At the Democratic National Convention, the Muslim parents of a soldier who died in the Iraq War spoke about their son’s heroism and said that they are “patriotic Muslim Americans.” Khizr Khan waved a copy of the Constitution and asked whether Donald Trump had ever read it. He asked what had Trump ever sacrificed for his country.
Trump responded with a series of derisive comments about the Khans, suggesting that Hillary Clinton had written Khan’s remarks and wondering why his wife Ghazala was silent (she was interviewed on MSNBC the next night by Lawrence O’Donnell).
Republicans were embarrassed, and Democrats were outraged by his comments.
Ghazala Khan responded in the Washington Post to Trump’s mockery about her silence. Her article is eloquent and poignant. She couldn’t speak because she has difficulty speaking about the son she lost. She can barely manage to look at his photograph. Too much sadness, too much pain. Any mother who ever lost a child, as I did many years ago, can empathize with Mrs. Khan. Some pain is too deep to talk about. Trump can’t understand that.
When Trump was asked by George Stephanopoulos what he had sacrificed for his country, he said that he has created thousands of jobs. That was his sacrifice.
“I think I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I’ve created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I’ve done― I’ve had― I’ve had tremendous success. I think I’ve done a lot.”
“Those are sacrifices?” Stephanopoulos interjected.
“Oh sure, I think they’re sacrifices,” Trump said, going on to tout his work to help build the Vietnam War memorial in Manhattan and raising money for veterans’ charities.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Again, for the thousandth time, Trumps puts the foot, which he has just shot, in his facial orifice. Will he pay a price for this latest outrage? One can only hope.
On the CNN Fareed Zackaria show minutes ago, Fareed interviewed two men who are critical to our discussions here.
First, as part of a panel, was Max Boot, the very conservative, lifetime Repub journalist, who had tears in his eyes talking with complete derision about Trump…and his destruction of the real Repub Party. He spoke in support of this American Muslim family, and was as outraged by Trump’s remarks as the rest of America. This was a revelation. Now we have more well known Repubs coming out AGAINST Trump and calling out his character and his lack of preparation to govern.
The second interview was of Fetullah Gulen at his compound in the Poconos. Fared focused his quewstions on the Turkish coup attempted two weeks ago, and on Gulen’s role in instigating and supporting it, even mentioning the teachings in the Gulen schools. . Gulen showed himself once again to be a master at deception, at
re-framing all questions to suit his desired pre-planned replies, and NEVER answering the questions as asked. He made each disingenuous reply a ‘turn about’ to say it is all in God’s hands.
Well worth seeing the replays.
that is …Fareed Zaharia…sorry for the typo
I watched Lawrence O’Donnell’s interview. As you have stated, Diane, the pain this family constantly feels is palpable. For trump to say and get away with such awfulness is inexplicable but then his whole being is inexplicable as is his campaign. I fear he is outsmarting us. No campaigning? He does not need to. The media falls right in line with his wish: cover ME. The more outrageous things I say, the more I keep her off the news. He won’t release his taxes. No problem. No one will hold his feet to the fire. He is now talking about skipping the debates. That will be underplayed as well, I’m sure. This is a man and a campaign unlike any other and the country better wake up to what a truly horrifying person he is. Very scary times.
His feet need to be kept to the fire on his tax returns and on the debates. In 1973 (I think) Nixon released his tax returns even through these were being audited. Since he gets publicity every time he (Trump) uses Twitter…perhaps we the people can beat him at his own game?
Mary Ollie,
Trump has no shame. No one puts his feet to the fire. What is in his tax returns? George Will says it will show his financial ties to Russia. My bet is that he pays no taxes at all.
Thanks, Jeannie.
There is a smell of fascism in the air.
Yes, Mary, Trump has no shame because he is incapable of empathy. This is a trait of both Aspergians and of dementia patients.
Sorry, Ellen — don’t lump all the good Aspies in this country in with the Donald. I have a kid who may (or may not — experts cannot agree) be an Aspie. He has PLENTY of empathy (though he may not be able to communicate it well). If I knew someone with dementia, I would probably protest on tarring them with any association with Donald as well — but I don’t. What I DO think is that he is a classic, casebook version of a narcissist — which is a personality disorder. I am happy to lump him in with the few cruel, self centered, bullying narcissists I know.
I too have loss a child and I understand that wall of silence . Trump,s comments are insulting and hurtful . I wish I could talk to him personally .. This is too sad for me . Prayers for this military e has family . My Daughter and Son in law both served in Iraq . Did Trimps family ?? He has no room to talk 😦
I can’t imagine trying to speak to millions of people about the daughter I lost, and she’s been gone a lot longer than this family has lost their son. May they be blessed with peace. I am honored to have listened to them.
