Trump: McCain Is 'Not a War Hero'

[DonViejo]

While addressing the annual Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump took another shot at John McCain, this time questioning the latter's status as a war hero. “He's not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured,” Trump said. “I like people that weren’t captured.” McCain was taken as a prisoner of war for five years during the Vietnam War. Trump, meanwhile, received four student draft deferments between 1964 and 1968 and an additional medical deferment after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

As he left the stage Saturday, Trump reportedly told political consultant Frank Luntz, "See, I get a standing ovation. Other people don't." Later, when asked about his comments on McCain, Trump said, "I'm a very militaristic person. I love the military."

Read it at Politico

###

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/07/18/trump-mccain-not-a-real-war-hero.html

[riversedge]

1. I really think Donald shoud seek psychological

help.

[artislife]

64. ^^ this nt

[Paladin]

3. "I like people that weren't captured."

Fucking asshole. That ought to be his exit line from American politics, but it probably won't be---conservatives aren't very bright, and they have an enormous tolerance for hypocrisy.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

18. He likes people who weren't captured, and ...

he likes people who weren't Mexican.

He likes a lot of people.

Nice guy, Mr Trump.

I'd be happy to vote for him in the Republican primary. If I wasn't planning to vote for Bernie in the Democratic primary.

[Paladin]

20. He might as well say he hates those 5 dead military men in Chatanooga.....

....because they didn't return fire. Like I say, this ought to end his campaign---but it probably won't.

[thelordofhell]

4. That's the Teapublican line

They think McCain is a RINO

[spanone]

5. the reporter on m$nbc said they questioned trump about what he said about mccain after his speech....

he denied saying it....when the reporter just heard him....one-lying-sob

[artislife]

65. He is certifiable nt

[Stinky The Clown]

6. From Double Down Don's perspective, this makes perfect strategic sense.

McCain lacks any love whatsoever from the crazies that support Trump. He is further not highly regarded by many other GOP primary voters. The comments allow him to continue to suck all the oxygen out of the room, much like a raging fire.

All of that chokes off room for others to get any coverage at all. It also causes the media to drag Gramps out of hiding to get some bubble headed comments from him, reminding people of what a dope he is to have chosen Klondike Barbie and therefore lose badly to the Black Guy.

Yup, this plays right into Tramps hand.

[Metric System]

7. Republicans on Twitter who hate McCain are now defending him against Trump. Damn, I was hoping the

Trump sideshow would last longer than this.

[gotj90]

8. I've seen some poeple saying this won't hurt him

I think you're very wrong. Until now Trump was dangerous for the GOP because he would force guys like Bush and Walker to move very far right on immigration. They didn't really have an effective line of attack on him that worked with their base. He's an arrogant racist prick? Who cares. They love that. But this will allow them to KO him from the race. Donald's going to lose any business he had left.

[onenote]

19. some people here live in a bubble

Anyone who thinks that Trump won't be hurt by this is living in one of those bubbles. His comments will be construed, not entirely unfairly, as an attack on all POWs.

[ram2008]

9. Well it was fun while it lasted

First part wasn't necessarily too bad-- it's true we do tend to overuse the word "hero"

But this: “I like people that weren’t captured.” Implies that he views those who were captured in a negative light and that he dislikes them, even though they sacrificed for their country.

Shouldn't go over well with the overly nationalist, patriotic part of the right wing and also with most sensible Americans.

[treestar]

15. We had some comment on DU

about Mc5planes. He was captured, but that alone makes him a hero in American consciousness. Trump is going for the "winner" heroes, who did something heroic and didn't get captured, thus making out someone who suffered being a POW into a "loser" for getting captured - well getting captured is one of the risks. So really Trump is being nasty and here I am defending Mc5planes. And to top if off, Trump didn't even go into the military or to the war and thus there is no proof he would have been a "winner" hero. Which makes him really really stupid to say this. That may just endear him more to Republicans.

[Fred Sanders]

10. Attacking McCain from the right of right wing GOP just carved away some of the milder racists from Trump for Cruz, who

will surely be next up to rocket to 17% amongst the Neanderthal Party, where the feces and stone chuckers always get to go to the frontlines as fodder.

It is a nearly identically entertaining redux of 2012.

[DinahMoeHum]

11. Too bad he didn't love the military enough to join up. . .

. . .back when he was "draft bait".

Baaaawwwk! baawk baawk baawwwwk!

Psss psss psss psss psss! Meow meow!!

[treestar]

12. What is the point of attacking McCain who is not even running against him

The dumbest Presidential candidate ever.

If he loves the military why didn't he go into it? What an idiot.

