On Thursday, Joy Behar asked her fellow panelists
(co-hosts? conversationalists?) on The View
It's a good question, though largely a rhetorical one because we know why GOP politicians are silent about this, as they are about virtually every Trump evil: the President's endorsement is gold in a Repub primary, his opposition a lump of coal. They are intimidated by him, and most of them will consistently choose personal ambition over country.
Trump took credit for giving McCain the “funeral he wanted”
during a speech on Wednesday, proceeding to complain that he wasn’t thanked for
the ceremony.
Share
|
... and his claim about having to "approve" the
McCain funeral is a flat-out lie. I'm glad the crowd stayed pretty silent.
You'll notice they weren't screaming and giving him support like they usually
do.But why are so many Republicans silent about this, too?why are these cowards
siding with a draft dodger over a war hero?
It's a good question, though largely a rhetorical one because we know why GOP politicians are silent about this, as they are about virtually every Trump evil: the President's endorsement is gold in a Repub primary, his opposition a lump of coal. They are intimidated by him, and most of them will consistently choose personal ambition over country.
As expected, each individual (Navarro, Hostin, Huntsman,
and Behar) on ABC's program criticized Trump's attacks
against the McCain family, with Meghan McCain stating "there's a lot of
power on this show" (actually, influence, but whatever).
Even a church, albeit the renowned Washington National Cathedral,stepped up:
The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. clapped back at
President Donald Trump Thursday, with a spokesman clarifying that no funerals
held there, including the late Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ), require the approval
of a President.
“Washington National Cathedral was honored to host the
funeral service for Senator John McCain. All funerals and memorial services at
the Cathedral are organized by the family of the deceased; only a state funeral
for a former President involves consultation with government officials,” said
Chief Communications Officer Kevin Eckstrom in a statement. “No funeral at the
Cathedral requires the approval of the President or any other government
official.”
There is, however, one major institution which so far has
punted on the controversy. That would be the United States Congress- and not
only its Republicans.
When Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) recently let her
anti-Semitic flag show, House Democrats responded, albeit with a
resolution which condemned hatred across-the-board rather than by addressing
the sentiment which forced their hand. When Representative Steve King (R-IA)
endorsed white nationalism, he was taken off House committees by Minority
Leader Kevin McCarthy.
But President Trump has remained completely unscathed, as he
usually does, in this latest display of the Trump signature combination of
anger, self-congratulation and dishonesty.
This should not stand. There is little the United States
Congress can do, yet there is a little. The Senate, controlled by the GOP, will
do as it invariably has. It will do nothing, and only one individual Republican senator has
denounced Trump's remarks.
It is, therefore, up to the House of Representatives to take
action, if only symbolic. A motion of disapproval can be placed on the House
floor, presumably by a Democratic Representative. It is wise politically, in part because
it paints Republicans in a corner. They would be faced with a Hobson's Choice, either to vote in favor,
thereby antagonizing the President- or vote in opposition, thereby laying bare
their preference for party over country.
However, it's also simply the right thing to do. Defending John McCain does not require a
positive assessment of everything he did, nor even concluding that the good
outweighed the bad. Donald Trump understands. He attacked McCain for his
service record, standing for principle in opposing repeal of the Affordable
Care Act, and for handing the Steele dossier (as any loyal American would have) over to the FBI.
Saving health care for a few million Americans,
demonstrating exceptional courage in wartime, and informing law enforcement of
a security threat to the nation are reasons to defend John McCain, especially
in death. If the National Cathedral and the women of The View can slap back at
President Trump, so, too, can Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
No comments:
Post a Comment