At tonight’s ABC town hall on race and gun violence, the lieutenant governor of Texas confronted President Obama over his reactions to shootings like in Dallas. Dan Patrick––no fan of Obama’s––said after Dallas that hatred against officers and anti-police rhetoric on social media fuels so much rage and hate.

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Patrick told Obama that cops across the nation do not feel in their hearts that their president is on their side and doing everything he can to protect them. He suggested to the president that he should “consider being careful when there is an incident of not being too quick to condemn the police without due process and until the facts are known.”

Obama responded by smacking down his entire assertion, saying that he’s been “unequivocal” in condemning anti-police rhetoric, he’s always shown support law enforcement, and would be happy to send Patrick the evidence of such.

Patrick insisted cops need to “know it in their heart.”

The president said he has been consistent in calling for fair

treatment, but that “in the aggregate” there are clear racial disparities in the justice system.

We should note here that the White House pool report from the town hall stated the following:

Your pooler also stood in front of an attendee who confronted Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick about his question to the president, saying it was inappropriate manner in which to address the president.

Watch above, via ABC.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

Tags: Barack Obama, Dallas shooting, dan patrick