'He's a patriot': Republicans defend key impeachment witness from attacks

'He's a patriot': Republicans defend key impeachment witness from attacks

https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/29/republicans-defend-impeachment-witness-vindman-061057

A very damning testimony, Trump is now attacking this purple heart highly decorated veteran.

Republicans may quibble with the substance of Vindman’s testimony as they try to protect Trump from the fast-moving impeachment inquiry. But congressional GOP leaders say it’s out of bounds to question Vindman’s patriotism and allegiance to the United States, as some conservative pundits did on Monday night.

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Several top Republicans on Tuesday made emphatic statements in support of Vindman, a National Security Council official who heard Trump’s phone call with the Ukrainian president and testified that it was improper for Trump to demand an investigation into Joe Biden and represented a threat to U.S. national security.

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“That guy’s a Purple Heart. I think it would be a mistake to attack his credibility,” said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, in an interview. “You can obviously take issue with the substance and there are different interpretations about all that stuff. But I wouldn’t go after him personally. He’s a patriot.”

“I’m not going to question the patriotism of any of the people who come forward," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), though he declined to comment "on the merit of what’s going forward" or Vindman's suggestion that he was concerned Trump's actions had undermined national security.

So that's like 10 people whose sworn accounts line up with each other and other hard evidence.

'Extremely disturbing': Top Democrats alarmed over Vindman's testimony on Trump-Ukraine call

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/extremely-disturbing-top-dems-alarmed-over-vindman-s-testimony-trump-n1073371

From the bit that was released he corroborated other testimony and he put his country first. That's a good thing. I'm beyond disgusted with some politicians *cough*GOP*cough* who seem to forget the oath they took.

Pretty weak to attack this person's character. But, that seems to be the M.O. of this administration.

@Jacanuk said:

Damn people were right, the defense has gotten SOOO bad. Just trash memes. Well it's not like they can do much else.

Attacking his character instead of testimony. Good call GOP. Just like everyone he's hired to help him run his administration, the best people, the greatest people...until the're fired and then they're total losers!!!!

What a climate to work in. Run by an imbecile that you know will ruin your career and throw you under the bus.

Defence? again so far no smoking gun has been put forward.

And I am not going to debate the same thing over and over again, so I know this thread is going to turn into the left side already convicting Trump.

But let´s see so far this is going to turn bad once it reaches the senate so no removal. So do yourself a favour Zaryia, ask yourself each time you find something "Is this a smoking gun" and "Will this convince any republican senator" if you can answer no to the last then you know it´s not worth posting.

Would you like to go back on topic and discuss Vindman's testimony or criticism of Vindman's character?

Thank you.

This testimony is/was front page headlining at every major news source today. Don't be silly please.

I feel like I'm in a episode of that 90's TV show Sliders and I just want to get back home to my old universe.

That's not the American spelling of defense.

Question: With trump's own words and all the corroboration including coming from Republicans why do you continue to blame the left and not trump?

If the Republican senators don't take their oath of office seriously does not mean American citizens can't be disgusted with the trump's behavior. They should be. He's worse than Nixon.

Jesus Christ.

Rudy Giuliani attacks Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, suggesting star impeachment witness is disloyal and ‘confused’

ANOTHER SCHIFFTY BACKFIRE: A US gov. employee who has reportedly been advising two gov’s?

No wonder he is confused and feels pressure.

@zaryia: Republicans have no shame.

that is why they're DYING to know the whistleblower's identity as well.

can't attack someone's character or dig dirt on them if you don't know who they are.

Someone has to explain to me why people continue to support Republicans when they repeatably talk shit about veterans. That and most of them are gutless cowards who never served, yet are always first in line when it comes to starting wars.

Lt. Gen Flynn after he was named Trump's NSA? John McCain in 2008 when he was running against Obama? Dan Crenshaw after he ran as a Republican? Tulsi Gabbard (a Democrat) after Hillary Clinton called her a Russian agent?

We can criticize Republicans if they disrespect veterans, but let's not pretend the left getting mad about it has anything to do with respect when the left has no problem crapping on those four I mentioned above as well as other right-leaning veterans. I'll give you McCain after he turned against Trump, but which party was the primary one insulting the rest of them?

Waiting for evidence still.

Crack a news site then.

Not until you go to the universe where everyone is nude, though. Then you can go home.

Seriously, though, I agree. Trump's whole tenure has been sort of unbelievable but the past few months has been almost surreal. I keep asking myself "Is this for real? Did they really say/do that? What's going on?"

Fair enough, but you have to remember that the hippie flag burners tend to be democrat, and the flag-waving nationalists tend to be republicans.

It is very out of character for the conservatives to go after veterans, and only slightly out of character for the liberals to do so.

It is despicable when either side does it, however.

I think he meant D-fence

@ad1x2: Very curious that you only mentioned politicians and far-right criminals (Flynn) and not individuals who are solely veterans. Do you have examples of non-politician veterans being attacked by Democrats? Because as it stands the Republicans (mostly Trump) are running up the score in terms disrespecting veterans and their families.