Threatened, I lost my infant son to childhood leukemia in 1966. I still have difficulty talking about him without crying.
I know, Diane, and it breaks my heart for you. I lost my dad to leukemia 21 years ago, and my daughter to extreme premuturity 19 years ago. It doesn’t get easier, sadly.
Trump needs a dictionary so he can look up the words he wants to use. Oh wait, he shoots from the hip and doesn’t seem to care in the least what words he uses. He now claims that Mr. Khan ‘viciously attacked him’.
This truly is a unique campaign season. The first openly democratic socialist candidate takes a serious run at the presidency and makes an actual dent in the corporatist duopoly. I don’t believe that any other socialist candidate (Norman Thomas comes close) garnered as many votes or generated as much interest and recognition as Bernie did. The first female candidate (of the 2 major parties) for president and she’s married to an ex-president, that’s one a kind. And then there is Trump, he’s in a category all by himself: billionaire, charlatan, demagogue, reality TV star, P. T. Barnum on steroids, serial liar and oratorical train wreck that could occupy the White House.
Side note: I went to You Tube and watched several videos of Jill Stein interviews and debates. The woman is drop dead brilliant, I agree with just about everything she says. But she’s polling at 3% and is not even on the ballot in many states. She was arrested trying to get into a debate.
Joe,
Did any #2 primary candidate ever go to convention having won 22 primaries/caucuses? Another unique aspect.
It would be interesting to have the time to compare the socialism of Thomas, Sanders, Eugene V. Debs, and Henry Wallace.
Thanks! But I’m most surprised by the fact that he actually asked a hard question…that that his bluster was then pointed out…about time! And the other thing is the issue of character that matters…I’m thinking of any Christian child in Sunday school learning about the meaning sacrifice…hmmm. There idea would be different…do how so-called values voters wrap their brains around his values? They’ve learned, been taught, to hate Hillary more…by whom and how begs the real question.
Ryan Collay Director Education by Design Former SMILE director OSU
>
This was posted yesterday, Malcolm Nance did an even better take down today Calling Trump a Chicken Hawk draft dodging coward. Why the networks even put on a Trump spokesman on, is an equally perplexing problem .The noise created obscures the facts. It is not fair and balanced to put on lying SOB’s who need fact checking on every statement. . Perhaps the fact that these Networks are corporately owned reveals part of an objective. Would they really be so upset with a Ryan/Pence victory.
But Nance a Veteran intelligence officer and security consultant said something last week that neither Clinton nor Obama, nor any establishment Democrats have said. They are too politically cowardly to do so. I felt it the night of the Orlando shooting when the headline crossed the screen at 2 AM. Only to be validated as the story unfolded. Orlando, Gay night club not Disney?!!. Juan Cole has elegantly detailed it starting the next morning.The NY Times last Sunday, discussing how psychotic the Nice attacker was. How he was thrown out of his house by his parents in fear for their lives and placed on several psychotropic medications .
Neither Orlando , nor Nice , especially Munich are Terrorist attacks in any classical sense ,other attacks have been, like the Airport bombing ,the Cafe attack, even Boston … . These are copy cat, mass murders, death by cop events. Committed by people attaching themselves to a movement weeks days or hours before their planed suicide. To give purpose to their miserable existences . By people who happen to be Muslims. The guy in Munich killing other Muslims for giving Muslims a bad name. Just as the police shootings have similar dynamics . On the score card close to 30 thousand ISIS fighters have been killed to less than 20 Americans.With few American solders losing their lives to do it.
Far more Americans have been killed by our refusal to ban and collect those weapons of mass carnage, that Republicans have prevented us from doing anything about.
Trump is playing on American’s irrational fear of Terrorism for his demagoguery . If you discount Orlando far more Americans have been been killed by lightning since, Obama took office. Yet we do not hide under tables during Thunder Storms . Is there any doubt that had Islamic terrorism not existed, or the Black lives Matter movement not existed, most of these people would have found a movie theater or an Elementary school dressed in a Batman costume after killing their parents to vent their anger at life. The question becomes how we stop it . Certainly not by pandering to fear mongers.
I will post his most recent and better take down when it comes up on You tube .
Till I get the other You Tube
Juan Cole’s take down .
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/are_the_muslim_khans_better_americans_than_donald_trump_20160731
Trump’s got hoof in mouth disease.
Careful here. Trump’s remarks are offensive, but so is Hillary’s support for an optional war that resulted in Khan’s death along with thousands of other Americans.
This is an easy and predictable pivot for Trump to make and then use in the campaign.
