President Obama Delivers A Pointed Message About Military Families’ Sacrifices

On Monday, President Obama addressed the 95th National Convention of Disabled American Veterans in Atlanta. Obama’s remarks, which focused on expanding opportunities for service members, veterans, and their families, lasted a little under an hour and didn’t mention Trump by name once. That doesn’t mean the president didn’t get a few elbows in, though.

The shade started about 15 minutes into Obama’s speech, when he seemed to invoke the Republican nominee’s statements about the American military. “As Commander in Chief I’m getting really tired of some folks trash-talking America’s military and troops,” Obama said. “We have the most capable fighting force in history, and we’re gonna keep it that way. And no ally or adversary should ever doubt our strength and our resolve.”

Obama then moved to address — though not explicitly — Trump’s disparaging comments about the Gold Star parents of Army Captain Humayun Khan. Khan’s father, in a speech at the Democratic National Convention last week, stated that Trump had “sacrificed nothing and no one” and questioned whether the Republican nominee had ever read the constitution. Trump responded to the speech in a cable news interview, in which he equated “sacrifice” with “success” and questioned whether Khan’s mother, who joined his father on stage, was “allowed” to speak.

“No one — no one — has given more for our freedom and our security than our Gold Star families,” Obama said. “Michelle and I have spent countless hours with them. We have grieved with them.” He went on:

“There’s a reason why last week in Philadelphia I was humbled to be introduced by Sharon Blancafort from Ohio to a Gold Star mom who’s son Tom, a Lieutenant colonel in the army, gave his life in Afghanistan. I requested Sharon introduce me because I understood that our Gold Star families have made a sacrifice that most of us can not even begin to imagine. They represent the very best of our country. They continue to inspire us. Every day, every moment, they serve as a powerful reminder of the true strength of America. And we have to do everything we can for those families. And honor them. And be humbled by them.”

Trump’s remarks about the Khan family have drawn ire from both sides of the aisle. In a lengthy statement released Monday morning, Arizona Senator John McCain said he could not “emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement.”

(Via The Atlantic)

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