Trump’s snub to war hero Mccain is a dying shame
Amid the outpouring of tributes to the late Vietnam war veteran John Mccain, Donald Trump’s brief 21word tweet spoke volumes.
For the man who usually writes incomprehensible Twitter essays in the hope he may be understood, the churlish President refused, even in the Senator’s death, to commend him for his distinguished service.
Instead, Trump vetoed a White House statement praising Mccain, who died on Saturday after battling brain cancer, instead choosing to offer “sympathies” for his family.
The decision was truly appalling. Although not all may have agreed with his politics, Mccain’s courage, integrity and bipartisan spirit made him a truly great politician.
In this age of “alternative facts” and dishonesty, he provided stark relief.
His conduct came in deep contrast to the draft-dodging President, who previously criticised the Arizona senator for being a prisoner of war.
Throughout the last few years of Mccain’s life, Trump had constantly attacked the former naval pilot who refused to bow down.
Their feud dated back to when the billionaire announced he was running for the White House and called Mexican immigrants “rapists” and drug runners during a speech.
Mccain distanced himself from the comments saying he disagreed with the remarks while all others remained embarrassingly silent. Trump fired back by calling his party member “incompetent” a month later during a July 2015 rally.
Their clash escalated when the ex-apprentice host attacked Mccain’s military record.
He said: “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
This came from someone who got five draft deferments and claimed avoiding sexually transmitted diseases was his “personal Vietnam”.
Mccain complained Trump “fired up the crazies” while a month before the 2016 election he withdrew his support for the egomaniac after he was caught on tape speaking in lewd fashion about groping women.
He was one of the few Republicans who stood for principle, not the President.
Famously his response during the 2008 campaign to someone who said about then-senator Barack Obama they did not trust him as “he’s an Arab”, Mccain’s response told everything anyone needed to know about his integrity.
He replied” “No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that’s what the campaign is about.”
Such examples show the difference between this astute man and the President, who led audiences in “lock her up” chants while running against Hillary Clinton in the White House race.
Even as he was dying Trump refused to utter Mccain’s name when signing his eponymous defence policy bill.
And the tycoon sullied the senator’s memory further when after his passing he ordered the American flag to full mast – a mere 24 hours of being flown at half.
It took a barrage of bitter criticism for it to be lowered back down.
Whether you agreed with Mccain politics or not, America is a darker place without him.
He leaves a void that will not be filled by those in Congress.
The US is also hurt by the fact it voted in a man into the White House who is not fit to lick Mccain’s boots. The country mourned as the hero lay in state – juxtaposed that with Trump who will just lie.
Mccain’s courage and bi-partisan spirit made him a great