Fact Check: The Washington Post on Donald Trump and John McCain

Sharyl Attkisson ^ | 7/18/15 | SHARYL ATTKISSON

[Amntn]

Donald Trump appears to have gotten under the skin of not only Democrats, but also fellow Republicans and the news media. Has that subjected Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, to unfair and/or inaccurate reporting?

An article in the Washington Post today is headlined, “Trump slams McCain for being ‘captured’ in Vietnam.”

The article’s lead sentence states, “Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump slammed Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a decorated Vietnam War veteran, on Saturday by saying McCain was not a war hero because he was captured by the North Vietnamese [emphasis added].”

Is this report accurate?

In fact, Trump’s actual quote is the opposite of what is presented in the Post’s first sentence.

Read more at link.

[Amntn]

Trump’s actual quote is the opposite of what is presented in the Post’s first sentence.

[pepsionice]

This is probably the most stupid political topic of the past twenty years. Every single GI for two-hundred-odd years, who served, even if they just dished chow on a Texas Army post....during a war conflict....is a war-hero. Active duty or reserve...it doesn’t matter. Some got medals...some got nothing.

[Amntn]

I agree with you but this is just another example of WP media bias.

Sorry, I just noticed this is a duplicate thread.

Original thread here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3313737/posts

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Trump actually said the opposite of what the Post lead sentence and video caption claim.

When it comes to yet another issue the MSM employees are not fact checkers they are fact chuckers. Throw out the facts -- get Trump!

and I say again and again

If there is any attempt to harm Mr. Trump or his family and relations I hope he sues the hell out of scores of people using the doctrine of vicarious liability.

At least one successful civil lawsuit against a white supremacist (Tom Metzger) proved that the attacker does not have to be an employee or even a member of the group.. just prove to a jury that the attacker acted in response to the message and the status of the messenger.

.. some like Mexican-friendly MSM employees and the Bush family have great status in Mexico and Mexican drug cartels are full of crazies.

[Slambat]

“Every single GI for two-hundred-odd years, who served, even if they just dished chow on a Texas Army post....during a war conflict....is a war-hero.”

One of the few demographics that actually earned their
special rights and privileges but sorry, a skunk is a
skunk. Kerry’s a skunk and McCain is a skunk and they
stink no matter what. Are they what we want to portray as
war vets? Are we to assume that a war vet will cut
Americas throat just to have power?

[knarf]

Trump more than likely said the wrong thing thinking it would be a clever word play, but I’m pretty sure he’s not too worried about it because ... as people analyze his words and compare the accusation to history ... enough questions and revelation about McCain will soften the impact and it’ll all blow over .... like Dubya was a drunk driver and Reagan is a bit player to a chimp.

[mazda77]

Correct, just as Benedict Arnold was a war hero for the battle of Saratoga and later became a traitor over a piece of tail.

Arnold was renowned for several actions over a period of time. His notable actions included the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, defensive and delaying tactics despite losing the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776, the Battle of Ridgefield, Connecticut (after which he was promoted to major general), operations in relief of the Siege of Fort Stanwix, and key actions during the pivotal Battles of Saratoga in 1777.

BUT, with all of that, he will always be the iconic figure of a traitor because of his reversing sides.

To me, McCain’s time in the HH deserves the same footnotes as Arnold’s accomplishments, but his dereliction of duty as a public servant is far more damaging to this country. His latest is he used his power to secretly meet with our new enemy (ISIS) and tried to sell them to us as allies. The ironic thing is that they got their weapons to use against us through Obama and Hitlery through the illegal actions in Libya. All the while supported and pushed by the supposed credible “war hero” McCain.

[pepsionice]

In my family history....going back to the late 1800s....we had a member who jumped up four weeks after they declared the Spanish-American War and volunteered. He went off to bootcamp to some location out in Texas. Along the last week or so of bootcamp, the Army got pictures made of each guy (some memento I assume) and then suddenly....the war came to an end. This guy and the others in his group sat around for roughly six weeks while the Army tried to figure out what to do with them. Then they just dismissed them.

