JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: THE CONTROVERSY OVER TRUMP’S REPORTED SAVAGE WORDS ABOUT DEAD SOLDIERS IS ACTUALLY A SIGN OF THE DEEP DIVISIONS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY – DIVISIONS WHICH INCLUDE WILDLY UNLIKELY AND DANGEROUS BELIEFS ALMOST RESEMBLING THOSE OF CULTS – THERE CAN BE NO SERIOUS DOUBT ABOUT THE TRUTH OF THE REPORTED STORY – HERE IS A LIST OF REASONS SUPPORTING IT

John Chuckman


EXPANSION OF A COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN CBC NEWS


“U.S. veterans divided over reports Trump disparaged military”

“Some bristle at reports he called troops 'losers' and 'suckers,' others question claim”


I just do not understand how there can be any doubt about the truth in reporting of Trump’s words about soldiers.

First, the words almost match the words we all heard him speak in public about the late John McCain a couple of years ago.

Second, the article’s author is said to have had four good sources. It is of course, perfectly understandable, given Trump’s volatile and threatening personality, why sources would not want to be identified by name. First-class investigative journalism – like that of the great Seymour Hersh – has always had to use some confidential sources.

Third, portions of the claims already have been substantiated by independent investigation of several major news sources.

Fourth, the vicious tone is right in keeping with things we’ve learned from Trump’s niece and his older sister, a retired judge, first-hand witnesses both of them.

People who insist this is a plot or fabrication by “the Left,” just have not thought through what they are saying, just as Trump does not think about what he says.

Besides, there is no “Left” to speak of in America, and certainly old safe establishment Joe Biden is anything but “Left.” The woman who controls The Atlantic magazine is the multi-billionaire widow of the late Steve Jobs. Hardly a raging Leftist.

In the end, the question for Americans is that of former television host Phil Donahue when he did some incisive public affairs shows, “People, what kind of country do you want to live in?”

______________________

Response to a comment saying it was hard to understand how Trump rides out so many scandalous acts and words:

Superficially, yes, it is hard to understand.

But America has – a fact often overlooked – a bounteous population of hucksters and grifters and scam artists.

Their behavior is a significant part of the country's history and culture.

Recall, the tender words of P. T. Barnum from a century and a half ago, "There's a sucker born every minute."

Mark Twain's stories feature a number of such characters.

Herman Melville wrote "The Confidence Man."



AFTERNOTES

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said his magazine's story about Trump calling Americans who died in battle "losers" and "suckers," was just the tip of the iceberg.

"I would fully expect more reporting to come out about this and more confirmation and new pieces of information in the coming days and weeks."



"We all have to use anonymous sources, especially in a climate where the president of the United States tries to actively intimidate,"



“Carl Bernstein, the investigate reporter known for breaking the Watergate story, said that anonymous sourcing is often a crucial tool for reporters.”

"Almost all 200 of our stories about Watergate were based on anonymous sourcing."