Posted on 10/19/2017 1:26:20 PM PDT by COUNTrecount
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly on Thursday gave a powerful defense of President Trumps handling of a call to a Gold Star widow of a soldier who was killed in Niger and ripped a Florida lawmaker for politicizing the issue.
Theres no perfect way to make that phone call, he said in his first public comments on the controversy over the call, which slain Sgt. La David Johnsons mother Cowanda Jones-Johnson and a Florida lawmaker who knew him called disrespectful.
If youve never worn the uniform, if youve never been in combat, you cant even imagine how to make that call but I think he very bravely does make those calls.
Kelly, who lost his marine lieutenant son in Afghanistan, said he advised Trump not to make the calls because it was so difficult to deliver such a tragic message.
But the president, he said, insisted that he thought it was the right thing to do.
He said to me, What do I say? I said to him, Sir, theres nothing you can do to lighten the burden on these families, he said.
He then said a military friend had told him how he handled the calls, and he shared the advice with the president.
The friend, he said, would tell loved ones that the deceased was doing exactly what he wanted to do when he was killed. He knew what he was getting into by joining that 1 percent. He knew what the possibilities were.
That phrasing is similar to what Johnsons family said Trump told them, that the sergeant knew what he signed up for.
Kelly also blasted Democratic Rep. Frederica S. Wilson for listening in and politicizing the call that Trump had made.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I’m sure Kelly was sitting in the Oval Office when the POTUS called all four Families.
The Nutty Congress critter just dissed Kelly for making his statement.
He also nailed her for her actions in Miami at a Memorial Building Dedication for two Officers killed in the line of duty.
Apparently she got up to say how she convinced Obama to hand over $20,000,000 to construct the Building and never mentioned the two fallen heroes it was named after...
Beautiful...
Chief Kelly’s statement was powerful; and let’s not forget, he is also a Gold Star parent.
The Congresswoman’s behavior is shameful. I just tried to leave her a message, but, surprise, surprise...her mailbox is full.
I am guessing the voice mails are not positive.
LOL!
We should start up a fund to buy her a bunch of Chiquita Banana hats. Drop the cowboy hats and start wearing fruit! LOL!
I am just learning that she apparently attacked Chief Kelly. Hope she is voted out next election. Sad state of affairs that people like this are making laws for the "little people," as most lawmakers probably consider those who pay their salary are.
Her Facebook and Twitter feeds have exploded—and not with favorable comments.
Three media people said that they knew a Gold Star family member. The first one seemed genuine, the second and third,
mmmm. I wonder if they really know someone or just have heard about someone. If they were Trump supporters, they would have been asked about the person they knew. Maybe they all “know” General Kelly and he is a Gold Star Dad. I don’t trust the MSM at all.
Had she even a shred of honor, she would hang her head in shame, retire from Congress forthwith, and find some extremely remote place to finish what remains of her life in penance and mortification.
"Those with less of a sense of service to the nation never understand
it when men and women of character step forward to look
danger and adversity straight in the eye, refusing to blink,
or give ground, even to their own deaths.
The protected can't begin to understand the price paid
so they and their families can sleep safe and free at night."Marine Major General John F. Kelly
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I think with every passing day, anyone who is paying attention is beginning to agree with you.
I cannot watch CNN anymore (unless there is some sort of natural disaster). All I can get is FOX, but not, is it One News America?
Perhaps they will start to stream it. I've heard good things about it.
I just heard that. What a patriotic, beautiful thing.
I am guessing you served, exit82. Thank you so much for your service, and for those who served under you. You and your fellow soldiers/Marines/airmen/shipmen/Coast Guard (hope I'm not forgetting anyone! are what makes America great.
and btw, protects Canada. Something Canadians don't think about.
I once had a letter to the editor printed in the Ottawa Citizen; they even came out to take my picture. I said that Canadians can afford their ridiculously-run health care system because they know they don't have to pay for their own security, militarily. Should anyone attack Canada, the US would be here in an instant.
But hey, gotta love those long waiting lines for health care. LOL!
Thank you for your kind remarks, but no, I did not serve.
I have the utmost respect for those who did.
Yuck.....that face hasn’t a shred of humanity.
Thank you for your kind remarks, but no, I did not serve.
I have the utmost respect for those who did.
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You are welcome. :) I too, greatly respect the finest military on the planet, who too often are not treated fairly.
My Dad’s friend served in Vietnam and had to come home after his knee was shot up. As he walked through O’Hare on crutches, in his uniform, he was spat on by hippies (and probably, remembering those days, some Hare Krishna folks. LOL).
We have no draft; people who serve do so out of love of country. True patriots.
All the best, FRiend, Julie
Julie, I am of Vietnam era vintage and remember well what you described.
My draft lottery number was very high in 1972, so I was not drafted. Then the war ended in Jan. 1973.
I went to college with many Vetnam vets. They stayed amongst themselves, as no one really could understand what they had been through but fellow vets. They wore their fatigues and jackets, so they could find each other.
As a nation, we treated them like they were unwelcome ghosts. Their fathers from WW2 had parades. These guys went from the jungle to San Francisco in about 24 hours—no decompression time at all.
And then they were spat on when they went through the airport. Disgusting.
I have followed auto racing for over 60 years.
I have known drivers that died racing.
I have known drivers that died NOT racing.
The ones who died racing died DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO THE MOST IN LIFE.
Dale Earnhardt was so special—and I will always remember the day he died at Daytona. However-—NO ONE who follows racing can ever say he wasn’t doing exactly what he wanted to-more than anything else in his life.
Good men join our military-—and many of them have died with their very best friends-—their military buddies.
As for this:And then they were spat on when they went through the airport. Disgusting.
It was horrible. After the trauma they went through, they came home to that.
If you have never heard it, look up Steve Earle's song, Copperhead Road.
I just may listen to it now. :)
All the best, FRiend.
Exactly! These men and women sign up voluntarily to serve their country, out of love and patriotism.
Dale Earnhardt was so specialand I will always remember the day he died at Daytona. However-NO ONE who follows racing can ever say he wasnt doing exactly what he wanted to-more than anything else in his life.
Good men join our military-and many of them have died with their very best friends-their military buddies.
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So true. And now I need to re-watch Forrest Gump. LOL!
Honor? From democrats? It’s hard enough to find any in Republicans.
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