Quite a lot of American conservatives (and libs, but MANY conservatives) cannot comprehend having sympathy for someone not part of their 'in group'.

Showing compassion is weak since people are supposed to pull themselves up, and helping them is either detrimental towards them 'developing those skills', or condescendingly insulting, or both (we won't talk about the 'if they're too weak they deserve it' freakshows). Never mind how they got there in the first place, or how deeply screwed they may be. Or maybe just showing compassion regardless.