Posted on 01/28/2016 11:51:24 AM PST by conservativejoy
In a statement following his announcement that he would not be participating in tonight's GOP debate on Fox News, Donald Trump‘s campaign said, "[He will] host an event in Iowa to raise money for the Veterans and Wounded Warriors, who have been treated so horribly by our all talk, no action politicians." This morning, Ben Ferguson contrasted that with statements the real estate tycoon made in 1991 and 2004, when he tried to get homeless and disabled veterans kicked off of Fifth Avenue in front of the famed Trump Tower.
Trump is decrying "all talk, no action politicians" now just as he was in the 1990s, though the action he wanted the New York State Assembly to take then regarding disabled veterans was markedly different than the action he is blaming President Barack Obama's administration for not taking now. (It should be noted, too, that actions that have been taken by some organizations to aid veterans have turned out not to be all they claim to be.) In a 1991 letter to the Assembly, he wrote, "While disabled veterans should be given every opportunity to earn a living, is it fair to do so to the detriment of the city as a whole or its tax paying citizens and businesses?"
By "detriment of the city," the future GOP frontrunner meant "detriment of Trump Tower," which sits on Fifth Avenue. While it is known as a ritzy shopping district in New York, Fifth Avenue is also the home of dozens of opportunistic street vendors. Many of them are disabled veterans who are given special licenses by the Department of Consumer Affairs. According to The Daily News, the protections and exceptions extended to peddling veterans date back to the 1890s and were created to give those who were disabled in the Civil War an opportunity to support themselves.
Though previous attempts to relocate veterans to streets where they would make less money didn't work, Trump was undeterred. In 2004, he wrote to then-mayor and possible future presidential rival Michael Bloomberg, imploring him to help get rid of the wounded warriors on his street.
"Whether they are veterans or not, they should not be allowed to sell on this most important and prestigious shopping street," he wrote. "The image of New York City will suffer… I hope you can stop this very deplorable situation before it is too late."
The GOP debate and Trump's counter-event begin in 10 hours, so get your strongest drinks ready because this topic is sure to come up once or twice or 15 times tonight
Would you please stop spamming FR with anti-Trump nonsense?? Typical liberal response: “We do stuff but no one else should be allowed to respond!”
Mediaite
I figured it would be Red State
Trump gave more the to Clinton Foundation than he ever has to veterans! Tonight is a political move because he couldn’t back down once he said he wouldn’t show up at the debate.
Maybe they should move down to Goldman Sachs. Heidi can toss them a sawbuck.
This is ridiculous. We have people here who don’t know anything about street peddlers and what a nuisance they are for shop owners (and Trump Tower IS part store/restaurant). The stands, selling cheap stuff, clutter up a busy tourist area and make walking difficult. Add the blind people selling pencils, their sleeping service dogs, the homeless begging and you have what some of the people here would sneeringly refer to as “NYC values.” Sometimes a NYer just can’t win!
Our vets need decent job training. It must be awful to have to sell third-rate prints from MOMA on 5th avenue.
Mediaite
I figured it would be Red State
I’m not posting the same picture and the same words on every thread. No one cares what you post but it’s the same damn picture and comment on every thread.
You aren’t saying anything actually except that you can’t think for yourself.
You have slandered the great prophet Donald’s name! You have brought Trump jihad upon yourself!
The man can't hep it, he is a born hypocrit
How much will that comfort you when you're holding your nose voting for him in the general? Defeat the GOPe, worry about the rest later.
It has been reported in several publications, but it doesn’t matter to people who refuse reality when they read Trump’s own words in a petition to NYC.
Typical of Touchback Trump.
Thanks. I’ve been there. Lovely city.
The one type of Bum I won’t contribute to, is the “I’m a Vet’ type.
“You aren’t saying anything actually except that you can’t think for yourself.”
Really? THAT’S your conclusion?? I created those images and yet I can’t “think for myself”. Sorry, but that is a lame response used by people who have nothing actually intelligent to say.
And you still believe this lunk-headed attack? Sounds like you want to believe what you want to believe.
...receiving veterans disability benefits as well as social security disability benefits.
That’s why he was in bed with the Clintons. They could help him and he shared their values.
They weren’t homeless vets. Read the article.
Maybe they should move down to Goldman Sachs.
I'm amazed at the number of folks using Occupy Wall Street language to discredit a conservative...right here on FR.
Hey Joyless! Bernie is waiting for you on the other line. They need a couple of your posts to back up the public urination for NYC.
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