Media coverage of Trump's McCain war-service Neutron Bomb

[C_Clayton_Jones]

What’s remarkable and significant is just how off-message Trump has gotten the entire GOP field – they spend all their time denouncing Trump’s stupidity and trying to separate themselves from Trump while the entire Republican Party comes off as dysfunctional and inept.

It shows the diversity of the Repubs while sheeple Dems marching in lockstep. Individuality and not uniformity like in China where everybody was riding the same brand of bicycle and wore the same brand of uniform in just a few years ago before we started to build their economy instead of our own.. So, what's wrong with people having their own views instead of parroting some bullshit they were told to parrot?

The lack of political acumen exhibited by you and most others on the right is remarkable, along with the propensity to be blind partisan hacks.

 

[defcon4]

What's wrong is that he's saying really, really stupid shit.

Yes, I agree with that.
What I find strange is that on this same board in different threads many on the left calls our soldiers murderers of Iraqis. Now, they call somebody a hero who was bombing targets in North Viet Nam presumably with civilian casualties. My remark is not a judgement. Civilian casualties are unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable. The point I am trying to make is the inconsistency on the left. Hero or murderer according to their political agenda. The same people on the left were spitting on soldiers returning from Viet Nam. It is puzzling, isn't it?

 

[defcon4]

It's very important what he says and does--he could well be the GOP nominee; then, where would you all be, hmmmm?

It is always important to you when you talk about someone who is not a leftist Democrat. Always spinning…spinning.. I wonder how can you keep your balance being dizzy from the spinning all the time.

 

[JoeB131]

Yes, I agree with that.
What I find strange is that on this same board in different threads many on the left calls our soldiers murderers of Iraqis. Now, they call somebody a hero who was bombing targets in North Viet Nam presumably with civilian casualties. My remark is not a judgement. Civilian casualties are unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable. The point I am trying to make is the inconsistency on the left. Hero or murderer according to their political agenda. The same people on the left were spitting on soldiers returning from Viet Nam. It is puzzling, isn't it?

Uh, no one spat on soldiers returning from Vietnam. That was a myth.

And frankly, I don't see a lot of leftists calling our soldiers "murderers". We've called the policy of going to war over weapons that didn't exist against a country that wasn't our enemy kind of stupid, because it was.

 

[Auld Phart]

well yeah, why do they want to cover some Guy named Mohammed attacking our military men and women. if they can blow Trump smoke up your asses they know many of you will swallow it and spread it around

bravo. you are now officially a useful tool for the DNC/commies

This post is ridiculous. Both events are being covered by the media. The Trump issue is not in any way, shape or form 'blowing smoke.' It is a truly serious issue regarding the GOP race for a presidential nominee. It's very important what he says and does--he could well be the GOP nominee; then, where would you all be, hmmmm?

Even tho I don't like him, and don't want him to be the nominee, where would the Republicans be if Trump got the nomination?

Better off than the Democrats will be if Hillary gets the nomination.

 

[defcon4]

What’s remarkable and significant is just how off-message Trump has gotten the entire GOP field – they spend all their time denouncing Trump’s stupidity and trying to separate themselves from Trump while the entire Republican Party comes off as dysfunctional and inept.

It shows the diversity of the Repubs while sheeple Dems marching in lockstep. Individuality and not uniformity like in China where everybody was riding the same brand of bicycle and wore the same brand of uniform in just a few years ago before we started to build their economy instead of our own.. So, what's wrong with people having their own views instead of parroting some bullshit they were told to parrot?

The lack of political acumen exhibited by you and most others on the right is remarkable, along with the propensity to be blind partisan hacks.

Kettle calls the pot black.

 

[Esmeralda]

It's very important what he says and does--he could well be the GOP nominee; then, where would you all be, hmmmm?

It is always important to you when you talk about someone who is not a leftist Democrat. Always spinning…spinning.. I wonder how can you keep your balance being dizzy from the spinning all the time.

So, lol, what your candidates say, these guys who are going to run for president, what they say doesn't matter to you? That's funny, really hilarious.

 

[rightwinger]

It will all be old news by the middle of the week. Sad thing McCain was a hero, then he became a politician, kind of tarnished that sterling image.

