August 27, 2018Gronda Morin

President Trump Refused To Issue A White House Statement Praising Senator McCain As A Hero

Image result for images of sen john mccain
McCain, center, and his wife, Cindy, pose with US Rep. John Rhodes

Most peoples who remotely keep up with the news, know that on the 25th of August 2018, the last of the republican giants in the US Congress passed away, Senator John McCain of Arizona at 81. He joins those like republicans Senator Bob Dole and President George H.W. Bush and democrats like Senators Ted Kennedy and Tip O’Neal where terms like honor, decency, sacrifice, compromise were not foreign words.

The republican President Donald  J. Trump made a point of attempting to diminish the heroism of Senator McCain, a Vietnam Prisoner of War who suffered torture for years and refused an early release until his men were also treated likewise. President Trump who avoided serving in the military during the Vietnam War, openly commented that Senator McCain was no hero for just being captured.

Even on the 27th day of August 2018, President Trump has refused to fly the US flag at the White House, at half mast.

Image result for images of sen john mccain

As late as August 13, 2018 and as per the 8/14/18 AP report, “President Donald Trump on Monday signed a $716 billion defense policy bill named for John McCain but included no mention in his remarks of the Republican senator, who is battling brain cancer at home in Arizona.”

“Trump and McCain are engaged in a long-running feud that dates to Trump’s 2016 presidential run. At campaign rallies, Trump regularly castigates McCain — without outright naming him — for casting a dramatic thumbs-down vote that doomed Trump’s effort last year to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which was enacted by President Barack Obama.”

McCain, bottom right, poses with his Navy squadron in 1965.

It turns out that Senator McCain who passed away battling an aggressive form of brain cancer, will be returning the middle finger to President Trump even in his death. While leaders and peoples of import from around the world will be paying their respects to Senator McCain and his family, and the former US Presidents democratic Barack Obama and the republican George W. Bush will be delivering his eulogy, Senator McCain has left specific instructions that President Trump NOT be invited.

It’s not surprising that the republican President Donald  J. Trump couldn’t comport himself to act with grace and a modicum degree of decency by granting Senator McCain his due as a hero in his condolence remarks. He refused to send the one originally drafted and opted for a lukewarm option.

McCain talks with people in Hanoi, Vietnam, during the filming of the CBS special, "Honor, Duty and a War Called Vietnam" in 1985.

Here is the rest of the story…

On August 26, 2018, Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post penned the following report,  “Trump rejected plans for a White House statement praising McCain”

Excerpts:

“President Trump nixed issuing a statement that praised the heroism and life of Sen. John McCain, telling senior aides he preferred to issue a tweet before posting one Saturday night that did not include any kind words for the late Arizona Republican.”

McCain gets a kiss from his wife as they kick off his campaign for the 2000 presidential election.

“Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Chief of Staff John F. Kelly and other White House aides advocated for an official statement that gave the decorated Vietnam War POW plaudits for his military and Senate service and called him a “hero,” according to current and former White House aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal deliberations. The original statement was drafted before McCain died Saturday, and Sanders and others edited a final version this weekend that was ready for the president, the aides said.”

“But Trump told aides he wanted to post a brief tweet instead, and the statement praising McCain’s life was not released.”

“My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!” Trump posted Saturday evening shortly after McCain’s death was announced.”

McCain spends time with his wife and children at their home in Phoenix in 1999. John and Cindy McCain have two daughters, Meghan and Bridget, and two sons, Jack and Jimmy. He also has three children from a previous marriage: Andrew, Douglas and Sidney.

“It’s atrocious,” Mark Corallo, a former spokesman for Trump’s legal team and a longtime Republican strategist, said of Trump’s reaction to McCain’s death. “At a time like this, you would expect more of an American president when you’re talking about the passing of a true American hero.”

“As tributes poured in, the president who said McCain was “not a war hero” spent much of Sunday at his golf course in Virginia and did not utter a word publicly. In the afternoon, he returned to the White House, where the flags were lowered to half-staff in honor of McCain.”

McCain poses with his wife and seven children in 2000. The children, from left, are Andrew, Jimmy, Jack, Bridget, Meghan, Douglas and Sidney.

“Trump’s Twitter account was silent Sunday other than reprising screeds against the investigation into Russian election interference and boasting about a buoyant economy. “Fantastic numbers on consumer spending released on Friday!” Trump posted en route to the Virginia course Sunday morning. “Stock Market hits all time high!” Later Sunday, he accused the news media of giving Obama credit for his accomplishments, posting an excerpt of a weeks-old piece from the Washington Times.”