Checked fox news, nothing.

Tulsi Gabbard is still a Democrat that pushes for things like much stronger gun laws and other talking points the left is running on in 2020. Dan Crenshaw hasn't been accused of any crimes to the best of my knowledge, his "crime" seems to be him being a Trump-supporting Republican and him losing his eye in combat just made him a target of SNL after he was elected. Trump's current medical advisor and former physician Ronny Jackson, a rear admiral in the Navy who also served as Obama's physician was accused of being a quack for saying he was healthy.

Why would Democrats target non-political veterans that aren't a thorn in their sides? Nothing good politically would come of them targeting someone that leans left, is not in office, and served in the military at one time.

Trust me, these people trying to defend this officer's honor wouldn't give a crap about him if he was testifying in favor of Trump instead of against him, and if a Democrat was in office and he was testifying against them half of you would probably be trying to make a case to get him arrested for violating Article 88 of the UCMJ.

I should be surprised but I'm not. You do follow their talking points.

Prove me wrong.

After trump has stated things and you guys still refuse to believe in reality it's pointless to try to have any discourse with you. Pointless. I can only hope that something happens and reality intrudes on the illusion.

What I find more concerning is that you have a whistleblower being accused of being a spy because of his ethnic origins, which demonstrates the GOP's innate racism and sexism whenever you have cases like these.

While his military service is noble, it shouldn't be a defining factor in these investigations. What should be is his statements, the reliability and truth of his statements, and whether or not Trump committed a crime.

I'm pretty sure the majority of Americans wouldn't have elected a criminal reality TV host to lead the presidency in the first place.

So I feel this point is moot as you try to compare both parties and use the excuse, "BuT ThEy WoUlD Do ThE SaMe1!!!!!1"

Quite a lot of ifs there, man. Really reaching there for that “both sides” rhetoric.

That's a grab there. Contempt toward Officials...…….so telling the truth equals contempt to you?

@n64dd: You've jumped the shark.

Sad!!

Lol its Russia all over again. And if he gets reelected they will come up with more nothing burgers for 4 more years.

@r-gamer: I dropped my sandwich, damn you Russia!

@n64dd: lol it's comical at this point. And what's funny Obama did the same thing Trump is being accused of on a regular basis.

Link?

@LJS9502_basic:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/lets-not-forget-that-obama-made-a-quid-pro-quo-deal-just-like-trumps-%E2%80%94-and-that-republicans-said-it-was-grounds-for-impeachment/ar-AAHSYUe?li=AADQKk7

Okay then that should mean you and the rest of the Republicans should be for impeachment....from your link...……...

Logical and moral consistency demands that any Republican who was troubled by Obama’s behavior be just as troubled (if not more so) by Trump’s. And any Republican who deemed Obama’s offense worthy of impeachment must now apply the same standard to the leader of their party—this even though, were the roles reversed, their opponents would almost certainly not do the same.

Or you're saying what Obama did was okay and his according to your link was in keeping with his policy whereas trump's was a deviation. So which is it? Are you for or against?

@LJS9502_basic: I wasn't either for or against because when Obama was President I didn't spend every waking moment wishing he was impeached.

I can also take your logic and reverse it. If Democrats didn't find Obama's offense impeachable then they shouldn't find Trumps impeachable. I'm pointing out the hillarious straw grasping the left has done over the last three years.

Republicans had control...……..why didn't they do anything?

The Republicans were stopped from asking this person questions by Adam Shiff. As usual only one story is printed by the liberal media and you can't believe a word they print.

@LJS9502_basic: Because ultimately it was a nothing burger just like this. And you didn't hear much about it because outside of Fox News nobody talked about it. Now the situation is reversed and the candidate is Republican so it's 24/7 reporting from all left wing media outlets.

What's funny every President in history has ultimately done what Trump has done. So why is it impeachable now?

Where in that opinion piece does it mention that Obama's qpq was used to gain political dirt on Mitt Romney? Otherwise it's really not the same.

This is not nothing. trump has violated the Constitution on several occasions and that is not nothing. He's also broken the law. Also not nothing. Very sad that anyone supports this. Very sad.

@LJS9502_basic: He was was involved in Quid pro quo with a foreign state much like Obama and every president before him. Welcome to reality.

And please don't talk about violating the constitution. If you support gun bans you lost your right to talk about that.

It doesn't.

I don't think you understand the difference. trump blatantly is using foreign governments to advance his own political career.

@LJS9502_basic: Finding corruption on someone who may not even win the democratic nomination? Funny thing is do you even care about the shady shit Joe Biden did? This what's so hillarious to me. Despite all the shady shit you find on your own officials you are only focused on Trump.

@r-gamer: What a dumbass Trump is to get impeached over trying to strongarm another country on a candidate who might not even win the nomination.

A very stable genius!!

@Nuck81: I have a feeling you will be terribly disappointed by the end of this.

@r-gamer: Yawn

Remember that Trump wanted to take their guns first and have due process later? Why should he change now?