Trump Campaign verbally and physically assaults Arlington Memorial staff, illegally uses site for campaigning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently Gov. Cox (Utah) sent Biden and Harris letters inviting them to the wreath laying.

Not likely. And if so, not smart by him. He'd be turning ANC into a political background. Shameful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently Gov. Cox (Utah) sent Biden and Harris letters inviting them to the wreath laying.

Not likely. And if so, not smart by him. He'd be turning ANC into a political background. Shameful.

It was the anniversary of their deaths. It would have been political not to invite Biden and Harris.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently Gov. Cox (Utah) sent Biden and Harris letters inviting them to the wreath laying.

Not likely. And if so, not smart by him. He'd be turning ANC into a political background. Shameful.

It was the anniversary of their deaths. It would have been political not to invite Biden and Harris.

Well in sounds like they were respectful enough to let the event be for the families and the person the families invited.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is, WHY was this being done NOW???

The Afghan withdrawal was in 2021. 3 years ago. THREE YEARS AGO.

There is one and only one reason why it was done NOW and that's because it was to try and boost Trump and to trash the Biden admin (and by extension Harris) BECAUSE IT'S ELECTION SEASON.

This was NOT an "official ceremony" and Biden wasn't informed, involved or anything.

All lies. A political stunt. And they abused one of our nation's most hallowed memorials to do it.

You are wrong.

It’s the 3rd anniversary of Abbey Gate.

That’s why it’s been 3 years- it’s the 3rd anniversary of the death of their children.

If so, did they also do this on the 1st and 2nd anniversary? I don't recall Trump going to Arlington for those. Because THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN THEN. And, the same rules were in place in 2023 and 2022 had they gone for the 1st and 2nd anniversary, so they should have known the rules by now.

3 years was arbitrary. It was an election stunt meant to help Trump. But one that failed.

Why would it help Trump?

Going to give the question the benefit of the doubt that it is in good faith.

The plan of the Trump campaign was to show Trump with the Abbey Gate families, laying wreath, and claiming that Harris and Biden did not show up to the ceremony. Showing that Harris is callous and uncaring of the military.

Except of course, there was no ceremony, Harris and Biden were not invited but Trump was, and then they made a has of it by being disrespectful to the fallen buried near the graves, and breaking federal law by using the footage from it on their social media.

Citation?

You are claiming Trump planned the ceremony?

Where did you find that information?

One of the family members spoke at the RNC. It was totally political.

Trump DID NOT go to Arlington on the 1st anniversary of Abbey Gate.
Trump DID NOT go to Arlington on the 2nd anniversary of Abbey Gate.
Trump went to Arlington at the height of election season, 2 months before Election Day.

He didn't give a shit about the 1st or 2nd anniversary of Abbey Gate.

It. Was. Totally. Political. This cannot be disputed.

Additionally, Trump has not paid respect for the 65 military members who died under his term as Commander-in-Chief. He attended only 4 dignified transfers at Dover for 9 of the 65 soldiers who died under his command, far fewer than any other president and less than half of the transfers that VP Pence attended. That is pretty disrespectful.

As always, Trump only pays attention to what is politically advantageous for him. When it comes to the military, they are nothing but props to him in his political campaign, He does not actually care about the soldiers and he has shown this repeatedly.

[Anonymous]

Trump profaned the sacred. He is a loathsome piece of shit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is, WHY was this being done NOW???

The Afghan withdrawal was in 2021. 3 years ago. THREE YEARS AGO.

There is one and only one reason why it was done NOW and that's because it was to try and boost Trump and to trash the Biden admin (and by extension Harris) BECAUSE IT'S ELECTION SEASON.

This was NOT an "official ceremony" and Biden wasn't informed, involved or anything.

All lies. A political stunt. And they abused one of our nation's most hallowed memorials to do it.

You are wrong.

It’s the 3rd anniversary of Abbey Gate.

That’s why it’s been 3 years- it’s the 3rd anniversary of the death of their children.

If so, did they also do this on the 1st and 2nd anniversary? I don't recall Trump going to Arlington for those. Because THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN THEN. And, the same rules were in place in 2023 and 2022 had they gone for the 1st and 2nd anniversary, so they should have known the rules by now.

3 years was arbitrary. It was an election stunt meant to help Trump. But one that failed.

Why would it help Trump?

Going to give the question the benefit of the doubt that it is in good faith.

The plan of the Trump campaign was to show Trump with the Abbey Gate families, laying wreath, and claiming that Harris and Biden did not show up to the ceremony. Showing that Harris is callous and uncaring of the military.

Except of course, there was no ceremony, Harris and Biden were not invited but Trump was, and then they made a has of it by being disrespectful to the fallen buried near the graves, and breaking federal law by using the footage from it on their social media.

Citation?

You are claiming Trump planned the ceremony?

Where did you find that information?

One of the family members spoke at the RNC. It was totally political.

Trump DID NOT go to Arlington on the 1st anniversary of Abbey Gate.
Trump DID NOT go to Arlington on the 2nd anniversary of Abbey Gate.
Trump went to Arlington at the height of election season, 2 months before Election Day.

