The charge of hypocrisy sticks. Perhaps because we are all worse than our own standard. We rebuke the other guy, only to find that we too are guilty. The only good news I can offer is that it works both ways. Consider how we understand the relationship between fulfilling the office of President and fulfilling the role of a husband.
Thirty years ago every conservative in the world was (rightly) pointing out that the President’s infidelity toward his wife, his abuse of a White House intern reflected poorly on his presidency. Every liberal in the world insisted that what mattered was his policies and competencies, not his dalliances.
When President Trump first ran for office he had his own share of “bimbo eruptions” cropping up. Conservatives insisted that these ugly events from his past did not matter. Liberals then screeched “HYPOCRITES!!!” And they were right. As well as being hypocrites themselves. Only those who took the position, and there are precious few of these, either that sexual fidelity has nothing to do with presidential competence, whichever side of the aisle, or that sexual fidelity has everything to do with presidential competence, whichever side of the aisle, escape the charge of hypocrisy.
We are living through the same folly now. When Charlie Kirk was murdered liberals took to the internet to celebrate. These fools were doxed, harassed and cancelled, by conservatives who (rightly) saw this as beyond the pale. Few on the left joined the condemnations.
When Rob Reiner and his wife were murdered, at least one “conservative” took to the internet to celebrate. There is, however, no need to dox him. We know his name, where he works and where he lives, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in the District of Columbia. He is practically beyond cancelling.
This doesn’t keep liberals from exposing their own hypocrisy. Those who had no trouble with those dancing around Charlie’s grave are up in arms over the President’s uncouth response. Which is what we ought to expect. What I can’t wrap my mind around is those “conservatives” who defend the President on the basis of the horrible things liberals said about Charlie. Seriously? Because people foolish enough to be liberal are foolish enough to mock the dead, it’s OK for the face of “conservatism” to do the same?
It is not OK. The President’s public response to the murder of the Reiners was reprehensible, unbecoming, indefensible. So, please, don’t allow yourself to be hoisted by your own petard. Keep your feet grounded on the solid rock Who commands that we not return evil for evil, that we do unto others as we would have them do to us, that we love our enemies.
We do not take our cues from what the left does. We do not take our cues from the President. We take them from the President of Presidents, the king of kings and lord of lords. We are His ambassadors, called to speak His Words.