Dissing McCain

In a White House meeting on Thursday, Trump aide Kelly Sadler reacted to news that Senator John McCain opposed Gina Haspel for CIA Director by saying, “he’s dying anyway.”

Three sources confirmed Sadler’s comment to the press. The White House has refused to deny the comment was made. They’ve also refused to discipline or fire Sadler, or even apologize for the comment. And why would they? Trump himself never apologized for saying McCain was not a war hero and that he only “likes people who weren’t captured.”

McCain opposes Haspel’s nomination for her involvement in enhanced interrogation, which is torture. McCain was tortured for over five years as a prisoner of North Vietnam. McCain has carried physical disabilities ever since his stay at the Hanoi Hilton. Because he was the son of an admiral, the communists believed it would be good public relations to release him, and McCain refused to be released without the other POWs he was held with. Today, McCain is fighting for his life from brain cancer. The White House thinks that’s funny.

I’m “friends” on social media with several Trump sycophants. Not one of them has expressed outrage or called for the White House to apologize for the comments. If you hashtag McCain’s name on Twitter, you’ll see hundreds of Trump supporters accusing McCain of treason and of helping the North Vietnamese. There’s even a hashtag for “SongbirdMcCain.”

It’s not just the wingnut crazies on the internet. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney went on Fox News and claimed torture worked on McCain and said, “that’s why they call him ‘Songbird John.'” Fox News fired McInerney as an analyst.

After Trump said McCain wasn’t a war hero during the presidential campaign, several Republicans rushed to the Arizona Senator’s defense. McCain’s best friend in the Senate, Lindsey Graham tweeted at the time, “If there was ever any doubt that @realDonaldTrump should not be our commander in chief, this stupid statement should end all doubt. At the heart of @realDonaldTrump statement is a lack of respect for those who have served – a disqualifying characteristic to be president.” Today, Graham is one Trump’s favorite golf buddies, and he’s been silent over the White House attack on his friend. His former running mate Sarah Palin has expressed respect for McCain, but she hasn’t called on the White House to apologize. Other Republicans are just as silent.

And why should they call out Trump? Hell, they voted for the guy after he slurred McCain on the campaign trail. They haven’t called him out for his recent digs at McCain at his Trump Worship rallies. The environment where one would laugh and dig at a dying veteran is one created by the man in charge. Donald Trump does not respect the White House, the presidency, the American people, or our veterans. Trump received five deferments from serving in Vietnam. Four were for being a student and one was for his bone spurs. When asked which foot had the bone spurs, Trump couldn’t answer. He doesn’t know because he never had bone spurs. He had cowardice and selfishness.

For the context of this, listen to the people who know McCain and understand what the White House is doing and what they’re made of.

McCain’s daughter, Meghan McCain said, “I don’t understand what kind of environment you’re working in when that would be acceptable and then you can come to work the next day and still have a job.”

Joe Biden said, “People have wondered when decency would hit rock bottom with this administration. It happened yesterday.”

Steve Schmidt, who ran McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign said, “I pray a righteous rage and anger is swelling in the hearts of every decent person in this country around the desecration of our country and values by team Trump. Let us repudiate these terrible people. Let’s do it with joy and gratitude for the privilege. We should be happy that looking back from the end of our lives that we will have played a part in washing away the sewer that is this administration.” In an excellent rant on MSNBC, he said Trump was unworthy of saying McCain’s name.

Malcolm Nance, a 20-year Navy veteran, and counter-terrorism analyst said that monuments and buildings will be named after McCain, but none for Trump. Nance is wrong. There are plenty of buildings named after Trump. Of course, those are buildings Trump named himself and their primary purposes are for money laundering and meeting with Russian spies.

John McCain represents a better time in politics. He’s a man I’ve ridiculed and defended. He’s a candidate I’ve voted for and voted against. Today, we’re either sycophants washed in a cult of stupid personality or in a resistance against those putting said stupid personality over country. There is no normal anymore. There is no difference of ideas or agendas. It’s just blind obedient worship at the sacrifice of our greatest institutions.

Not just the people attacking McCain and giving him the swift-boat treatment they gave John Kerry, another veteran, but also those who refuse to criticize the White House and Donald Trump over this, I’d tell them their souls will burn in Hell. But I can’t.

They don’t have souls.

Here’s the video.

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