On Sunday’s State of the Union, CNN’s Dana Bash reacted to Donald Trump’s attack on John McCain’s military service by arguing that a lot of Americans likely weren’t bothered by his comments at all.
Speaking to host Jake Tapper, Bash suggested “there's a big part of the electorate, bigger than we think, that isn't that offended by these comments because they are equally frustrated with the John McCains of the world on the issue of immigration.”
After Bash tried to explain why “there's a very good reason why he [Trump] is doing so well," the CNN reporter argued that “historically you just don't go there” and criticize a veteran like John McCain but such an attack is now acceptable among some Republicans, who are mad over his stance on immigration reform:
I think that there's a big part of the electorate, bigger than we think, that isn't that offended by these comments because they are equally frustrated with the John McCains of the world on the issue of immigration. So, I think, you know, a few years ago it would have been lights out Donald Trump. And I'm not so sure that's the case anymore.
Later in the segment, Tapper suggested that Republicans had a “double standard” when it came to attacking veterans, and that such criticism is wrong “unless you’re a Democrat”:
I have heard from a lot of Democrats who only 11 years ago in 2004 when John Kerry was the nominee of the Democratic Party recalled-let's see if we can show the pictures -- the Republican National Convention. There's somebody with a band-aid that is representing -- mocking John Kerry's three purple hearts...But is there a double standard here? Republicans they say, there's no place in our party or country for comments that disparage those who have served honorably. Well, unless you're a Democrat.
Nowhere in his question did Tapper bother to mention that there continue to be serious questions about John Kerry’s military service and the awards he received from his fellow soldiers or that Kerry repeatedly criticized the military after his 3 month tour in Vietnam, which included throwing away the awards he received in . Instead, the CNN host accused the GOP of engaging in a “double standard” when it comes to criticizing veterans, which they view as unacceptable “unless you’re a Democrat.”
See relevant transcript below.
CNN’s State of the Union with Jake Tapper
July 19, 2015
JAKE TAPPER: Republican presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz of Texas refusing to pile on to the Donald Trump scenario as so many of his rivals seem to do rather, enthusiastically yesterday, and earlier in the show. Let's talk it all over with our roundtable. Peter, let me ask you this, I could have predicted, I feel, that Trump was going to say something controversial and the entire Republican establishment was going to jump on him. I didn't know what it was going to be. But boy does the RNC want him away.
PETER BAKER: Yes. Because every minute we're talking about Donald Trump and some outrageous thing he said, A, it cheapens the process. It makes it look like a reality show rather than a serious, sober contest for the presidency of the United States. And, B, it means we're not talking about all the failings that President Obama that they'd like to talk about, right? I mean, they'd like to get out there and talk about how this administration and its former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, have failed in this way and that way. Instead they're talking about, you know, Donald Trump and the latest crazy thing that he might have said.
TAPPER: Except to play devil's advocate here, Dana.
DANA BASH: Yes.
TAPPER: He has brought up the issue of immigration that a lot of Republicans are worried about talking about, but a lot of the base loves to talk about.
BASH: Absolutely. I mean, there's a very good reason why he is doing so well. It's not just because he is incredibly entertaining it's because he's talking about something that a lot of the base were frustrated that the other candidates didn't want to talk about. But I just actually want to say something that may be counterintuitive in that, you know, historically you just don't go there. You don't go there against any veteran. You'd certainly don't go there against somebody who was, you know, effectively, you know, in a box for five years. And you know, John McCain can't even lift his arms...
TAPPER: Right because he was tortured.
BASH: ...because he was tortured and because his bones didn't heal right after his plane crash. Having said that, I think that there's a big part of the electorate, bigger than we think, that isn't that offended by these comments because they are equally frustrated with the John McCains of the world on the issue of immigration. So, I think, you know, a few years ago it would have been lights out Donald Trump. And I'm not so sure that's the case anymore.
TAPPER: Well, let me ask you about that -- Congressman Hurd, I want to ask you as the Republican at the table. I have heard from a lot of Democrats who only 11 years ago in 2004 when John Kerry was the nominee of the Democratic Party recalled-let's see if we can show the pictures -- the Republican National Convention. There's somebody with a band-aid that is representing -- mocking John Kerry's three purple hearts and then one of the standard bearers of the Republican Party came on CNN and said this.
BOB DOLE: With three purple hearts and never bled that I know of. And they're all superficial wounds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: And Bob Dole went on to later kind of walk those comments back a little. But is there a double standard here? Republicans they say, there's no place in our party or country for comments that disparage those who have served honorably. Well, unless you're a Democrat.