Trump will be old news by the middle of the week

 

[Luddly Neddite]

The comments above are indicative of the disdain with which RWs view our vets and demonstrates why they are always against jobs and housing bills and govt aid for them.

Pay close attention to what Drumpf said because it shows his opinion of our vets as well - which is exactly the same as the Repub's. Why else would they always vote against jobs, housing bills, etc?

I lived in AZ for almost 30 years. As a senator, McCain is worthless but his "war hero" status is unquestionable.

Drumpf did not plan to say that. He says whatever pops into his mind, whatever he thinks will get him attention. The "debates" will be silly theater because of his doofuss posturing and blustering. He makes the GOP look like the ineffectual Do Nothings that they are.

 

[rightwinger]

Trump misspoke, you have to understand his remarks in context.

Actually, the context makes it even worse.

I watched all 25 minutes of his appearance in Iowa.

Trump showed his nasty side

In the context of the discussion, there was no question of his opinions of POWs

How anyone can continue to support Trump is puzzling

 

[Auld Phart]

Yes, I agree with that.
What I find strange is that on this same board in different threads many on the left calls our soldiers murderers of Iraqis. Now, they call somebody a hero who was bombing targets in North Viet Nam presumably with civilian casualties. My remark is not a judgement. Civilian casualties are unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable. The point I am trying to make is the inconsistency on the left. Hero or murderer according to their political agenda. The same people on the left were spitting on soldiers returning from Viet Nam. It is puzzling, isn't it?

Uh, no one spat on soldiers returning from Vietnam. That was a myth.

And frankly, I don't see a lot of leftists calling our soldiers "murderers". We've called the policy of going to war over weapons that didn't exist against a country that wasn't our enemy kind of stupid, because it was.

A myth?

I'll take this mans word over yours on that subject.

 

[defcon4]

Uh, no one spat on soldiers returning from Vietnam. That was a myth.

"Terry Baker of the Vietnam Veterans Association about the disgraceful behavior:
"When the WWII guys came back," Baker adds, "they were able to talk about the war. With Vietnam, vets had to change their clothes in the bus station because people would spit on them."
Drooling on the Vietnam Vets
Sanitizing started with the book "Spitting Image……."

 

[rightwinger]

What’s remarkable and significant is just how off-message Trump has gotten the entire GOP field – they spend all their time denouncing Trump’s stupidity and trying to separate themselves from Trump while the entire Republican Party comes off as dysfunctional and inept.

It shows the diversity of the Repubs while sheeple Dems marching in lockstep. Individuality and not uniformity like in China where everybody was riding the same brand of bicycle and wore the same brand of uniform in just a few years ago before we started to build their economy instead of our own.. So, what's wrong with people having their own views instead of parroting some bullshit they were told to parrot?

It does show the diversity of Republicans in being able to attract racists and veteran haters into an effective part of their coalition

 

[Luddly Neddite]

It will all be old news by the middle of the week. Sad thing McCain was a hero, then he became a politician, kind of tarnished that sterling image.

Trump will be old news by the middle of the week

He should be. That's for sure. But he knows how to stay front and center in the news and will keep right on saying ridiculous things to stay there.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Trump misspoke, you have to understand his remarks in context.

Actually, the context makes it even worse.

I watched all 25 minutes of his appearance in Iowa.

You don't understand the context

 

[defcon4]

It's very important what he says and does--he could well be the GOP nominee; then, where would you all be, hmmmm?

It is always important to you when you talk about someone who is not a leftist Democrat. Always spinning…spinning.. I wonder how can you keep your balance being dizzy from the spinning all the time.

So, lol, what your candidates say, these guys who are going to run for president, what they say doesn't matter to you? That's funny, really hilarious.

Oh yes, it matters to me. What yours says and her actions prove it otherwise apparently doesn't matter to you. That was my point you are trying to spin again...

 

[Luddly Neddite]

What’s remarkable and significant is just how off-message Trump has gotten the entire GOP field – they spend all their time denouncing Trump’s stupidity and trying to separate themselves from Trump while the entire Republican Party comes off as dysfunctional and inept.