Yertle,
I don’t think Trump will benefit by blaming George W. Bush’s war on Hillary. She voted for it based on the misinformation provided by a Republican administration about “weapons of mass destruction” that were never found. Iraq was a war of choice. Republicans own it. Remember, the Iraqis were going to greet our troops with flowers? Remember “Mission Accomplished”? That was not Hillary.
His remarks are not just “offensive.” They are dangerous.
I also watched Lawrence O’Donnell’s interview. Mr Kahn questioned the moral character of people who fail to speak against Trump’s insults. He intended to call out Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan for supporting Trump. I think every Republican who is going along with Trump should denounce him as unfit for office.
Add this well-known bigot who is hoping to get into office on Trump’s coattails…but implies that Trump is riding along on his platform.
Here you go.
Former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke announced his US Senate campaign July 22, 2016 in Louisiana, promising to defend the rights of European Americans.
“Thousands of special interest groups stand up for African-Americans, Mexican Americans, Jewish Americans, etc.,” he said in a YouTube video. “The fact is that European Americans need at least one man in the United States, one man in Congress, who will defend their rights and heritage.”
Duke, a former Republican state representative and convicted felon, said his emphasis on the rights of European Americans is what distinguishes him.
“The New York Times admitted that my platform became the GOP mainstream and propelled Republican control of Congress,” he said. “I’m overjoyed to see Donald Trump and most Americans embrace most of the issues that I’ve championed for years. My slogan remains ‘America First.’ Source http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/politics/david-duke-senate-race/
Then look at a slew of other headlines that show Trump is dangerous. Those who fail to call him out are allowing him to gain power that he clearly cannot be trusted to have.
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/07/30/24-hours-trump-insulted-four-star-general-war-heros-family.html
Aren’t Trump’s tax returns irrelevant at this point? No matter what’s on them, he does not belong in The White House.
Trump’s tax returns are relevant. Voters are entitled to know the sources of his income, potential conflicts of interest, his charitable gifts, whether he pays taxes at all
Here are 6 theories on why Trump won’t release his tax returns:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/26/inside-the-5-theories-for-why-donald-trump-isnt-releasing-his-tax-returns/?tid=hybrid_collaborative_2_na
No he did not insult them. I read the Washington Puff article. They have very little ability to be fair in their reporting. Their paper is one-sided. Who is next CNN ( Clinton news network). While I hate untruthful Clinton and Trump has reputation. I don’t believe anything the media/newspapers unless I hear it with my own ears. Integrity is missing from news organizations. Worse is they try to make people ashamed for supporting candidates.
Joanne, I heard Trump. I heard Mrs. Khan. He insulted her and belittled their sacrifice. When asked what he has sacrificed for his country, he said he has created jobs. Is that a sacrifice?
Diane
He created profit, jobs were never his concern. Most Americans would say that sacrifice requires intent. Trump’s slam of McCain is along that vain. “He was not a hero for being captured” . A soldier who gives his life for fellow soldiers has sacrificed. A firefighter who runs into a burning building to save a child has sacrificed. I dare even say that a lawyer who spends a summer to battle segregated academies in the south had sacrificed.
Donald Trump has only one intent, self enrichment. His tax returns would reveal how little he has donated to charity and how little he has shouldered the burden of taxation to support this nation . Of course he is quite in step with the rest of the Ayn Rand disciples in the Republican party, who think selfishness and greed is a sacrifice and a virtue .
Months ago, before he won the nomination, he discussed the possibility of releasing his tax returns. He said at that time that like any good businessman, he pays as little in taxes as possible. I that that means zero.
“He said at that time that like any good businessman, he pays as little in taxes as possible.”
What would be the best word to replace “good” in the above?
You might have meant Asimov’s article which ends with
Indeed, the most somber speculation I can make about A.D. 2014 is that in a society of enforced leisure, the most glorious single word in the vocabulary will have become work!
http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/03/23/lifetimes/asi-v-fair.html
But it’s interesting to read the two paragraphs before it:
The situation will have been made the more serious by the advances of automation. The world of A.D. 2014 will have few routine jobs that cannot be done better by some machine than by any human being. Mankind will therefore have become largely a race of machine tenders. Schools will have to be oriented in this direction. Part of the General Electric exhibit today consists of a school of the future in which such present realities as closed-circuit TV and programmed tapes aid the teaching process. It is not only the techniques of teaching that will advance, however, but also the subject matter that will change. All the high-school students will be taught the fundamentals of computer technology will become proficient in binary arithmetic and will be trained to perfection in the use of the computer languages that will have developed out of those like the contemporary “Fortran” (from “formula translation”).
