Trump Doubles Down On McCain Criticism, Refusing To Apologize

In the coming days, a deservedly significant amount of energy will be spent analyzing and dissecting the political impact of Donald Trump’s crass and irresponsible comments about Senator John McCain.

“He’s a war hero because he was captured”, Trump replied.

On Saturday, Trump told a gathering of social conservative activists in the Midwestern state of Iowa that McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, was “not a war hero”.

A lot of GOP rivals have upbraided him for making such remarks on McCain.

Trump also continued to attack McCain for not doing enough to help veterans. I want to read you a short bio of John McCain, he was shot down in 1967 on his 23rd bombing mission over north Vietnam, he fractured both legs and an arm and almost drowned when he parachuted into a lake.

Trump pressed ahead Sunday with his critical remarks on McCain, who had no comment.

“Enough with the slanderous attacks. @SenJohnMcCain and all our veterans – particularly POWs have earned our respect and admiration”.

News website Huffington Post last Friday said it would stop political coverage of Mr Trump, and instead cover his campaign as part of the entertainment section. It is effective to make a joke at Trump’s expense pointing out his billionaire cluelessness, his lack of experience in relevant areas or his obnoxious personality. “It’s just a disgrace”. Marco Rubio. “It’s offensive”.

The comment drew some boos from the audience and an even more aggressive response from national Republican leaders who fear that Trump is damaging their party’s brand. “There is no place in our party or our country for comments that disparage those who have served honorably”.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, however, declined to go after Clinton by name on Saturday and promised “not to impugn anyone’s character” over the next 18 months.

Other presidential candidates have stayed on the paid-speaking circuit while running for president.

“I got a standing ovation, the biggest ovation they had all weekend, by far”, he said. I’d rather see them put on a path to success so they can become middle-class American citizens (and Republicans), than stay in this perpetual limbo that is effectively a form of amnesty anyway. I respect and admire him and he’s an American hero.

The conversation came as evangelical voters eye their options in an extraordinarily crowded Republican presidential contest. Kristol told ABC News’ Benjamin Bell that Trump is not hurting the GOP.

Trump first tweeted Thursday that McCain was a “dummy” after the senator criticized his July 11 rally in Phoenix against illegal immigration.

“It turns out I was right”, Trump declared on Saturday, citing the recent murder of a California woman by an immigrant in the country illegally. “He let us down”. Lindsey Graham and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker were also quick to condemn the remarks.

Trump said he had student deferments during the Vietnam War, as well as a “minor medical deferment” for a bone spur of the foot.

But for a party that prides itself on its support for the military, Trump’s comments about McCain were an easy opening.