Donald Trump's verbal sparring with a Gold Star Muslim family is causing some friction within the military community; at worst, he could bleed votes from what is otherwise a slam-dunk voter base for Republicans, according to The Atlantic.
Trump compelled the leader of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to issue a statement rebuking the nominee for his war of words with the Khan family, and it's not a healthy situation, especially with extended military — a voting bloc of roughly 30 million people who historically vote Republican.
"To ridicule a Gold Star Mother is out-of-bounds," wrote VFW national commander Brian Duffy. "Election year or not, the VFW will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising his or her right of speech or expression. … There are certain sacrosanct subjects that no amount of word-smithing can repair once crossed."
That prompted internal sparring within the VFW, an organization of 1.7 million people, according to the Atlantic. Many took umbrage with Duffy's statement while others praised him.
Regardless, whatever internal strife caused by Trump is an unforced error.
"These groups, like the VFW and Gold Star Families, are vehemently apolitical and prefer to stay out of electoral frays. Trump's thin skin, thick head, and wide mouth have forced them off the bleachers and into the fight," John Noonan wrote in National Review.
"Trump will still likely win military voters. But he needs to over perform with them, because he pathetically underperforms with every other demographic sans white males. Like with so many of his many business ventures, Trump is cruising for a bruising loss," Noonan wrote.
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