Where is the Outrage?

A damning report in The Atlantic states President Donald Trump called fallen soldiers “losers” and “suckers” during a 2018 trip to Paris. The comments reportedly came when President Trump canceled his visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery. Where is the outrage on this disturbing attitude from the Commander in Chief.

They’ll deny and say it is all “fake news” based on “made up anonymous sources.” First, these sources should have the fortitude to put their name to their words. It would carry a lot more weight to the claims. Take a page from Lt. Colonel Vindman. Yet, perhaps the retaliation Vindman received is what keeps them anonymous. Even with their aggressive denials, people can trust their own eyes and ears from what the President has openly said in the past.

Many people thought then-candidate Trump crossed the line when he first attacked Senator John McCain. “He’s not a war hero,” said Trump in 2015. “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.” Following the remarks that rightfully received “boos” from the crowd he said it in front of, Trump denied he ever said it. Never mind his disparaging comments are on video. Believe your own eyes and ears.

After each of the startling moments including attacking a Gold Star family and questioning the service of not only McCain but other veterans, we expect leaders to lead. They used to stand up for our service members. We expect condemnation of these types of comments on those who serve and sacrifice for the rest of us. The latest report is an outrage. Yet, we get very little of that expected outrage from North Dakota’s current leaders.

When the Atlantic report published last night, I remembered a story in 2014. Kevin Cramer went to the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery to shoot a political ad. His actions threatened the funding of the cemetery. And though it was distasteful using veteran headstones as political props, Cramer at least seemed to acknowledge the importance of their service. Condemning the President’s remarks of fallen soldiers as “losers” and “suckers” and refusing to pay tribute at their graves should outrage Cramer. It shouldn’t be difficult for him to make it publicly known.

With Trump’s pattern of disparaging remarks about troops over the years and his silence on the Russian bounties (it has been 70 days since that intelligence became public), is it really a surprise President Trump’s standing with active-duty members is slipping? The latest poll of active-duty troops shows just about 38 percent who had a favorable view of the President.

Don’t give politicians a pass. Don’t allow them to duck and say they haven’t read the article or haven’t heard the comments. They’re currently on vacation in the August recess. Hell, some of them are stopping at military bases for tours and photo opportunities. Those planned visits seem less genuine if they’re unwilling to stand up for them in light of this report. North Dakota’s delegation has had time to follow the news and absorb these comments. Make them answer whether or not they support this attitude coming from the Commander in Chief of if they still back him “100%” of the time.