It shows the diversity of the Repubs while sheeple Dems marching in lockstep. Individuality and not uniformity like in China where everybody was riding the same brand of bicycle and wore the same brand of uniform in just a few years ago before we started to build their economy instead of our own.. So, what's wrong with people having their own views instead of parroting some bullshit they were told to parrot?

It does show the diversity of Republicans in being able to attract racists and veteran haters into an effective part of their coalition

They love Drumpf because he says what they would like to say.

And they hate him because they can't get a word in edgewise. Bet the "debates" will be exactly the same.

 

[Auld Phart]

Yes, I agree with that.
What I find strange is that on this same board in different threads many on the left calls our soldiers murderers of Iraqis. Now, they call somebody a hero who was bombing targets in North Viet Nam presumably with civilian casualties. My remark is not a judgement. Civilian casualties are unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable. The point I am trying to make is the inconsistency on the left. Hero or murderer according to their political agenda. The same people on the left were spitting on soldiers returning from Viet Nam. It is puzzling, isn't it?

Uh, no one spat on soldiers returning from Vietnam. That was a myth.

And frankly, I don't see a lot of leftists calling our soldiers "murderers". We've called the policy of going to war over weapons that didn't exist against a country that wasn't our enemy kind of stupid, because it was.

A myth?

I'll take this mans word over yours on that subject.

His comment on being spat on is about 7:14

 

[NYcarbineer]

After claiming in Iowa that former GOP presidential nominee and current Senator John McCain was not a war hero, and then even worse, to say with great sarcasm that, well, he was, because he got captured, but that Trump - who never served and who got deferments - preferred people who didn't get captured, the media is just alight with lots of reporting over this.

I want to note in a way that actually has nothing to do with this content in particular - that just 30 seconds of bombasticism in this very media-oriented, 24/7 news-cycle society, can lead to an avalanche of media coverage and some harsh reactions, to say the least.

So, here are screenshots of (mostly) front page coverage from the major media outlets, plus a sprinkling from outlets on the Left and the Right. Underneath each screenshot are the accompanying links and some quotes that I thought were especially informative.

View attachment 44935

Trump Draws GOP Fire for McCain Remarks at Family Leadership Council Summit - ABC News

Ten Republican Presidential Candidates came to Ames Saturday for the Family Leadership Council summit, but presidential candidate Donald Trump made all the headlines early on in the eight-hour event, not because he’s doing well in the polls, but because of his remarks on former presidential candidate and POW John McCain.

"He's a war hero because he was captured," Trump said at the event, hosted by Iowa social conservative activist Bob Vander Plaats. "I like people who weren’t captured."

It’s a comment that stayed in Stephens Auditorium on the campus of Iowa State University long after Trump left. The nine other speakers were former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, South Carolina Sen.Lindsey Graham, Ben Carson, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. The event was structured as a Q&A format with national pollster Frank Luntz and the audience asking the candidates questions.

View attachment 44936

Donald Trump John McCain only a war hero because he was captured - CBS News

Presidential candidate Donald Trump sparked yet another backlash among his fellow Republican candidates Saturday when he said that Sen. John McCain was only considered a war hero because he was captured - and seemed to mock him for that fact.

"He's not a war hero," Trump said at the Iowa Family Leadership Summit when moderator Frank Luntz brought up McCain, who spent more than five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Immediately modifying his original remarks, Trump said, "He's a war hero 'cause he was captured. I like people that weren't captured, OK?"

"Perhaps he's a war hero, but right now he's said some very bad things about a lot of people," Trump said.

View attachment 44937

Donald Trump questions John McCain s bravery - CNNPolitics.com

Donald Trump ignited a political firestorm Saturday by questioning whether Sen. John McCain -- who spent over five years as a prisoner during the Vietnam War -- is a war hero.

By mid-afternoon, Trump tried to walk back his blunder on Twitter, saying "captured or not, all our soldiers are heroes!"

But his attempt at damage control seemed unlikely to diminish the anger his remarks had caused. They provoked an immediate outcry from his 2016 presidential rivals and the Republican National Committee, which has expressed concern about the impact his controversial remarks on immigration have had on the GOP brand.

