Trump Versus McCain: What We Need is Clarity!

By Rich Kozlovich

This past week Mark Steyn published the article, “The Superbowl of Superholes”, wherein he describes both Trump and McCain as a-holes.  In fact he says McCain is in the Superbowl of a-holes and is still being out classed by Trump. An assessment I can agree with. However, we now have all these Republican “leaders”coming out with indignity and outrage over Trump’s snarky remark about McCain’s heroism. Let’s get this out of the way. McCain was once a hero, but having been a hero doesn’t give you a pass on the rest of life. Okay, Trump certainly has a shoot at the hip style, but is what he said so terrible? Let’s do some comparisons.

Steyn notes that in 1998 McCain “’stood up to address a Republican fundraising meeting: "You think that was a tasteless joke?" he began, referring to the previous speaker's closing Viagra gag. "Listen to this one." He then told the following side-splitter: "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? "Because her real father's Janet Reno.” Tell me how what Trump said is far worse?  Is this his idea of class?  Yes it is - low class!

Steyn goes on to say, “In just twelve words, Senator McCain insulted not the President himself but the three women closest to him (officially, that is): he said the kid's a dog, the First Lady's an adulterous lesbian, and the Attorney-General's an unconvincing transvestite”….. McCain's joke came in the deafening silence of the American media: like a genteel dowager on the 'bus trying to avoid catching the eye of the gibbering derelict, the press decided not to notice”.

Steyn notes: “The media blackout of 1998 is in striking contrast to the wall-to-wall coverage of Trump's "gaffe". Two decades back, the media loved McCain because he was their kind of Republican: that's to say, he spent more time attacking other Republicans than he ever did Democrats. And they wanted him to keep on doing that, so they closed ranks around him. Whereas no one wants what Trump wants to talk about to be part of the 2016 election conversation, so anything must be seized on to disqualify him from participation.”

Amazing! This should have been a one day story, but the press has labored hard, and on overtime, regarding Trump’s stupid comment for days. I hate to think how many hours of air time and print has been devoted to this non-issue in order to deflect society’s attention away from the real issue. Illegal immigration and its consequences! An issue of major concern for their base! An issue which will clearly bring out the character of the candidates! An issue most of the rest of the Republican candidates absolutely want to avoid addressing! An issue Trump has used to reach that Republican base McCain Republicans are calling “crazies”. Is it any wonder they’re beating on Trump so hard?

 

As for this snit some of the Republican candidates have gotten themselves into calling Trump names and accusing him of dishonoring all verterans and all military personal with his comment about McCain - making McCain the "personal embodiment of the entire US military" - what is it with these guys? Is it a matter of pragmatism, self interest or is it just plain deceit and cowardice? How did smearing John McCain turn into a smear of all American military personal past and present? I'm a Vietnam vet and I'm not dishonored by anyone attacking McCain on anything!   

What we need is clarity! John McCain was a bona fide war hero, and he has suffered terribly as a result of his service. That’s fact - that's history - so it doesn't really matter what Trump thinks about that! But having once been a hero doesn’t give you a pass on the rest of life, and his performance since then has not been anything less than contemptible. Let's give it a rest already and talk about abortion, Planned Parenthood, illegal immigration, terrorism, Islam and the need for the federal government to obey the law that governs government - The United States Constitution, and what John McCain and his Republican comtempories in the Congress have done about any one of them!

 

At least Trump didn't kill anyone or violate their rights.  Of course - perhaps I'm just being picky, but you tell me - what do you think is more important?