Not a good look for Cooper here.https://t.co/goCsybpoEl — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 14, 2016

As Twitchy told you, yesterday, CNN’s Anderson Cooper outed himself on national television — as a royal jerk. In a confrontational interview with Florida AG Pam Bondi, Cooper suggested that, because of her opposition to same-sex marriage, Bondi is somehow incapable of mourning the victims of the terrorist attack in Orlando.

State AG defending voters' anti-SSM decision in court doesn't render her incapable of standing unequivocally against anti-gay terror. C'mon. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 14, 2016

In a column, Townhall political editor and FNC contributor Guy Benson addressed the embarrassing spectacle:

In which I express strong disappointment in this appalling line of questioning from @andersoncooper, whom I admire:https://t.co/MhrYMPdix4 — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

Benson writes:

Think about it: Here we have the state’s top law enforcement officer being raked over the coals for her act of standing in solidarity with a community that had just found itself in the crosshairs of lethal terrorism. Her public stance on any number of policy disputes pertaining gay rights issues is irrelevant here — unless she’d previously advocated in favor of anti-gay violence, which of course she had not. Times like these require ardent gay rights supporters and entrenched gay rights opponents alike to stand tall, shoulder to shoulder, against a surpassing evil that threatens our shared values. Cooper chose to use his formidable platform and gravitas to blur important distinctions and imply equivalencies that do not exist. In doing so, he actively participated in the division of America. He made it harder for his fellow countrymen to coalesce in needed unity, shared anger and joint resolve. He debased himself with his morally-bereft premise.

A question for Cooper:

Does @andersoncooper also wonder how Muslims, who overwhelmingly oppose SSM, could *possibly* simultaneously condemn the Orlando slaughter? — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 14, 2016

Benson then proceeded to fight back against the Left’s ridiculous — not to mention dangerous — insinuations that opposition to pro-LGBT legislation is on par with encouraging or participating in anti-LGBT violence.

@guypbenson @andersoncooper he is attacking, fairly, opportunism and hypocrisy. Not LGBT rights. Hypocrites — Kenny Kirwan (@Kennykirwan2323) June 15, 2016

It's not opportunistic or hypocritical for even staunch SSM opponents to forcefully reject anti-gay violence. At all https://t.co/uHN6Vyq1pv — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

She has been a vocal opponent of LGBTQIA civil rights issues. Asking her why she suddenly changed her stance https://t.co/xNV3xLlhCM — Elizabeth Bogosian (@Brainyack524) June 15, 2016

She didn't change her stance. She's against murdering gays. How is this distinction so hard for some to grasp? https://t.co/YOV54497y5 — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson Name one question he asked that wasn't appropriate? Like it or not, Pam Bondi has fought LGBTQ rights. She can defend herself. — Michael Wooten (@wgrzMichael) June 15, 2016

Premise is absurd. Opposing pro-LGBT legislation is not remotely on same moral plane as condoning anti-gay violence. https://t.co/XA5pSMEVpV — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

This sounds remarkably similar to a black republican defending racism against black people. Uncanny… https://t.co/PvntgKFrnB — ✨ Hugh G Rection ✨ (@DarthShada) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson Absurd. Hyperbole much? Anderson never said it was same moral plane. But why is her LGBTQ record irrelevant? — Michael Wooten (@wgrzMichael) June 15, 2016

Because opposing pro-LGBT legislation & being furious/repulsed by mass murder are not mutually exclusive at all? https://t.co/Kbc8smcC9n — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@Article58 @davidharsanyi @guypbenson She argued in court that gay marriage would "impose significant public harm" on Florida. — Michael Wooten (@wgrzMichael) June 15, 2016

This is such a ridiculous non-sequitur. https://t.co/Kb6eBSxqvL — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson All should be repulsed by pass murder. Nobody accused her of rejoicing. But her past statements are relevant. — Michael Wooten (@wgrzMichael) June 15, 2016

'You claim you're outraged by a jihadist massacring gays, yet you've opposed SSM in the past. Explain yourself!' Insane premise. Insane. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson That's your opinion, despite your assertion of fact. Many disagree with you. — Michael Wooten (@wgrzMichael) June 15, 2016

@wgrzMichael I'm making a cogent argument. You are not. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson it's not insane. It's impossible to have sympathy for #OrlandoShooting when you have fought the LGBT movement your whole life — Struggle Continues (@panininef) June 15, 2016

Absolutely, positively false. This is a disgustingly warped point of view: https://t.co/dSoRc79wIy — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson @EdMorrissey "we care about you – but just as 2nd class citizens" — (((Mark Paradiso))) (@MParadiso) June 15, 2016

