This weekend the media and the Sunday talk shows saw this 2016 presidential campaign devolve into a feud between Goldstar Khan parents, who had spoken out at the DNC, highlighting Trump’s insidious denigration of Muslim Americans versus presidential candidate, Republican nominee Donald Trump, who in top narcissistic form, attacked the Khans, instead of showing grace and empathy and stepping down. In the face of Trump tripling down, this morning the Khans took the high road, retreating from the fray and any further response, thereby maintaining their dignity and the rightness of their stance.
In response, Senator John McCain weighed in, slamming Trump for feuding with the parents of the fallen Muslim soldier, and according to Politico – “offering perhaps his sternest rebuke yet of a candidate with whom he has clashed throughout the campaign process.”
McCain rebuked:
“In recent days, Donald Trump disparaged a fallen soldier’s parents. He has suggested that the likes of their son should not be allowed in the United States — to say nothing of entering its service. I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers, or candidates.”
While Senator McCain is to be commended for coming so strongly against Trump, he is absolutely wrong to ask the American people to perceive the attacks against this military family by Trump as NOT representing the views of the Republican Party. McCain is delusional to think that is anything but the view of the GOP. Trump IS the Republican Party’s nominee for President of the United States and there is no escaping that fact. In addition, not a single current leader of the Republican Party has come out to repudiate Trump or even suggest that their candidate has gone rogue and does not represent the Party.
The fallout against Trump has been gargantuan. Yet – silence – silence from Senator Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. And also silence from – how many Senators in the Republican Party and how many Representatives in the House and of course not a peep from the RNC Chairman Reince Priebus?
Not a single Republican in a leadership position, other than McCain, has repudiated Trump for his attack on the Khan family – albeit that this represents an attack on all Goldstar families and a flagrant disregard for the ultimate sacrifice that these families have made. Trump has indicated, through his lack of solicitude and empathy – that he is not fit for the position of Commander in Chief and that he is the last person on earth one would want to hug at a time of mourning and grief.
This is so disappointing for many Republicans and they are not only leaving the party in droves, but many are also endorsing and voting for Hillary Clinton. An example of the most recent high profile defection is that of Sally Bradshaw, famed lifelong Republican – Jeb Bush adviser @SallyBradshaw leaves the GOP. cnn.it/2aqlIcM “If the race in Florida is close, I will vote for Hillary Clinton.”
Yesterday I called Paul Ryan’s office to tell him that for as long as he remains silent – this is the Republican Party and he too will go down in history as one of the silent cowards, cavorting with and tickling the balls of one of America’s greatest embarrassments, Donald J. Trump.
Melanie Nathan
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