Here’s the thing about claiming the moral high ground, the way the anti-Trump camp has. You actually have to live up to it.
It’s hard to imagine this actually has to be stated, but that means 10-year-old Barron Trump is off-limits.
It shouldn’t have taken NBC three days to figure that out. Yesterday, the network reportedly suspended Saturday Night Live writer Katie Rich for her Inauguration Day tweet: “Barron will be this country’s first homeschool shooter.” I say “reportedly,” because NBC had no comment and made no announcement. Wire stories quoted “a person familiar with the situation.”
Rich had deleted the tweet under a flood of criticism and made her account private, only to revive it yesterday to issue the following statement: “I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I’m so sorry.”
Apparently she’s sorry only when she’s in trouble with the NBC brass.
SNL’s mission for months has been to insult and discredit President Trump — fair game, even if the comedy show has long been highly partisan about which of the powerful it chooses to afflict. Finally, one of their own went way too far.
In what sick world is it normal to joke on social media about a child turning into a mass killer? How can someone’s hatred run so deep that they rationalize bullying someone not even old enough to use Twitter?
One could argue Trump’s behavior has given plenty of ammo for NBC to mock him, but what did the boy do to deserve ridicule?
The children of the powerful should be off-limits. His parents went to great lengths to keep him away from the political fray. He was never on the campaign trail or used in advertisements.
The liberal media respected that rule with the Obamas. Sadly, Barron probably won’t be shown the kind of respect Sasha and Malia enjoyed during their dad’s presidency.
Former presidential child Chelsea Clinton came to Barron’s defense, but couldn’t resist getting a dig in, tweeting, “Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does-to be a kid. Standing up for every kid also means opposing @POTUS policies that hurt kids.” Sorry, Chelsea, a defense that includes an attack is pretty much self-negating.
But the rabidly anti-Trump, moralistic left just handed the Trumps the high ground.
Melania Trump has mentioned one of her goals as first lady is to address cyber-bullying. At a time when anti-Trump voters feel they can toss insults online and in person with impunity, what better example for her to start with than this heartless, gutless attack by a grownup on a child.
What we’re seeing is that the people who claim a monopoly on decency in this highly partisan time apparently think its rules don’t apply to them. Maybe Barron’s mother can school them.
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
