The cynical, exploitative ploy by the Trump campaign to use Patricia Smith and her mourning as a political prop is disgusting, and clearly designed to get under Hillary Clinton’s skin. How should she deal with it?
I’ve read a some comments suggesting that she should fight fire with fire, that she should bring the Khans, or Ambassador Stevens’ mother. But wouldn’t be effective. And that’s not who Hillary is.
But there is a way for Hillary to deal with this situation that will cause her to win on the spot, will absolutely SHOCK people, that will defuse the situation, embarrass Donald Trump, expose his disgusting cynicism and exploitation, and at the same time maintain Patricia Smith’s dignity, and do it in a way that is completely true to who Hillary is.
The proper response is COMPASSION.
Hillary needs to find out or figure out, before the debate, or in the first moments, where Mrs. Smith is sitting. Then, when Donald Trump throws the grenade at her, or mentioned that Mrs. Smith is in the audience, or says, “What would you say to her?,” Hillary will be ready.
All she has to do is find Mrs. Smith in the audience, look at her and say something like:
“Mrs. Smith, I saw you in the audience when I walked on stage, and I see you now. And when I look at you, I see a mother who is in pain and who, after four years, is still grieving the loss of her son. And my heart breaks for you.
And as a mother myself, I can only imagine your pain. And I want you to know that not a day goes by that I don’t think back to that night. Every day, I wrack my brain, and I search my heart for answers to what more we could have done despite doing everything we thought we could.
And I’m not angry at you for blaming me. I won’t be angry if you savage me in the press. Because I’m a public figure, I’m running for President, and you are the mother of a brave young man who died serving his country, and you’ve earned that right.
I know that nothing I say up here will ever bring Sean back. And I know that nothing I do could ever fill the Sean-shaped hole in your heart.
I want to offer my compassion and my help in whatever you need, if you ever want it. We owe that to you, because in his life, in his service, and in your sacrifice, you and Sean represent what is best about this country. And I am humbled to know that as Secretary of State I was fortunate to have served with someone as brave and selfless as he was.
So all I can say is I see you, I feel for and, humbly, I thank you.”
Or something like that. How loving. How kind. How compassionate. How Presidential.
In the spirit of light driving out darkness, love driving hate, and all that…