[DonViejo]

14. McCain and Trump have been arguing in the media for the last two or three days...

if started when McCain called Trump an "idiot," or words to that effect.

[treestar]

16. Never though I'd say this

McCain is right.

Though that doesn't mean he is not an idiot also.

[LordGlenconner]

13. I'm torn on this

I detest McCain intensely for his sad sour grapes after 2008. As one of the handful of people left here who still supports the POTUS I also resent the nasty things he's said about Obama the last 6 years. So in a way this is amusing.

But on the other hand the remark is offensive to so many who went through what JM did in Vietnam and other wars. I realize Trump and McCain were having a back and forth in the media leading up to this but even if you're Donald Trump you just can't say things like that and not expect to get roasted over it.

Bill Kristol's tweet in response might be predictive. This might be the beginning of the end for this blockading SFB.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

73. What's funny is that I have heard people say that here before. Personally think you are brave

To go to war, for sure. But have always thought getting captured doesn't make you a hero. It does make you strong. That's what makes trump ultimately fail..he says what others think and say in their own homes.

[gwheezie]

17. Trump also said he wouldn't rule out 3rd party

Which really should rattle the GOP.

[DinahMoeHum]

23. Great! Pass the popcorn, ladies and gentlemen. . .

. . .and let's encourage him to split the GOP voting.

Let's not get in the way of this trainwreck.

[Nye Bevan]

21. I have seen DUers saying the same thing:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6546045

[Laura PourMeADrink]

75. Thanks ..thought the same. We should never want trump to fail this soon

He is a godsend

[pinboy3niner]

22. Trump getting pushback from other candidates

Perry, Bush, Jindal, Graham so far. Perry made three comments, and both he and Graham said Trump isn't fit to be CiC. Perry also said that Trump should withdraw.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

76. Ha.. Sure they want him gone. Not a single one can keep up with him

In a sparring match...lunacy abounds

[Hepburn]

24. I have never been a McCain fan, but...FUCK YOU, TRUMP!!!

The man was a prisoner of war and served and suffered for his country.

So......Donny-Boy, did you serve? So........STFU.... Asshole, wimp, ingrate...boy, does this anger me!

[jomin41]

25. I was in the USAF 1964-1970 while

T-Rump was hiding under his heirloom desk. Dipshit.

[BlueMTexpat]

26. I'm no fan of John McCain.

But Donald Trump is just like Dick Cheney in escaping his own military service. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/deferments-helped-trump-dodge-vietnam

At least McCain served.

[SHRED]

27. I love the smell of GOP cannibalism in the morning!

[niyad]

28. and I am pretty sure that the hairpiece (and whatever is under it) is not actually a human being.

[restorefreedom]

59. shall we start a separate thread

for guesses as to what entity he is?

ok i'll start....salt vampire

[niyad]

84. that is an excellent idea

[KamaAina]

85. It's not. It's a Tribble.

[Depaysement]

29. I think he's right!

Is there really that much of a difference between the any of the Trump Hotels today and the Hanoi Hilton circa 1968?

[BlueStater]

30. Tronald Dump has never even served.

I think John McCain is as big of a douchebag as anyone else here but the man served his country and put his life on the line unlike Trump. This moron needs to shut his fucking mouth.

[lpbk2713]

31. If there was any doubt Trump hasn't jumped the shark before now ...

he has mos def blown any shot he ever had now.

I have no use for McCain as a politico but I would never take anything
away from him for his military service. Trump is one contemptible mofo.

[dembotoz]

32. oy was enjoying the trumpster shooting himself but this time wow

[UTUSN]

33. Bwah-hah!1 Keep on trumping on, TRUMP!1 n/t

[Depaysement]

34. From Wikipedia - Nothing as heroic as going to business school

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain#Prisoner_of_war

John McCain's capture and subsequent imprisonment began on October 26, 1967. He was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam when his A-4E Skyhawk was shot down by a missile over Hanoi.[34][35] McCain fractured both arms and a leg ejecting from the aircraft,[36] and nearly drowned when he parachuted into Trúc Bạch Lake.[34] Some North Vietnamese pulled him ashore, then others crushed his shoulder with a rifle butt and bayoneted him.[34] McCain was then transported to Hanoi's main Hỏa Lò Prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton".[35]

Although McCain was badly wounded, his captors refused to treat his injuries, beating and interrogating him to get information; he was given medical care only when the North Vietnamese discovered that his father was a top admiral.[37] His status as a prisoner of war (POW) made the front pages of major newspapers.[38][39]

McCain spent six weeks in the hospital while receiving marginal care.[34] By then having lost 50 pounds (23 kg), in a chest cast, and with his hair turned white,[34] McCain was sent to a different camp on the outskirts of Hanoi[40] in December 1967, into a cell with two other Americans who did not expect him to live a week.[41] In March 1968, McCain was put into solitary confinement, where he would remain for two years.[42]