12 comments

  1. Dear Gronda, Senator McCain is sorely missed and highly regarded in Australia. How fortunate for America to have such service and selfless dedication for the many by such a man. A gemstone amongst pebbles. Hugs mate.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Gary J.,

      I admired Senator McCain. He was a great ambassador for the USA in his own right. Here in the US, he was thought of as a Maverick.

      But he loved to stick it in the eye of folks like President Trump. This was one male republican in the US Congress who was more than willing to stand up to you know who. He was the one vote against President’s push to kill Obamacare.

      In his deathbed, he is sticking it again to President Trump as the family has been instructed to not invite him to the funeral. It is President Trump’s nemesis, the democratic President Barack Obama who will be delivering the main eulogy at his funeral.

      This is the kind of man who all of us are very fond of even after he’s passed away.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 4 people

  2. Gronda, what I find telling is the number of global leaders who have praised the character and efforts of Senator John McCain. There are more, but I saw remarks from leaders in the UK, Poland, Australia, Canada, EU and NATO.

    To your specific point, the man in the White House first commented about as little as he possibly could, without inclusion of his wife. In contrast, VP Pence said “Karen and I.” The other is when the defense bill was signed into law, no reference was made by the man with the big signature that the bill was named after Senator McCain.

    The man who he said was not a hero because he was captured had the opportunity to be released because of his father being an Admiral and it would be a publicity coup for the North Vietnamese. McCain declined and said protocol is first in, first released. He was subject to five years of torture and deprivation. When given the chance to correct his statement about McCaih not being a war hero, the candidate doubled down on his inappropriate insult. This paragraph reveals the chasm in character between the two men. A leader just died. A man in a position of leadership lives on. Keith

    Liked by 4 people

  3. Dear Keith,

    I am very fond of Senator McCain for his authenticity and his ability to make mistakes, feel bad about it and then his taking corrective action. He was not afraid to apologize and to publicly declare his errors in judgement. He never won the presidency, but he was never the less a major force on the political scene. He knew how to be gracious in defeat. I had planned to vote for him in 2008 until he selected Sara Palin to be his VP.

    His decency, character, commitment of service to this country are attributes that are sorely missing in the US Senate.

    Frankly, I’m convinced that President Trump is very envious of Senator McCain as he knows in his empty heart, he could never measure up.

    As you mentioned, Senator McCain will be honored by leaders and folks from US and around the world while President Trump is MIA, and rightfully so.

    Hugs, Gronda

    Liked by 2 people

    • Gronda, like you I considered voting for McCain, but the final deciding factor was picking Palin as it brought McCain’s age into the question.

      It would have been interesting if he defeated Bush and Gore in 2000. While he was hawkish, he at least understood the complexity of the Middle East better than most American politicians and he knew that sending American troops into harm’s way needs to be for a good reason and plan. Bush and Cheney fabricated a reason to invade Iraq, then went in with too few troops and interpreters, trusting the wrong Iraqis, and without a plan after the battles were won. That is a disservice to many. Keith

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
    This is how small and worthy the ‘being’ occupying the Oval Office is … petty, vile, evil, vindictive and so much more!!
    ‘Drumpf nixed issuing a statement that praised the heroism and life of Sen. John McCain, telling senior aides he preferred to issue a tweet before posting one Saturday night that did not include any kind words for the late Arizona Republican.”
    NO WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION … by his order!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Horty,

      President Trump is just displaying his total lack of decency, honor, character and grace in regards to how he is acting during the Americans grieving over the loss of a major figure in US politics, Senator John McCain.

      I’m praying that this turns off the military personnel who typically vote for the republican ticket.

      Thanks a million for all of your support and for this reblog.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 1 person

        • Dear Horty,

          This is a good thing. It is disrespectful to Senator McCain but it is sending an important message to folks who are reliable voters for republican party candidates, the military families. This will not go over well. Peeling off these voters will do democrats a lot of good in November.

          Let’s just pray that I’m right on this one.

          Hugs, Gronda

          Liked by 1 person

  5. The childishness of tRumpsky is simply beyond words.

    Women have often been accused of being vindictive, but this guy has them beat by a mile! What a total jerk! (And I’m being nice.)

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Nan,

      Any man who can’t let go of a grudge is not worth being around. Peoples have flaws and they mess up. President Trump is the kind of sick individual that if he perceives that you’ve wronged him, you will pay for it sooner or later, but you will definitely pay.

      Imagine being married to a monster like this. One would have to walk on egg shells to make sure his wrath is not incurred.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 1 person

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