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First off, I have to congratulate Donald Trump for appearing at Arlington on the anniversary of the Afghan airport bombing that killed 13 of our own (see thebesig’s column 8\/27 for more detail.). It’s a disgrace that the President, Vice President, and Saint Weekend Warrior all failed to even mention it, much less actually go.<\/p>\n
That being said, Trump’s party certainly has hit the news in dueling sound bites since then. Heck, he even pissed off the ARMY.<\/p>\n
\nTrump and his team opted to go ahead with photos and videos with Gold Star family members, despite the objections of Arlington staff and after having been made aware of \u201cfederal laws, Army regulations and DOD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds,\u201d the Army said.<\/p>\n
Federal law prohibits politicking at Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photography and video collection.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
OK, I see their point. The thought of a politician sitting his butt on my father’s marker and saying “re-elect MEEEE” would leave me checking the zero on any number of guns. But on the other hand, in an election year, what does a politician do that ISN’T re-election oriented? How is this enforced? Only on Republicans? If Biden or Harris DID show up at an event like this (okay, that is a pretty far-fetched “if”) and said “We support our troops” would that be considered a re-election ploy? If they used a photo taken at such an event, even if one taken in perfect silence, in a later campaign production, would that be a Hatch Act violation? A breach of the Army’s policy? Someone from the Army want to stand up and define it?<\/p>\n
Now this all blew up because an Arlington Army employee supposedly tried to school Trump’s graveside party on appropriate decorum.<\/p>\n
NPR reported on Tuesday that during the visit, a cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staffers from filming and photographing there, but the individual was verbally abused and shoved aside.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita released a statement insisting that \u201cthe president and his team conducted themselves with nothing but the utmost respect and dignity for all of our service members, especially our beloved children.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked,\u201d the Army statement said. \u201cANC is a national shrine to the honored dead of the Armed Forces, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect the nation\u2019s fallen deserve.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Me, I keep seeing references to the employee’s being fearful of retaliation so she is not going to press charges.\u00a0 There I think she is absolutely wrong – if there is any proof that someone in Trump’s party did push her aside, really commit something definable as physical force on her – they should face consequences. There is NO place for that at Arlington.<\/p>\n
And while we are at it – the Trump party says they have verifiable, exonerating video proof (hopefully not on the same camera which held all that election tampering proof they were forever\u00a0 going to produce) – okay, let’s see it.<\/p>\n
Allegations have no weight. If either side has proof, let’s see it – or shut the heck up.<\/p>\n
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