Chad Robichaux is a Marine who developed post-traumatic stress disorder in the aftermath of eight tours in Afghanistan. After years of suffering, he now runs a counseling program dedicated to helping veterans avoid suicide, divorce, and other attendant problems. He knows from his own experience that a faith-based approach works. Our government, allergic to faith-based programs, isn’t really interested, especially under Barack Obama.
So when Donald Trump came to a meeting of the Retired American Warriors PAC on October 3, Robichaux asked a question. “Spiritual fitness works on these types of problems. The government is not taking advantage of these programs and services,” Robichaux said. “So my question for you is: When you become president, will you support and fund a more holistic approach to solve the problems and issues of veteran suicide, PTSD, TBI [traumatic brain injury] and other related military mental and behavioral health issues?”
Trump said yes. “When people come back from war and combat and they see things that maybe a lot of the folks in this room have seen many times over, and you’re strong and you can handle it. But a lot of people can’t handle it. And they see horror stories. They see events that you couldn’t see in a movie, nobody would believe it.”
A marble-mouthed answer? Of course – it’s Trump. Could an observer covering Trump conclude he was criticizing our veterans who “can’t handle it”? Of course you can – if you want to savage Trump.
What Trump said next was skipped over: “So we’re going to have a very, very robust, level of performance having to do with mental health. We are losing so many great people that can be taken care of if they have proper care. You know when you hear the 22 suicides a day, it’s a big part of your question. But when you hear the 22 suicides a day, that should never be.”
His sympathy for the plight of veterans was clear, but made no difference. The snide headlines were already written. The leftist website Buzzfeed sneered: “Trump Suggests That Soldiers With PTSD Aren’t ‘Strong.’” Or try the Daily Beast, with this doozy: “Draft-Dodger Donald Trump Implies PTSD Sufferers Are Weak.” The websites of CNN and NBC also mangled the quote.
Were this the case, certainly the veteran to whom the answer was directed would be deeply offended. But afterward, Robichaux was so upset with the press he issued a statement. “I think it’s sickening that anyone would twist Mr. Trump’s comments to me in order to pursue a political agenda. I took his comments to be thoughtful and understanding of the struggles many veterans have, and I believe he is committed to helping them.”
So what? Democrats pressed ahead. On the stump, Hillary Clinton claimed Trump’s remarks were “not just ignorant, they’re harmful.” Vice President Biden went on CNN and asked, “How can he be so out of touch? He's not a bad guy. But how can he be so out of touch and ask to lead this country? This is an ignorant man. This guy says things he has no idea about. He's not a bad man. But his ignorance is so profound. So profound."
After the ongoing scandals dealing with the wretched state of health care by the Veterans Administration under Obama-Biden, you’d think it would take more than a little chutzpah for Democrats to claim any Republican is “out of touch” with the needs of veterans, and for their allies in the press to give them the oxygen they need. But as the Geico slogan goes, “It’s what you do.”
