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
@guypbenson Knowing he didn't have to die and being lied to personally & directly face to face by @HillaryClinton only adds 2her suffering.
— The Word Update (@TheWordUpdate) July 19, 2016
@guypbenson Painful is right. Her passion & pain is so strong. God bless her.
— Mary In Nevada (@maryinnevada) 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
@joshrogin As political as claiming an internet video caused the attack in Benghazi?
— BayAreaFrau (@bayareahausfrau) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin 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
@joshrogin You believe Pat Smith can't think for herself? #4thEstate5thColumn
— We're an Idiocracy (@Melvin_Udall_) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin 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
— ryan frohock (@FrohockRyan) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin Trump isn't using anyone. This poor lady has been saying this for a while. Quit covering for Hillary, she lied her ass off 2 her
— Richard Allan Paton (@paton_richard) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin Nope, she has been speaking out since 2012. Get your facts straight.
— NH Mommy (@NHMommy1) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin 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
@joshrogin 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
@joshrogin She's been telling her story 4 years. 4 u like Hillary, it must not make much of a difference at this point.
— Lola (@mlavaglia) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin 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
@joshrogin It's the only way she can be heard. NO ONE WILL LISTEN TO HER!!!
— #TrumpPence16 (@SandyKilian) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin Pat Smith wants to tells her story. The truth. Unlike the mothers speaking at the DNC, who have lied about their sons.
— DMartyr ن (@DMartyr) July 19, 2016
.@joshrogin If it were your child, I suppose you'd be more quietly dignified about it, right?
— ((Nieds Dead Horse)) (@mflynny) July 19, 2016
Like Cindy Sheehan? @mflynny @joshrogin
— #JeSuisJuive (@lamblock) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin kinda bad like Cindy Sheehan bad? They were murdered due to bad leadership and an inability to make any decision without politics
— hockey fan (@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?
— (((HeatherHampton))) (@6LambsMom) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin Will you make the same statement when Hill trots out Michael Brown's mom?
— Travis Ragland (@TravisRagland) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin So I guess you have a big problem with Michael Brown's mother speaking at the DNC then
— Smug Trump (@CarbonTheRod) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin 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
@joshrogin I'll be monitoring this account next week for similar pearl clutching. pic.twitter.com/APN3HQ9sqc
— Biscuit Salad (@BiscuitSalad) July 19, 2016
@joshrogin I wish they were more like @CNN who never exploits tragedies, right @sallykohn? pic.twitter.com/H1N63GVPwN
— Santos L. Halper (@Cromulentness) July 19, 2016