This is a different argument than "we don't care if you're murdered." https://t.co/lQ2KNU4Wzu — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@IAmForAU her previous opposition to SSM has *nothing* to do with her anger/grief over anti-gay violence, which is my point. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson I'm no Hillary fan, but Guy don't u find it hypocritical that u used your soapbox to mention her previous opposition to SSM 1/2 — Jason HS (@IAmForAU) June 15, 2016

@IAmForAU her previous opposition to SSM has *nothing* to do with her anger/grief over anti-gay violence, which is my point. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson this, not a non-sequitur. "Gay marriage creates public harm" = homophobia. — Daniel M. Chick (@TheDukeWindsor) June 15, 2016

Opposing SSM is not ipso facto homophobia. And even outright anti-gay rhetoric is not responsible for violent acts. https://t.co/Cx3n9QOz4Y — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson agreed & I get your point, but you (like @andersoncooper) used your platform 2 further your political position #NeverClinton — Jason HS (@IAmForAU) June 15, 2016

@IAmForAU No I didn't. My point was that asking those Q's of Hillary would be equally absurd. Also, I'm an opinion journalist, Cooper isn't. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

If you speak out strongly & vote against conservatives, that does not mean you wish us dead, or would defend such violence. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

Marriage, in this country, is a legal institution into which 2 people enter. What else leads to opposition? https://t.co/9nArNZNa5a — Daniel M. Chick (@TheDukeWindsor) June 15, 2016

@TheDukeWindsor millennia of tradition & religious teachings? I'm gay and pro-SSM. I don't assume the worst about all/most opponents. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

In conjunction, anti-gay rhetoric does exactly as I said: creates an environment in which homophobia thrives. https://t.co/9nArNZNa5a — Daniel M. Chick (@TheDukeWindsor) June 15, 2016

Gay activist shot up an anti-LGBT organization in 2012. Rhetoric against that group was not to blame for his crimes. https://t.co/qj1G8Wf7sp — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

Opposing a political agenda = "hate" = violence. This twisted logic can be used to demagogue & suppress virtually all political speech. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

Not sure about the specifics of the event, actually. anti-LGBT group prob hadn't faced militant heterophobia tho. https://t.co/LoBir4sSiA — Daniel M. Chick (@TheDukeWindsor) June 15, 2016

@TheDukeWindsor an attempted mass shooting due to their beliefs by an activist on the other side is pretty militant. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

"Oh no, a cop was murdered? Hope they get the killer & put him away." "BUT YOU'VE BEEN TO A BLM PROTEST. EXPLAIN YOURSELF." — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson no it's the hypocritical fact that Republicans (rightfully so) oppose Islamists yet share the same views on the LGBT community — (((Proud Liberal))) (@DudeInDistress) June 15, 2016

These people oppose pro-LGBT legislation. These people murder gays. "Same views" Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. https://t.co/nonifvOivk — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson What about people who support sodomy laws and say that gays are a danger to children? — Matt (@MaxxBot) June 15, 2016

What about them? I think they're a wrong-headed minority. They can also recoil in horror at anti-gay violence. https://t.co/nmyG8uTf8t — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson Yeah I'm a left-wing nut for saying that people who literally want to jail gays are hateful, riiiight — Matt (@MaxxBot) June 15, 2016

@MaxxBot you seem incapable of nuanced thinking. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

Orlando terrorist was a registered Democrat, influenced by liberal rhetoric/ideas. Kinda "hypocritical" for Dems to condemn his murders, no? — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

Check and mate.

That's the level of "logic" at play here. It's depressing. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

Indeed.

@guypbenson They want to destroy the lives of gay people and erase them from free society, most gays would view that just as bad as violence — Matt (@MaxxBot) June 15, 2016

@MaxxBot who is "they"? Opposing SSM is not "erasing people from society" is not *murdering them in cold blood.* — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson So if someone wanted to throw you in jail for sodomy you would consider that non-hateful? — Matt (@MaxxBot) June 15, 2016

@MaxxBot of course that would be hateful. It would also fail legislatively & in the courts…and I would still be alive. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

@guypbenson Nice strawman, I never said a word about SSM, I said people who want to jail gays or call them pedophiles like the FRC does — Matt (@MaxxBot) June 15, 2016

@MaxxBot calling out FRC w/ strong rhetoric is encouraging violence, especially since their HQ was already attacked. That's your standard. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

Careful … liberals don’t like it when you hold them to their own standards.

The lack of critical thinking is breathtaking. The reflexive, myopic & grace-free ideological tribalism is frightening. — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016

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Related:

Anderson Cooper reveals damning proof that Fla. AG Pam Bondi is a raging homophobe