal09) July 19, 2016

https://twitter.com/mlavaglia/status/755199813881327616

how many times Pat has CNN had Ms Smith to tell her story? A ball park # is fine. She wanted to speak tonight.& on CNN if invited

— mcbob (@mcbob) July 19, 2016

It's the only way she can be heard. NO ONE WILL LISTEN TO HER!!!

— Sandi (@spk2943) July 19, 2016

Pat Smith wants to tells her story. The truth. Unlike the mothers speaking at the DNC, who have lied about their sons.

— DMartyrن (@DMartyr) July 19, 2016

.@joshrogin If it were your child, I suppose you'd be more quietly dignified about it, right?

— Nieds Dead Horse (@NDH_j_m_f) July 19, 2016

Like Cindy Sheehan? @mflynny @joshrogin

— Swalwell Farted on TV and It Was Hilarious (@lamblock) July 19, 2016

kinda bad like Cindy Sheehan bad? They were murdered due to bad leadership and an inability to make any decision without politics

— M.McIntyre (@19mMatt) July 19, 2016

We don’t recall Smith stretched out on her son’s grave with a professional camera crew on hand to capture the candid moment for a glossy spread in Vanity Fair, but we let our subscription lapse, so maybe it happened.

Rogin’s certainly in the loop, so it’s surprising he missed out on the announcement that Michael Brown’s mother, Lezley McSpadden, is set to speak at the Democratic National Convention. Maybe he’s waiting until then to tweet his disgust with Clinton and the DNC for using her for political purposes.

So how do you feel about Mike Brown's mother speaking at DNC, @joshrogin?

— Heather Hampton (@MomTo6Lambs) July 19, 2016

https://twitter.com/TravisRagland/status/755199883422920704

https://twitter.com/CarbonTheRod/status/755201211717054464

I'll be waiting for your tweets when the DNC uses the death of Brown and others at their convention.

— Scott White (@mscottwhite) July 19, 2016

I'll be monitoring this account next week for similar pearl clutching. pic.twitter.com/APN3HQ9sqc

— Biscuit Salad (@BiscuitSalad) July 19, 2016

I wish they were more like @CNN who never exploits tragedies, right @sallykohn? pic.twitter.com/H1N63GVPwN

— Santos L. Halper (@Cromulentness) July 19, 2016