Posted on 02/17/2016 12:54:34 PM PST by Elderberry
Veterans who have passed on being the GOP frontrunner's props have found themselves targeted by his legion of trolls.
Veterans groups who stood up to Donald Trump's pandering to their ranks are now routinely bombarded with nasty messages from the mogul's supporters, who want to punish them for daring to challenge their leader.
Paul Rieckhoff, the CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, learned this firsthand when he stood up to the Republican presidential frontrunner in late January, saying he would decline any donations from Trump's charitable foundation if offered.
"We've gotten a flood of nasty attacks... many scary and threatening emails, [the] worst social media trolling I've ever seen," Rieckhoff told The Daily Beast. "Showing what happens when you simply say no. This is the climate he's created with his followers."
Rieckhoff had plenty of reasons to pre-emptively reject the donation. Trump has repeatedly insulted veterans, but on the campaign trail has tried to use them for political gain. After a squabble with Fox News over the use of Megyn Kelly as a debate moderator, Trump held a competing event, ostensibly to raise money for veterans groups.
The businessman's record hasn't hobbled his candidacy, and he leads in South Carolina despite the massive veterans community there.
So when Rieckhoff said he didn't want his organization to be used as a political prop, and pre-emptively declined any proceeds from Trump's fundraiser, the businessman's fans directed wave after wave of viciousness against IAVA and its CEO on Twitter and Facebook.
Rieckhoff was called a "xxxxxxx scumbag" by one commenter, then told by another to "get off your ass and get the funding or get fired." "Keep your mouth shut and take the money," another Trump fan said. Added a tax-conscious individual: "I hope your asses get audited."
Trump has a long history of controversial, even anti-veteran stances, despite his current claim that he'd be good for veterans if elected president. In the '80s, Trump tried to throw disabled vet street vendors off Fifth Avenue, accusing them of essentially being a blight on the aesthetics of the street. Before his presidential campaign, Trump's charitable foundation gave more to the Clintons than to veterans organizations. Plus, famously, Trump said Sen. John McCain's time in a prisoner of war camp didn't make him a hero: "I like people who weren't captured."
A number of groups in Iowa have benefitted from Trump's fundraiser: Organizations like Puppy Jake, which provides service dogs to vets, and Support Siouxland Soldiers, both received six-figure checks. So did a small veterans charity in New Hampshire.
But when another veterans group went on the record against Trump, their phone lines and inboxes were slammed the next day with malicious fans.
"The next day, people called our office--that were very vile: People were issuing threats, they were calling our members 'xxxxxxx.' We had a very vitriolic response. They were saying things like, 'We're going to take down your group,' even up to what could only be interpreted as physical threats: 'You better watch out the next time you hold an event,'" said the executive director of a veterans advocacy group who wanted to stay anonymous, so as to spare his organization the "annoyance" of enduring it again.
"It was a distraction, and it was an annoyance that made staff incredibly uncomfortable," said the executive director. "It was disturbing."
Liberty House is a small, New Hampshire-based charity that focuses on housing formerly homeless vets and feeding the hungry. Its executive director, Keith Howard, was subjected to a similar experience after declining to appear with Trump at a political rally to accept a donation.
"So....you bunch of losers who can't get on with your life except for bitchin' about how mistreated you are don't want Mr. Trump's money. Well then shut the xxxx up about what you don't have and what you've done for your country. I hope all your funding dries up. You'd rather whine than be men," wrote one angry individual by email, calling organization members "sissies."
Howard sighed: "It's a free country, and people have a right to write nasty emails," he said. And he found that the angry messages were a symptom of Trumpmania that could be reasoned with.
"A fellow had emailed me about how bad I was to turn down the rally. I called and talked with him for about 15 minutes," Howard told The Daily Beast. "The next day, he wrote me a very nice email thanking me for my time... Even the people who were negative were being knee-jerk negative instead of really having a reason for it."
Nah why listen to reason or discern facts, adopt a meme and in the face of reality, lash out, call names, be angry. Next step, hole yourself up near a national park in camo with your latest carbon fiber semi automatic assault rifle blathering manifestos about how the Freemasons have taken over America as well as the American communist party. We have our kooks too.
There are a lot of sick people in the Trump crowd...people you wouldn’t want around your family. No wonder these vets are scared when dealing with the deranged.
Dear IAVA defenders
Why did IAVA raise $6 million in donations but only spend $80,000 helping Vets last year?
Why was your founders 1st advocacy action a demand to repeal of “Dont ask don't tell”?
Just slapping a “Vets” name on an political action organization does not legitimatize its actions. Exposing the truth behind that groups actions, including it's Founders Endorsement of Hillary Clinton, is not “trolling”.
Fraud and stolen valor are not words I would want auto filling after my name.
Might want to check out the IAVA gorup you are so busy defending rather then engaging in your standard issue Cruzstasin attack posting.
Hmm so now the “Pure Conservatives” are defending a radical far leftist propaganda outfit like IAVA?
Might want to check out the IAVA group you are so busy defending rather then engaging in your standard issue Cruzstasin attack posting.
Paul Rieckhoff, a Leftist Activist.
Hmm so now the “Pure Conservatives” are defending a radical far leftist propaganda outfit like IAVA?
Might want to check out the IAVA group you are so busy defending rather then engaging in your standard issue Cruzstasin attack posting.
Dear IAVA defenders
Why did IAVA raise $6 million in donations but only spend $80,000 helping Vets last year?
Why was your founders 1st advocacy action a demand to repeal of “Dont ask don’t tellâ€?
Just slapping a “Vets†name on an political action organization does not legitimatize its actions. Exposing the truth behind that groups actions, including it’s Founders Endorsement of Hillary Clinton, is not “trollingâ€
Ridiculous
This a$shat is trying to get press, and achieving it, by preemptively sayimg he wouldnt take a Trump donation.
None was ever offered.
But because hes anti trump, you all piled on it.
If you knew who IAVA was and jumped on anyway, its sleazy and disingenuous . If you didnt know who they are and you just piled onto anything anti Trump then you are admitting ignorance while spouting off claiming to care about the issue.
All i am saying is ... do some dang research. There’s plenty to criticize on all sides. Think people, just think.
While veterans are usually of superior stock to the average person, that does not mean they aren’t corruptible, nor is their status sacred. If a veteran peddles Leftist garbage, they should be encouraged to quit peddling Leftist garbage by any means necessary. Since Soetoro has largely expelled those who speak the truth about homosexuality from the military, the average veteran may well be of inferior stock to the average person in the near future.
Bump!
Yep, he seems to be the ongoing "go to" guy whenever the MSM wants to slam Trump on our vets.
As far as I'm concerned, his short military history in the reserves does not warrant all the ribbons he has on his chest. He's nothing more than a "Charity whore" who is drawing in a 6 figure salary for his small organization.........
I’m a Vet and wouldn’t give a cent to any Vets “group”. WWP, this outfit, all suck off the current moment. Save your money and give to the guy next door who was wounded.
I guess everybody gets political, including vets.
Sigh..
Just seems wrong to me to attack vets.
Disagree with them, okay, but swear at them, you will justify, in their minds, that they are correct, that we are all just mean, etc.
The story came out of a source I don’t put a lot of credence in.
I hope it’s made up.
This is a Leftist activist group, but Cruzers probably knew that already, but decided to use him anyway.
I’ve checked out trump and he.s a lefty.
And the leftist douche bag's personal salary in 2013 was $145,500.............
or.....the truth?
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