We should hardly be surprised at the venomous attacks on John McCain’s character and politics coming from rank-and-file Trump supporters. After all, they were guided and encouraged by the president. One has only to look at him sitting stiffly, arms crossed and with a smug look on his face, as TV reporters asked him why the American flag on the White House was not at half-mast, and why he had not released any official statement on McCain’s passing. The president simply ignored them.
It was predictable that Trump and his supporters would respond to the tremendous outpouring of praise for McCain by trying to destroy his reputation. Of course, after the American Legion criticized him, fearing total alienation of veterans’ support, he was forced to release a statement obviously written for him by a White House staff member. And after his tweet offering his family “deepest sympathies and respect,” but omitting anything about McCain’s legacy, the dog whistle to his followers was made clear.
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