On CNN, Veterans Group Founder Says “There's No Apologizing For” Or “Excusing” Trump's Attacks On The Khan Family
IAVA's Paul Rieckhoff: “For Anybody To Defend This, They're Going To Lose That Political Argument”
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
From the August 2 edition of CNN's CNN Newsroom with Carol Costello:
CAROL COSTELLO (HOST): First of all, I want you to take a look at what happened when a military mom stood up at a Mike Pence rally and, you know, kind of characterized Donald Trump for his attacks on the Khan family.
[...]
So as you watch what transpired there, what goes through your mind?
PAUL RIECKHOFF: Our organization is bipartisan. We don't endorse any candidate. We want to hold everybody accountable. And our membership has been universally outraged by this entire thing. And I think what we know coming out of the military is leaders set what we call a command climate. You create the environment that your followers operate in. And this is the environment that has been created. If a military mother can stand up and be booed, it is outrageous. Mike Pence has to shut that down. Donald Trump has to shut that down. Hillary Clinton should do the same. This is not about partisanship, this is about honor, this is about integrity, and this is about respecting families that are enduring something that's unimaginable for most of the American public. And Mike Pence especially knows, his son is in the Marine Corps. Tim Kaine's son is in the Marine Corps. So we're going to look to them to be leaders, to set the right environment, set the right tone, and bring more light and less heat. That's what this country needs right now.
COSTELLO: There are many who are calling for Donald Trump to apologize for his attacks on the Khan family. Donald Trump's son Eric appeared on CBS This Morning show this morning. He says his father has apologized, not by saying I'm sorry, but -- let's listen
[BEGIN VIDEO]
NORAH O’DONNELL: They want an apology. Would your father be willing to apologize and move on?
ERIC TRUMP: I think that’s a great question for him and I think he has by calling them a hero. You know, in terms of the one question, whether you’ve made a sacrifice, I think my father has. Now that’s certainly not the ultimate sacrifice. The ultimate sacrifice is a soldier dying for this nation, dying to protect the three of us. There’s no question about it.
GAYLE KING: Is it difficult for him to apologize, Eric, on anything? You know him probably better than anybody.
TRUMP: My father’s a fighter, you know. My father’s a fighter and I think this country needs a fighter. And I think he was attacked the other day. And he was attacked viciously. And, by the way, that’s politics. You’re going to get attacked.
[END VIDEO]
COSTELLO: Was Donald Trump attacked viciously by the Khan family? Does it matter?
RIECKHOFF: I don't think there's any apologizing for this. Right? There's no apologizing for his comments. There's no excusing his comments. And that's why the outrage has been universal. Republicans like John Kasich, organizations like the Gold Star Moms, like [Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors] TAPS, like the Travis Manion Foundation. The outrage is universal. And for anybody to defend this, they're going to lose that political argument. You can argue that maybe Mr. Khan was entering the political arena, but there are still rules. And to attack their integrity, attack their character, and attack their patriotism and to compare anything with the ultimate sacrifice is completely out of bounds.
Previously:
Donald Trump's “Repulsive” Attacks On The Khan Family Condemned Across The Spectrum
The Right-Wing Figures Defending Trump’s Attacks On The Khan Family