Well, yes, as you write, pissant, but there is more to it than that.
The whole point Ann was making was that they have these people who have various things happen to them that should draw our sympathy, and then they say the most outrageous political things, and anyone that responds to them is unfairly criticizing someone who is afflicted.
So, the Jersey Widows can castigate President Bush for failing to prevent 9/11, but have absolutely no problem with Clinton's 8 years of neglect and inaction that led up to 9/11. Stand up to this and say something, and the leftists (press or activists--although that's often the same) scream bloody murder about you daring to criticize "someone whose love one died", and "how should you know what it's like, YOU didn't have someone die in 9/11. These women have a RIGHT to criticize Bush!"
Same with Reeve. He came out on numerous PSAs and campaign commercials asking folks to support Stem Cell Research, research that might make him walk some day. In fact, John Edwards, Kerry's running mate said in 2004, "If John Kerry was president, people like Christopher Reeve would be walking again!"
What are they implying?
That Republicans didn't want Christopher Reeve to get well. They want MJF to continue twitch and jerk. They wanted the Jersey Widows husbands to die!!!!!!
By using these forlorn people, they can make such claims and then attack the defender if they dare to state the afflicted person is wrong. It's despicable!