We’ve all seen those memes and tweets where someone will juxtapose two comments from people they disagree with. The first comment will be a statement, and the second comment will be a complete contradiction of the first comment.
Well, the irony gods must be smiling right now, because a Presbyterian minister just gave us one of the greatest examples of hypocrisy I’ve ever seen. And it all happened within a few screamed sentences.
Following the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of 11 people inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa. last Saturday, President Trump visited the synagogue and Rabbi Jeffrey Myers on Tuesday.
“The President... was very warm, very consoling... [Trump] put his hand on my shoulder, and the first question he asked me was 'Rabbi, tell me how you are doing.' And I must say throughout the time we spent together, I was pleasantly surprised by a warm... personal side to the president that I don't think America has ever seen," Myers told CNN's Alisyn Camerota.
But not everyone was pleased with Trump’s visit.
Presbyterian minister Rev. Susan Rothenberg lives close to the synagogue and decided that a time of mourning would present a super-classy opportunity to yell at Trump for appearing at Tree of Life.
“It’s not about you! Let the families grieve! This is our neighborhood! You are not welcome here!” Rothenberg yelled.
Just a few moments later, Rothenberg directly contradicted herself in such a way that her argument ceased to be valid.
“We welcome everybody here!” Rothenberg continued to yell.
You can watch Rothenberg dump her self-righteousness all over the street here:
The funny thing is the minds of people like Rothenberg, they actually think that by yelling at someone and throwing a tantrum that the target of their animus will simply turn around and say, ‘You know what? You’re right. I’m leaving.’
That doesn’t typically happen. Well, unless you’re Jeff Flake.
Look, I understand that when a tragedy like this happens, people are emotional and sometimes things get said in the heat of the moment. I get it. But, unless Rothenberg suddenly went blind, she knew was putting on a performance for the camera in front of her. She knew that because Trump was at the synagogue that there would be camera everywhere.
Rothenberg might be legitimately upset, and if she is, more power to her. But, her yelling at someone trying to observe a situation and console a community doesn’t help her cause.