He didn't give a shit about the 1st or 2nd anniversary of Abbey Gate.

It. Was. Totally. Political. This cannot be disputed.

Trump has not paid respect to the 65 military personnel who died under his command as Commander-in-Chief. He attended only 4 dignified transfers at Dover airport over his term in office, less than half as many as VP Pence attended and far fewer than any other Commander-in-Chief. He has never visited the graves of any of those that lost their lives in service under his command.

So, why would he attend the ceremony at the graves for 13 who died under another Commander's command? 2 months before an election? And while there, he ignored the graves of those who died under his command?

Trump has no respect for the military and only uses them as props for his political gain. They are only important to him if he can make a political statement from it. Otherwise he has no empathy or sympathy for military or their families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trump profaned the sacred. He is a loathsome piece of shit.

+1000 and his campaign and family, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently Gov. Cox (Utah) sent Biden and Harris letters inviting them to the wreath laying.

That isn't how this is done. The right can continue to gaslight us all they want, but we know the game here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, so traditional conservative, regular military in this tweet. OF COURSE this is not right. But the MAGAs are dragging the GOP and traditional conservatives into the mud with this one. Unless or until everyone repudiates the action, the rest of us will just have to assume that anyone on the right is a deplorable gaslighter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trump profaned the sacred. He is a loathsome piece of shit.

I’m only surprised that people are surprised. What sacred piece of America has he not intentionally crapped all over?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just joining now...

But why haven't the Biden/Harris Admin reached out more to the Gold Star Families of the Afghanistan withdrawal? Yes, I'm sure they would face ire--but it could be private meetings. The anguish of these families ... it seems a simple thing to 'do the right thing' and acknowledge and offer comfort, even if rejected. I don't really understand why they are just ignoring them.

Highly skeptical that you're "just joining now" (in fact, I think some of you are trolls and are sockpuppeting). I have a question for YOU: what is so special about this group of Gold Star families? Why should they be singled out for attention and not any other group of families of war dead?

OK, well, I guess you can ask Jeff to verify I haven't posted on this thread before if it matters to you.

I am not sure why you are answering a question with a question. My husband has served in combat under multiple administrations, and if he had been killed in combat, God forbid, I don't know if I would have been receptive to outreach from the CIC at the time - but I would certainly prefer it be proffered than not proffered. It is impossible to predict how families will react, which is why notification is such a tremendous duty, but it is the right thing to do to offer full ceremony, ritual and regard to Gold Star families. If it is rebuffed, it's rebuffed-but it seems a simple thing to do. I am wondering why it hasn't been done? It certainly is causing further division and pain.

I'm the PP you are responding to. I answered a question with a question because I STILL don't understand what is so special about this specific group of Gold Star families--given the enormity of loss represented at ANC. But I will try to answer your questions on the assumption that they are sincere. You asked: "But why haven't the Biden/Harris Admin reached out more to the Gold Star Families of the Afghanistan withdrawal? Yes, I'm sure they would face ire--but it could be private meetings. The anguish of these families ... it seems a simple thing to 'do the right thing' and acknowledge and offer comfort, even if rejected. I don't really understand why they are just ignoring them."

I can't speak for the Biden administration, but I'm assuming they're not reaching out to the families because it would be a damned if you do/damned if you don't situation. Since the incident occurred, it has become highly politicized and is a frequent line of attack against the Biden administration. Some of the relatives were openly hostile to Biden and criticized him publicly 3 years ago after Biden met with the families at Dover when the caskets were brought back. A subset of the families spoke at the recent RNC and, working with the Trump Campaign, have released a statement and videos which criticize Biden and Harris. The relatives are not looking for "comfort" from the Biden administration as you suggest. Some of them hold Biden personally culpable for their loved ones' deaths. You can be sure that if Biden met with them, even if privately, he would not be graciously received and every word of the interaction would be used against him. They've already made up their minds about what happened and who's at fault and there's nothing Biden or Harris can do or say to change that. Finally, Biden/Harris are not "just ignoring them"--the WH has said that B/H were not invited (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-harris-werent-invited-arlington-abbey-gate-trump-rcna169154).

Biden did meet with them though. Not all the families but I’m sure all would have been invited. They were unhappy with the meeting (they accused him of looking at his watch). But it most certainly happened.

Yes, he met with those of them that would meet with him (some refused) at Dover three years ago when the caskets came in and he was, as you say, criticized for looking at his watch, among other things. The issue is that some PPs are saying that Biden should have met with the families again in 2024, on the 3rd year anniversary.

I think the families' "issue" (besides their fallen children) is the sense that this administration has brushed their children's deaths under a rug. When they say the administration needs to "say their names" it is similar to BLM or any other anguished cry that a person in a position of political authority acknowledge a situation or events. Equally obvious is that the Biden (and now future Harris administration) would like as little attention paid to the withdrawal and Abbey Gate as possible. Let's talk about what we are really talking about, on both sides of this 'ceremonial observance' controversy.

But Biden does “say their names” and is very caring of our troops. This has been evident for decades.

This is not a “both sides” issue.