In August 1968, a program of severe torture began on McCain.[46] He was subjected to rope bindings and repeated beatings every two hours, at the same time as he was suffering from dysentery.[34][46] Further injuries led to the beginning of a suicide attempt, stopped by guards.[34] Eventually, McCain made an anti-American propaganda "confession".[34] He has always felt that his statement was dishonorable, but as he later wrote, "I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine."[47][48] Many American POWs were tortured and maltreated in order to extract "confessions" and propaganda statements;[49] virtually all of them eventually yielded something to their captors.[50] McCain subsequently received two to three beatings weekly because of his continued refusal to sign additional statements.[51]

[artislife]

67. Tortured. The man was tortured

He may not be politacally anything close to what I would vote for and I am not pro war, but he is to be respected for the man he is. One could choose to live so differently after such brutality. He is honorable.



Trump in narcissist.

[Depaysement]

68. Well said

I agree with your post entirely.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

35. George W. Bush swiveling his hips in a flight suit was a war hero

to the draft avoiding right wing. John McCain and John Kerry were cowards and traitors.

[teach1st]

36. Jeb Bush on Trump: 'Enough with the slanderous attacks'

I rarely agree with the Jeb!, but I do on this one.

Jeb Bush on Trump: 'Enough with the slanderous attacks'

Jeb Bush condemned Donald Trump's attack today on Sen. John McCain, saying "enough with the slanderous attacks."

Trump in Iowa today said of McCain: "He was not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."

Bush went on Twitter

Jeb Bush ✔@JebBush
Enough with the slanderous attacks. @SenJohnMcCain and all our veterans - particularly POWs have earned our respect and admiration.
1:19 PM - 18 Jul 2015

[WinkyDink]

37. No love lost here for either man. Remember Palin.

[underpants]

38. Response in the form of a smilie

[TheProgressive]

39. What did McCain do to be considered a war hero?

Does anyone know?

[Reter]

40. More than you have

n/t

[TheProgressive]

57. I am not sure I understand your post?????

Care to explain? thanks...

[Laura PourMeADrink]

77. I think u asked a good question..sorry someone had to

Zing you.

[TheProgressive]

78. Nah, I am impermeable to zings...

I recall a poster named Laura Pack Your Bags.... Any relation?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

80. Me. The short-sighted one....thinking we would be talking and

Hating on bush forever more. Haha..I want trump in as long as possible. McCain was brave..but technically not a hero in the true sense. The Donald flubbed this time because he should have known that most people don't know Mccains true history and will rally around him

[EX500rider]

42. Suggest you read all of post #34

[TheProgressive]

56. Ok, I read post 34

He was shot down, captured, and was tortured.

Does that make him a 'hero'?

[EX500rider]

61. A: By undertaking dangerous bombing missions B: By withstanding months of torture before...

.....giving in to demands to sign a "confession".

Certainly more heroic then what the average person has done.

[TheProgressive]

62. Except for drone operators, all military missions are dangereous...

And being captured and tortured are not 'heroic'.

No offense and no digs for those who fight for the military, the word 'hero' is
greatly overused.

A hero is somebody who uses his body over a grenade. Or, runs into enemy fire
to save fellow GIs, etc...

Just doing your job and being captured is not 'heroic'.

Just saying...

[krawhitham]

71. Months?

He was giving the info in 3-4 days

Googling McCain The Hanoi Hilton Songbird will find you all kinds of neat stuff


https://www.laprogressive.com/mccain-the-war-hero-has-no-clothes/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/30/646620/-The-ldquo-Mark-of-McCain-rdquo-Unfit-The-POW-MIA-Debacle

http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/fraud/elections_campaigning/news.php?q=1217103060

http://notmytribe.com/2008/mccain-was-dubbed-the-pow-songbird-83448.html

https://whatsdrivingyoucrazy.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/songbird-mccain-got-sex-drugs-and-cigs-from-his-north-vietnamese-captors-all-he-had-to-do-was-talk/

hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=B3JbyNmpZZE

[Walk away]

55. He kissed Ronald Reagan's ass and stood around for republican photo ops!

[xmas74]

69. POW who went through torture and interrogations repeatedly

over the course of a few years. I don't know how he made it-I certainly couldn't.

I don't care for him but I do have a soft spot for POWs since my grandfather was one.

[oasis]

41. Trump bumps himself out of the top spot w/this stupidity. He's supposed to be

Soooooo smart.

