Some things are never appropriate: like wishing harm to children, even in irony or jest. Or mocking people’s mental or physical challenges. Or responding to criticism by belittling the critics instead of addressing their points.

At her first campaign fundraiser last Saturday, Gov. Kim Reynolds used vitriolic Facebook postings as evidence of a liberal pathology — or so she later claimed.

“As we all know as we travel the state," said the governor at her fundraiser, "the liberals are unhinged and they are out for us and we need to double down and do all we can.” The comment was captured by Radio Iowa, whose reporter Kay Henderson later asked Reynolds whom she had been referring to. The governor said it was a small segment of Iowans, and noted a Facebook post made on her page in July. Under a picture of her grandkids playing soccer, someone had expressed hope, Reynolds said, that they drink Iowa’s water and suffer negative consequences from it.

In person, Reynolds comes across as compassionate and caring. But her later reassurances notwithstanding, her sweeping comment behind closed doors suggests she really doesn't see herself as governor of all Iowans. Her selective outrage over intolerant behavior seems targeted toward a political end.