Even so, mankind will suffer badly from the disease of boredom, a disease spreading more widely each year and growing in intensity. This will have serious mental, emotional and sociological consequences, and I dare say that psychiatry will be far and away the most important medical specialty in 2014. The lucky few who can be involved in creative work of any sort will be the true elite of mankind, for they alone will do more than serve a machine.
Assange and wikileaks promise to release more e-mails soon. He said that he has only just begun. Once we read the e-mails and see what kind of person HRC really is, then we can make our decision. We should all take a deep breath and wait and see what the e-mails reveal.. The “truth” is what’s important, not all the propaganda. Assange doesn’t seem to be a fan. Maybe he knows more than we do.
John,
Why should Putin and Assange choose the next president?
” Assange doesn’t seem to be a fan.”
Can we name a single person Assange is fan of—besides himself?
Diane, your reply to Yertle is pretty much what I have been thinking all day. And while I do not think Hillary is perfect (who of us is?), there is hardly anyone in our country who has undergone the scrutiny she has. The email “story” is truly much ado about little. Previous Secretaries of State have done the same thing and have said as much – just not very often of loudly – and frankly as one server after another is hacked, I must say, at least hers wasn’t, classified or not! When the right chooses this to be such a big issue, perhaps they should look in the mirror and ask why federal government technology is having so many hacking issues and why so many breaches are occurring (OPM). It couldn’t possibly be because the right wing legislators, elected on an ALEC agenda, refuses to provide proper funding to anything a federal government should be doing it, could it?
Joanne, you have been duped by Fox News. I would say this to you: if there had been “fair and balanced” news reports on trump from the beginning, our country would not be faced with the possibility of a trump presidency today. As I see it, your “Clinton news sources” are playing catch up for the job the did miserably for the last year. And if what you say is true, “Integrity is missing from news organizations,” our democracy is in even worse shape than I have imagined.
Many have thought over the years it would be harder to elect a woman than an African-American. We are seeing that playing out today.
“The email “story” is truly much ado about little.”
Is this so clear? How do you know? Couldn’t there be a bit different angle to it?
So, for example, the disastrous, absolutely disastrous intervention in Libya, the destruction of the Gaddafi government, which led to the occupation of ISIS of large segments of that country, weapons flows going over to Syria, being pushed by Hillary Clinton, into jihadists within Syria, including ISIS, that’s there in those emails.
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/7/25/assange_why_i_created_wikileaks_searchable
In other words, Hillary has been in leading role in politics and in the legal profession long enough to have created lots of effects of her actions.
I think the more it is iterated that Hillary has a basically clean sheet, the more her role in the middle east is dismissed, the less trust in her is created.
The gentleman asked Mr Trump “What had he sacrificed?” Did he ask Ms Clinton the same question? Let us remember that Mr Trump is not a politician nor a slick journalist. He is not a talk show host who can spout answers almost automatically. He should be given time to formulate a response. I am sure he recognizes that this young man died a hero in a profession that he willingly chose. Why should he be expected to change his position that no Muslims be allowed into the US from countries sponsoring or supporting terrorists? I think it shameful that the DNC chose to capitalize on this couples grief…and why this particular couple? We have lost so many of our military from all walks of life, race and ethnicities. Military surveys have Mr Trump leading Ms Clinton…just another way to garner votes.
“Let us remember that Mr Trump is not a politician nor a slick journalist.”
But he is aspiring to be the top politician in this country. Shouldn’t he have the basic skills?
“I work very, very hard.”
Maybe if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be such a hater. In any case, in our age when technology can do much of the hard work for us, the culture of “hard work” (which is mostly to increase the billionaires’ wealth) should be replaced by “less work, and more of the stuff we supposedly are working for: more care, more love, more joy, more weekends with friends, family, more vacation, more tree hugging”.
“I’ve created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs,”
Perhaps some stats should also be released on how many jobs are terminated by these billionaires and big corporations.
If only I could find the NY Times piece from the 1964 Worlds Fair , The world of the future where Americans will be so bored from leisure that they would yearn for a day at work.
Please find it.
I am no Trump supporter, but…this little war of words is ridiculous. Trump says idiotic ignorant things….and the world is in an uproar over this? Why is the world not discussing Benghazi, the the 4 deaths for which Hillary Clinton is partially responsible? What of Ambassador Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and two CIA operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former Navy SEALs? What of them? I’m stunned that Trump’s camp hasn’t shot back that this dead muslim soldier was not killed at the orders, direction, indirection, of Trump. Smoke and mirrors folks.
