Pot versus the kettle

While the first lady campaigns against teenage cyber-bullying, her 72-year-old husband continues his practice of name-calling on social media.

What follows is a small sampling of the nearly 500 people, places, and things POTUS has insulted on his Twitter account (according to the “Failing and Corrupt” New York Times): “Dishonest” Press; “Fake” News (ABC, CNN); “Lyin’” Ted Cruz; “Cheatin’” Obama; “Crooked,” “Heartless” Hillary; “Nasty” Barbara Res; “Little” Marco Rubio; “Shady,” “Sanctimonious,” “Slimeball” James Comey; “Rat” Michael Cohen; “Thug” Robert Mueller; “Crazy” Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders; “Flakey” Jeff Flake; “Sloppy” Steve Bannon; “Low Energy” Jeb Bush; “Low IQ” Maxine Waters; “Head Clown” Chuck Schumer; “Wacky and Deranged” Omarosa; “Resign!” Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Psychologists tell us that negative criticism (i.e., name-calling) is an “ego defense,” and that it reveals more about the psychology of the critic than those he or she criticizes—sort of like looking at yourself in a mirror. Oscar Wilde said that “criticism is the only reliable form of autobiography.”

Now I ask all you folks out there who have (or have had) children: What would you say to your child if you overheard them calling someone a bad name? I’d like to think that the first lady would say: “Be best, Donald. Be best!” FLEMING STOCKTON Little Rock