For Republicans waiting to pounce on Trump and knock him from his position as the party's leading presidential candidate, the real estate mogul may have handed them an opening.

Donald Trump The guy GOP candidates can t ignore - CNN.com



View attachment 44939

Trump attacks McCain s record as war hero draws rebuke from GOP presidential field Fox News

Most of the 14 other GOP candidates, including some at the summit, immediately criticized Trump’s remarks.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry tweeted that McCain “is an American hero” and that all U.S. prisoners of war “deserve our nation's highest debt of gratitude” and that Trump’s comments are “disgraceful.”

He also called on Trump to apologize and said the comments make him “unfit” to become commander in chief and that he should quit the race.

View attachment 44940

Donald Trump On John McCain s War Record I Like People Who Weren t Captured

..."Perhaps he's a war hero, but right now he's said some very bad things about a lot of people."

McCain spent five and a half years in a North Vietnam prison where he was tortured after his Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down in 1967. President Barack Obama, who defeated McCain in the 2008 presidential race, has praised the Arizona senator as a "genuine war hero."

Trump avoided the draft with four student and one medical deferments.

Trump and McCain have gone back and forth this week after the Arizona senator told The New Yorker that Trump "fired up the crazies" with comments he made about undocumented immigrants during a rally in Phoenix. Trump, in characteristic fashion, fired back on Twitter, calling McCain a "dummy."

Trump said that he would not apologize to McCain for the comments, and defended his deferments to reporters. During a media availability after the comments, he denied that he had questioned McCain's military record.

View attachment 44942

He s Not a War Hero Donald Trump Mocks John McCain s Service - NBC News

Trump, whose own lack of military service has been called into question in the past, said later Saturday that he did not go to war because he was a student at first, and then because of bone spurs in his foot, reported MSNBC. He added that he opposed American military action in Vietnam at the time.

"I was not a big fan of the Vietnam War," Trump said. "I wasn't a protester, but the Vietnam War was a disaster for our country. What did we get out of the Vietnam War other than death? We got nothing."

View attachment 44943

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/19/us/politics/trump-belittles-mccains-war-record.html

AMES, Iowa — Donald J. Trump has made his name in politics with provocative statements, but it was not until Saturday, after the flamboyant businessman turned presidential candidate belittled Senator John McCain’s war record, that many Republicans concluded that silence or equivocation about Mr. Trump’s incendiary rhetoric was inadequate.

Mr. Trump upended a Republican presidential forum here, and the race more broadly, by saying of the Arizona senator and former prisoner of war: “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”...

...Yet Mr. Trump’s comments on Saturday drew condemnation from his rivals and senior officials in the party at a scale far greater than the response to his portrayal of Mexican immigrants as rapists. The response was an indication of the reverence many Republicans have for military service and sacrifice. But it was also something more: their best opening yet to marginalize Mr. Trump.

After weeks when many of them treaded lightly around Mr. Trump, who once again Saturday refused to rule out a third-party run, Republican leaders seized the opportunity to unambiguously speak out against a candidate they see as effectively hijacking their primaries.

Yet for all the outrage among party elites, some attendees at the Christian conservative conference where Mr. Trump made his comments were not nearly as offended, a reminder of the chasm between the Republican power structure and its grass roots.

Also: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/upshot/the-trump-campaigns-turning-point.html?abt=0002&abg=0

Also: http://www.nytimes.com/politics/fir...-candidates-defend-mccain-and-denounce-trump/


View attachment 44945

Is Trump s Campaign Effectively Over - Daniel Doherty

The Townhall link is especially helpful, because it is partly a repository of the massive amount of negative tweets from high-named Republicans all over the place about Trump's neutron bomb over McCain.

But this detail from the Townhall write-up is especially interesting:

Yup. For what it's worth, I voted for McCain for president in 2008, in part, because I read his memoir Faith of My Fathers in college shortly before the election. In it, McCain recalls in precise detail his time at the “Hanoi Hilton” – and the horrors he experienced therein. If memory serves, he more or less had dysentery the entire time he was there, which was five and a half years, and was beaten and tortured repeatedly, too. Moreover, he also refused to accept preferential treatmentduring his captivity when the opportunity presented itself. He is, in my view, a war hero. Period.