Donna,
Did you hold President Reagan responsible for the deaths of 283 Marines in Beirut in 1983 when terrorists drove a truck loaded with explosives into their barracks?
Do you hold George W. Bush responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans and civilian Iraqis after falsely claiming that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction?
Your outrage about the tragic events at Benghazi is very selective
Obama and Clinton knew…this is the age of technology and social media where whatever is happening wherever in the world is instantly known. Obama and Clinton did nothing, and then covered it up and lied about it. Nothing selective about that. Trump wasn’t responsible for a dead muslim soldier, and in my opinion, while he is a crass boob, I’m stunned that this is the discussion and people are calling for his apology. Again, smoke and mirrors. Obama and Clinton were responsible for doing nothing to get the aforementioned personnel, Americans, out of Benghazi safely, and they were tortured and paraded about while dead, and worse.
My opinion is – the outrage that Trump is ignorant in his statements does not outweigh Clinton’s/Obama’s role in Benghazi, for which, yes, in my opinion, each holds responsibility and the lying and covering up is as reprehensible as their inaction. But no, the media will feign outrage at Trump’s statement for a fallen muslim soldier, an event he was not responsible for.
All deaths are tragic. Trump is a moron, but not responsible for this man’s death. I think the severity of Clinton’s involvement in Benghazi far outweighs Trump’s stupidity on this one.
Donna,
There were several investigations of Benghazi. None found culpability. There are hundreds if not thousands of embassies and consulates all over the world. it is terrible when any ambassador or foreign service officer dies because of terrorism.
But why didn’t you answer my question: were you outraged when 283 Marines were killed in 1983 by terrorists? Did you hold President Reagan responsible?
Were you outraged by 9/11? Did you hold President Bush responsible for the deaths of nearly 3,000 people on American soil?
Are you outraged by the deaths of tens or hundreds of thousands of people because we were tricked into going to war in Iraq?
Answer please.
In 1983, I was 22 y.o. I didn’t know much about the world or politics.
9/11 was tragic. Is Osama Bin Ladin responsible? Was there intel that Bush knew and did nothing? I don’t know. I don’t think Bush was a good president either, and I hold him directly responsible for the browbeating of teachers and unions that began under his direction.
Am I outraged by the Iraq war? Of course.
Here is the thing, though. Apples – Bengazi. Oranges – Soldier Khan.
There are serious discussions to be had in this circus of an election year – Trump’s comments about Soldier Khan isn’t one of them, and that is my opinion.
I have the utmost respect for you, and have learned a lot here in the time I’ve become accustomed to visiting your blog. I have answered here because you have asked me to. The discussion about Trump’s comments about a muslim soldier’s death, and/or his parents, crass as those comments may be, pales in comparison, to me, TO ME, when Hillary Clinton was in office and directly involved with the intel of Benghazi resulting in 4 horrific deaths.
Chris Christie was investigated for “Bridgegate” and no culpability was found – but….of course no culpability was found…but in the court of common opinion, many of of find CC culpable. As with Hillary Clinton – she is made of teflon. She is your candidate, and I respect that. I think, however, that I am going to have to vote third party, or not at all. I do not see her as the lesser evil, and could never vote for Trump.
Perhaps I will change my mind and vote for Hillary as the lesser of two evils – and I will NEVER change my mind about Trump – however, the public debate on Trump’s comments about Soldier Khan is just plain stupid to me, when Hillary has done worse.
Please, lets not you and I continue…we can agree to disagree. I respect you, deeply.
Not to mention FDR’s complicity in the Pearl Harbor attack!
Donna, You say: Hillary Clinton was directly involved with the intel of Benghazi resulting in 4 horrific deaths.
The public debate on Trump’s comments about Soldier Khan is just plain stupid to me, when Hillary has done worse.
You have a rating scale that does not exist for me.
I am not a military hawk, but insulting the parents and belittling the sacrifice of anyone in the military who served with honor is off limits for me. It is not just a “plain stupid” act by Trump, but calculated to make news about Trump…. at the expense of the parents grieving for their son.
Two members of my family have served honorably in the military. Both are dead. One will be buried tomorrow with a 21-gun salute. So this is also personal for me, and for likely for countless others, even if the loved one never served in the military.
Hillary has had plenty of public shaming over the deaths at Benghazi. Many are responsible for those deaths and for the attempt to “spin” public information about that event.
The Investigating Committee still exists and it is as eager as you seem to be to place full responsibility for that tragedy on Hillary. That is factually wrong.
The facts mustered by a committee dominated by Republicans are here. The report was made public, but not with a unanimous vote– 7 for and 4 against this “final” version.
https://benghazi.house.gov/NewInfo