Editorial: Trump represents a test of character for Iowa GOP

No successful American politician has ever tried to win public support by minimizing the sacrifices of U.S. servicemen or by denigrating their families.

The exception, of course, is Donald Trump.

Last year, Trump had the effrontery to question the war-time heroism of Sen. John McCain, who spent more than five years as a prisoner of war. In Trump’s words, McCain was “not a war hero” because he was captured. “I like people that weren't captured," he said.

Now Trump is questioning the behavior of the Muslim-American parents of an Army soldier who 12 years ago was killed in Iraq in a selfless act of courage that saved his fellow troops from injury.

Khizr Khan, with his wife, Ghazala, at his side, appeared at the Democratic National Convention last week and spoke of the couple's 27-year-old son, Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed by a suicide bomber in 2004.

In an interview with ABC News shortly after the convention, Trump said Capt. Khan was a hero, but then he went on to suggest the soldier’s mother may have stood silently by her husband at the convention either because she wasn’t permitted to speak or had nothing meaningful to say.

“She probably — maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say,” Trump said. “It looked like she had nothing to say.”

Trump then took issue with the Khan family’s claim that he has sacrificed nothing for his country: “I think I've made a lot of sacrifices,” Trump said. “I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I’ve done — I’ve had tremendous success. I think I've done a lot … I think they are sacrifices.”

Trump’s comments displayed more than the profound ignorance we’ve all come to expect from him. They demonstrated a callous disregard for a military family’s grief and displayed a disturbing, narcissistic view of the world. One can only shudder at the thought of President Donald Trump sitting in the Oval Office and calling the parents of American soldiers killed in combat. Would he attempt to show empathy by comparing the families’ sacrifice to his financial success in the world of business?

Thankfully, Sen. McCain issued a strongly worded statement on Monday, rebuking his party’s nominee for president.

“Donald Trump disparaged a fallen soldier’s parents,” McCain said. “He has suggested that the likes of their son should not be allowed in the United States — to say nothing of entering its service. I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement.”

But where were the denunciations from some of Iowa’s most prominent Republican leaders? Where were Sen. Joni Ernst and Gov. Terry Branstad, both of whom spent a portion of last week actively campaigning for Trump?

Do they disagree with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who says Trump was “incredibly disrespectful” to the Khan family?

Perhaps they take issue with Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican, who warns that Trump is “going to a place where we’ve never gone before, to push back against the families of the fallen. There used to be some things that were sacred in American politics — that you don’t do — like criticizing the parents of a fallen soldier, even if they criticize you.”

Maybe they disagree with the Republican senator from New Hampshire, Kelly Ayotte, who says she was “appalled that Donald Trump would disparage [the Khans] and that he had the gall to compare his own sacrifices to those of a Gold Star family.”

When asked about Trump’s comments, Ernst’s office issued a written statementthat was effusive in its praise for Capt. Khan but said nothing at all about Trump. The same is true of Rep. David Young, the Republican congressman from Van Meter.

Branstad characterized Trump's comments this way: "I think that was a mistake. I believe the focus needs to be on the differences that he has with Hillary Clinton in terms of policies." Apparently, the governor believes Trump's comments signify nothing more than a political miscalculation.

Sen. Charles Grassley at least said Trump’s comments were "not in line with my own beliefs about how the members of the military and their families should be treated, and respect for the people who serve our country is something both presidential campaigns could use more of."

Let’s be clear about this: The presidential campaign of Donald Trump is a test of character for our Republican leaders. Are they willing to speak out and stand up for the principles and ideals on which this nation was founded, or will they cower in silence while the leader of their party sullies the flag and trashes the Constitution?

In his written statement, McCain said Trump’s remarks “do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers, or candidates.”

If only that were true.