He comes back home with a uniform, a long-winded story about life in Texas, and this picture....and the claim to being a participant in the Spanish-American War. It’s all truthful....just that the war came to a fairly quick end by August and those in the first wave kinda ended the whole thing. War-hero status? He was in uniform, and prepared to give all....it’s just that the war ended shortly after it started.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: it’ll all blow over

Not among MSM employees.

VP Dan Quayle and "potato" are two things that go together forever as far as MSM employees are concerned.

Even though in that case the Washington Post did an accurate fact check and published what really happened -- at least on line.

[onyx]

"I am not a fan of John McCain because he has done so little for our Veterans and he should know better than anybody what the Veterans need, especially in regards to the VA. He is yet another all talk, no action politician who spends too much time on television and not enough time doing his job and helping the Vets. He is also allowing our military to decrease substantially in size and strength, something which should never be allowed to happen.

Furthermore, he was extremely disrespectful to the thousands upon thousands of people, many of whom happen to be his constituents, that came to listen to me speak about illegal immigration in Phoenix last week by calling them "crazies".

These were not "crazies"---these were great American citizens.

I have great respect for all those who serve in our military including those that weren't captured and are also heroes.

I want to strengthen our military and take care of our Veterans. I want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN especially for those that serve to protect our freedom. I am fighting for our Veterans....

Sharyl Attkisson with Robert W Brooks.

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[uncbob]

Muslim shoots 5 of our military

Fetus body parts sold like meat

We get rolled in the Iran Nuke Deal

And the MSM jumps on this for a smoke screen

[outofsalt]

I agree! The word, “hero” has lost any meaning if it is so broadly applied. Nidal Hassan served but turned a traitor.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

I think your statement dilutes the concept of “hero”.

Once upon a time, you needed to do something “heroic”, above and beyond what could be expected, to be called s hero.

Most service members I know, active and retired, would disagree if you called them a hero.

Our service members are indeed special people that make sacrifices for the rest of us, but dumbing down our vocabulary serves no purpose.

[GoldenPup]

An article in the Washington Post today is headlined, “Trump slams McCain for being ‘captured’ in Vietnam.”

Usual and customary lies and distortions from the Communist inspired Washington Post. Total un-American rag.

[VRW Conspirator]

Ms. ATTKISSON is actually doing the job she was hired to do. But, can she do one more thing. Name names. She speaks of “gatekeepers” within the MSM who filter the news stories. Who are they?

Because these so-called gatekeepers get to lob artillery and snap off sniper shots anonymously and without consequence.

[niteowl77]

I have a great-Grandfather whose Spanish-American War service is almost identical to what you described. He came home with an "I showed up" medal (as my soldier son call them) and for the rest of his life (and beyond) was a "Spanish-American War veteran." The truth of it all was that he could have possibly become a "hero," and he may have had really good motives for placing himself in a position to be one, but it didn't happen.

I hesitate to wade into the Trump/McCain threads, because I believe I know full well what Trump was really getting at, and at this point in time I will not cut John McCain any slack whatsoever. Most of the usual reliable GOPe mouthpieces will have detonated in indignation by the end of today, and as far as I am concerned, they can sputter and pop pointlessly in their own greasy skillet just like they always do. In the end, their goal is always to protect their own pet corrupt bastards (as in "John McCain") and keep the gray train rolling.

Mr. niteowl77

[thesearethetimes...]

BTTT

[mosaicwolf]

Think about it. Everybody is a hero today according to the MSM.

[NTHockey]

It doesn’t matter what we respond, anymore than a first responder prevents crime. Playing defense 24/7/365 guarantees defeat. That’s what has given us Crybaby and Flubber Face as “leaders”.

Unless and until we stop responding and start attacking we are going to lose. Why?, because nobody is listening. An example of attack: There is a GM plant in Wilmington, DE that has been idle for EIGHT years. A picture of that posted with the caption “Obama’s Legacy” and you have an attack that is guaranteed to leave a mark.

Oh, and the inevitable “That’s racist” is answered by “And you’re a child molester”.

[HoosierWordsmith]

“Think about it. Everybody is a hero today according to the MSM.”
______________________________________________________________________________

And, everyone gets a trophy or medal in kiddie soccer so nobody feels bad about themselves...the Leftists have been at this for decades ingraining entitlement at all levels.