[MohRokTah]

43. I predict his numbers improve.

The teabaggers despise McCain and the GOP had no problems with their faithful disparaging a war hero's service in 2004.

[oasis]

44. Swift boating on Kerry by fellow servicemen is not the same as a mythical hero

Being slighted by a pampered billionaire.

Trump will plummet in the polls.

[MohRokTah]

45. This is NOT a "fellow serviceman"

[oasis]

53. .The "Swiftboaters for Truth" were veterans.They got the ball rolling

against Kerry. Their false accusations allowed dipshits like the one pictured above to declare open season on a true war hero. This pic above was from the 2004 GOP convention so it was okayed by the leadership.

[MohRokTah]

48. I will say, McCain has the power to destroy Trump without saying a word.

All he has to do is send out his spokesperson to be questioned about it and the spokesperson says, "The Senator refuses to respond to attacks on his military service from those who avoided service on multiple occasions."

McCain calls him a draft dodger by proxy and nobody ever needs to apologize, meanwhile Trump is faced with a draft dodger label in the midst of disparaging remarks.

[oasis]

51. exactamundo (eom)

[Johonny]

52. I think we will all collectively go WTF if it does

The only thing uglier than what comes out of Trumps mouth is how it magically transforms into high GOP polling numbers. If this attracts him to more likely GOP voters what the hell does that say for the sad sacks of * voting GOP these days.

[Snobblevitch]

46. Why would Trump even bring this up?

I'm no fan of McCain, but every single one of the Vietnam POWs are heros in my view. Just surviving took monumental courage.

Trump is one of he biggest assholes to walk on this planet.

[MohRokTah]

49. Because of McCain's tweet about Trump bringing out the crazies. eom

[Snobblevitch]

50. That still dosn't explain why Trump brought up McCain's POW experience.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

47. Trump will eventually get around to insulting everyone in the world

His schtick seems to be "look at me, I'm smart, successful, and rich and you're not." He's turning into Triumph The Insult Comic Dog. Maybe that's .who he should choose as his running mate

[Walk away]

54. McCain wasn't a war hero. Ronald Reagan turned him into one...

to use for marketing purposes. McCain was a hot shot moron who messed around one too many times, got caught and then "talked" to the enemy while his fellow prisoners kept their mouths shut.

Maybe he really is a quizzling out to destroy the republican party! Cool!

[mvd]

58. It would be a riot if he was their nominee

The most insane in a car filled with clowns..

[NCjack]

60. I'd send Trump a few bucks to encourage him in the destruction of the

GOP primary, but he would just piss it away and file for bankruptcy.

[copernicusrev]

63. Personally, I could do without old man McCain and Mr. Big Hair

[xmas74]

66. What a disgusting piece of shit.

I'm no fan of McCain but I'd never make comments about his service. My grandfather was a POW and Trump's comments make me want to vomit.

[Contrary1]

70. The Repubs tend to rally around war heroes...

until they get sick, need counseling, lose their homes, can't find a job, turn to alcohol, etc...

Then, McCain and his like-minded buddies will vote against any bill that helps these vets out.

I don't know if McCain is a hero or not...I wasn't in a cell with him. But, I do think he's a warmongering ass.

[NYC Liberal]

72. In 2008, many DUers wanted people to go to the R convention and

jingle keys during McCain's speech (that sound is a known trigger for him).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6691513

Let's be honest: there were some pretty ugly remarks made about McCain here when he was running.

[xmas74]

79. That's around the time that I logged off of here

and stayed away from quite some time.

I may not care for him but there's no way I'd be enough of an ass to show off and try to trigger anything like that.

My grandfather was a POW and a good friend has PTSD from her time served in Iraq. Just the thought of trying to trigger someone is disturbing.

[Beacool]

74. Trump is nothing but a megalomaniac POS.

I don't agree with McCain's politics, but he served and was imprisoned in a hell hole for five years. Trump got five deferments thanks to his wealthy dad.

He can go and rot!!

[Peregrine]

81. Many of you need to go back to 2012 DU history to see what you wrote about McCain not being a hero

Lets see. Some of you brought up:
1: he probably broke because he was treated differently than his fellow POWs.
2. He probably broke because he was given an early release.

[moondust]

82. My guess: he thinks "people that weren't captured" were "successful."

Last edited Sun Jul 19, 2015, 01:30 AM - Edit history (1)

And that's naturally who he wants to identify with.

That there is some really clueless, arrogant, infantile horseshit.

Somebody needs to inform T.rump that he didn't make it.

[Marrah_G]

83. I think it's disgusting to mock someone who was a POW

And one who suffered permanent injuries from torture.

I have no love for McCain and think he is wrong on just about everything, but I would never mock what he went through.

Trump is scum.