Donald Trump showed no such compassion or self-control. Stuart Stevens, a chief architect of Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential bid, called on the Republican National Committee to ask Trump to step aside and let his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, head the ticket. “A lot of people have said that”.
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The Clinton-Kaine bus stop in Pittsburgh came as Donald Trump escalated his dispute with Khizr Khan, the father of a fallen Muslim American hero who died saving the lives of his Army comrades in Iraq.
At the Democratic Convention, Khan did criticize Trump for his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the country when American Muslims have lost children fighting for America. And he disputed their right to question his grasp of the Constitution.
A savvy candidate, faced with such an emotional barrage from Gold Star parents, would recognize the appropriate response is to honor the fallen, acknowledge the family’s hurt and perhaps, at a separate time, have a policy discussion about immigration and national security. My heart breaks for the Khan family. She said she did so after seeing so much “hurt and anger” among Gold Star families on social media. A spokesman for Patrick did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday on Trump’s war of words with the Khans.
“The issue here is not one of the Khan family’s patriotism or sacrifice – that is indisputable – it is about stopping the encroachment of radical Islam”, U.S. Rep. Diane Black of Gallatin said. Trump fired back, suggesting Khan had “viciously” attacked him and that Khan’s wife had not been “allowed” to speak because she is Muslim.
“His wife … if you look at his wife, she was standing there”, Trump said. “Nobody should say anything other than ‘Thank you for your service'”.
It’s just the latest Trump-created conundrum for Republican senators who need support from Trump’s enthusiastic backers to win re-election, but risk alienating moderate Republicans, independents, minorities and women if they embrace the GOP nominee too closely.
Harris says she’s speaking now because she identifies with grieving families across the country, including the Khans.
Sen. Lamar Alexander “is grateful for the service of Captain Khan and the sacrifices he and his family have made for this country”, his spokesman said.
Prominent Republicans spoke out Monday against Trump. Khan said, demanding Trump consult the 14th amendment, which guarantees equal protection before the law.
The new president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the nation’s oldest and largest veterans group, called Trump’s attack “out of bounds”, and said it “will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising his or her right of speech or expression”.
Cantor’s statement continued: “Donald Trump has repeatedly belittled great American warriors like John McCain and Humayun Khan, among the best our country has to offer, and it is time that he apologize for his reckless denigration of those that actually fight to protect our freedoms”.
Yet as Democrats were quick to point out, most of the Republicans criticizing Trump had already declared their plans to vote for him for president, and despite their collective outrage, none of them withdrew their support. Army Spc. Christopher Neiberger was killed in Iraq in 2007.
She said she emailed the Khans after the Democratic National Convention speech, telling them how courageous they were.
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The woman said her son serves in the U.S. Air Force.