Frankly, I’m not really sure what Trump was getting at with his aforementioned comments. I do, however, expect him to suffer the consequences politically for having said them.

View attachment 44946

Trump Goes Ballistic McCain Is War Hero Because He Was Captured

GOP Contenders Slam Trump s Comments About John McCain

(that link is also a repository of Twitter reactions to Trump)

RNC Condemns Donald Trump s Remarks About John McCain

Reacting swiftly to Donald Trump's disparaging remarks Saturday about Sen. John McCain's war service, the Republican National Committee issued a statement saying there was "no place in our party or our country" for such comments.

"Senator McCain is an American hero because he served his country and sacrificed more than most can imagine. Period," said Sean Spicer, the RNC's chief strategist and communications director. "There is no place in our party or our country for comments that disparage those who have served honorably.”

Mitt Romney Piles On Trump For Savaging McCain Trump Fires Back

(that is a tweet war between the two)


View attachment 44947

Donald Trump blasts John McCain over crazies remark He was a hero because he was captured - Washington Times

(that link is the only one I could find from a major news outlet that actually tries to cast this in a positive light. It makes no mention of the GOP criticism of Trump for his neutron bomb)

Rick Perry calls on Donald Trump to end his presidential bid His comments have reached a new low - Washington Times

“As a veteran and an American, I respect Sen. McCain because he volunteered to serve his country. I cannot say the same of Mr. Trump. His comments have reached a new low in American politics,” Mr. Perry said. “His attack on veterans make him unfit to be Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, and he should immediately withdraw from the race for President.”

View attachment 44948

Trump belittles McCain s war service sparking stern Republican backlash - The Washington Post

Donald Trump, the celebrity businessman who has rocketed to the front of the Republican presidential race, flippantly belittled Sen. John McCain’s war service here Saturday, inviting a torrent of criticism from party leaders and other candidates.

“He’s not a war hero,” Trump said of McCain at a summit of 3,000 socially conservative activists. He continued, sarcastically, “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured.”

For the past month, Republican leaders have cringed privately at Trump’s inflammatory comments about undocumented immigrants from Mexico and have been aghast at his summer surge to the top of the polls. But they have been reluctant or afraid to condemn a candidate whose outbursts have proven both brash and unpredictable.

That dynamic changed suddenly Saturday. Within an hour of Trump’s slam on the Arizona senator and 2008 GOP presidential nominee, the floodgates opened.

Also: Trump slams McCain for being captured in Vietnam other Republicans quickly condemn him - The Washington Post


This event even reached the German media:

View attachment 44938

Pr sidentschaftskandidat Hier beleidigt Donald Trump seinen Parteifreund McCain - Videos - DIE WELT

"Here Donald Trump insults his GOP-friend John McCain"


View attachment 44941

Kein Kriegsheld Emp rung nach Trump- u erung ber McCain - N24.de

"Disgust/Umbrage after Trump's comments about McCain"


View attachment 44944

US-Wahlkampf Trump verh hnt Kriegsveteran McCain - Politik - S ddeutsche.de

"Trump ridicules/derides War-Veteran McCain"



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, what kind of effect this will have on Trump and his campaign probably depends on your point of view. Some think he will implode, others think he may actually climb even higher in GOP nomination polling.

Wait and see.

FYI.

Tell me, did McCain do anything besides serve in the military to become a hero?

Well, he was involved in some shady financial dealings and got away with it. One would think that would make him a hero in Trump's eyes.

 

[rightwinger]

Probably won't effect Trump's standing, because most of the Mouth Breathers in the GOP base have never forgiven McCain for 1) Challenging Bush, 2) Proposing Amnesty and 3) Losing to Obama.

Agreed!

The rabid rightwankers hated McCain so they will probably continue to support Donald T Rump. He will probably lose his frontrunner status but I don't see him being eliminated before the 1st debate.

I'm sorry....but if I was a Republican candidate, I would refuse to be on the same stage as Trump regardless of his polling

They need to make it clear Trump has no place in their party