Trump, as usual, took our country to a new low by breaking decorum and politicizing ANC. He’s a psychopath and doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

We are talking about this specific incident, a massacre during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. There is disagreement about how his administration has responded to critique of that, and to the families of the fallen during that incident. Not his attitude overall to the military.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ok, so traditional conservative, regular military in this tweet. OF COURSE this is not right. But the MAGAs are dragging the GOP and traditional conservatives into the mud with this one. Unless or until everyone repudiates the action, the rest of us will just have to assume that anyone on the right is a deplorable gaslighter.

“Gaslighting” has little to do with this (“we totally invited the Democrats to this completely non political event”). Yes, that’s what these cowards are trying to do but that’s not really the point. The point is that Trump and the GOP used ANC and the recently deceased as political pawns. ANC is supposed to be apolitical. We all owe the Americans who rest there all of our gratitude and Trump reduced them to a gag. It’s disgusting. And, to use the word of the day, it is fricking weird how Republicans like Cox and Republican voters are cool with this gag-inducing sordid event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just joining now...

But why haven't the Biden/Harris Admin reached out more to the Gold Star Families of the Afghanistan withdrawal? Yes, I'm sure they would face ire--but it could be private meetings. The anguish of these families ... it seems a simple thing to 'do the right thing' and acknowledge and offer comfort, even if rejected. I don't really understand why they are just ignoring them.

Highly skeptical that you're "just joining now" (in fact, I think some of you are trolls and are sockpuppeting). I have a question for YOU: what is so special about this group of Gold Star families? Why should they be singled out for attention and not any other group of families of war dead?

OK, well, I guess you can ask Jeff to verify I haven't posted on this thread before if it matters to you.

I am not sure why you are answering a question with a question. My husband has served in combat under multiple administrations, and if he had been killed in combat, God forbid, I don't know if I would have been receptive to outreach from the CIC at the time - but I would certainly prefer it be proffered than not proffered. It is impossible to predict how families will react, which is why notification is such a tremendous duty, but it is the right thing to do to offer full ceremony, ritual and regard to Gold Star families. If it is rebuffed, it's rebuffed-but it seems a simple thing to do. I am wondering why it hasn't been done? It certainly is causing further division and pain.

I'm the PP you are responding to. I answered a question with a question because I STILL don't understand what is so special about this specific group of Gold Star families--given the enormity of loss represented at ANC. But I will try to answer your questions on the assumption that they are sincere. You asked: "But why haven't the Biden/Harris Admin reached out more to the Gold Star Families of the Afghanistan withdrawal? Yes, I'm sure they would face ire--but it could be private meetings. The anguish of these families ... it seems a simple thing to 'do the right thing' and acknowledge and offer comfort, even if rejected. I don't really understand why they are just ignoring them."

I can't speak for the Biden administration, but I'm assuming they're not reaching out to the families because it would be a damned if you do/damned if you don't situation. Since the incident occurred, it has become highly politicized and is a frequent line of attack against the Biden administration. Some of the relatives were openly hostile to Biden and criticized him publicly 3 years ago after Biden met with the families at Dover when the caskets were brought back. A subset of the families spoke at the recent RNC and, working with the Trump Campaign, have released a statement and videos which criticize Biden and Harris. The relatives are not looking for "comfort" from the Biden administration as you suggest. Some of them hold Biden personally culpable for their loved ones' deaths. You can be sure that if Biden met with them, even if privately, he would not be graciously received and every word of the interaction would be used against him. They've already made up their minds about what happened and who's at fault and there's nothing Biden or Harris can do or say to change that. Finally, Biden/Harris are not "just ignoring them"--the WH has said that B/H were not invited (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-harris-werent-invited-arlington-abbey-gate-trump-rcna169154).

Biden did meet with them though. Not all the families but I’m sure all would have been invited. They were unhappy with the meeting (they accused him of looking at his watch). But it most certainly happened.

Yes, he met with those of them that would meet with him (some refused) at Dover three years ago when the caskets came in and he was, as you say, criticized for looking at his watch, among other things. The issue is that some PPs are saying that Biden should have met with the families again in 2024, on the 3rd year anniversary.

I think the families' "issue" (besides their fallen children) is the sense that this administration has brushed their children's deaths under a rug. When they say the administration needs to "say their names" it is similar to BLM or any other anguished cry that a person in a position of political authority acknowledge a situation or events. Equally obvious is that the Biden (and now future Harris administration) would like as little attention paid to the withdrawal and Abbey Gate as possible. Let's talk about what we are really talking about, on both sides of this 'ceremonial observance' controversy.

But Biden does “say their names” and is very caring of our troops. This has been evident for decades.

This is not a “both sides” issue.

Trump, as usual, took our country to a new low by breaking decorum and politicizing ANC. He’s a psychopath and doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

We are talking about this specific incident, a massacre during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. There is disagreement about how his administration has responded to critique of that, and to the families of the fallen during that incident. Not his attitude overall to the military.

And you don't think that some of the families who are in the tank for Trump, had it in for Biden from the outset and have been fomenting that "disagreement" for almost 3 years now?