Ex-Clinton aide on Kelly: 'Don't be distracted by the uniform'

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY JOHN BOWDEN - 10/19/17 05:21 PM EDT

A former aide to Hillary Clinton ripped White House chief of staff John Kelly, a retired four-star general, for his statements about President Trump's treatment of Gold Star families, urging readers not to be "distracted" by Kelly's military rank.

In a series of tweets, former Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon attacked Kelly for his tenure in the Trump administration, including his previous position as Homeland Security Secretary.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Fallon's remarks came minutes after Kelly blasted a Democratic congresswoman for listening in on a conversation between Trump and the widow of Army Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed in an ambush in Niger.

Kelly, whose own son was killed while serving in Afghanistan, sharply criticized Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) at a surprise White House press room appearance for her negative description of the call. Wilson, along with the Johnson's mother, said Trump's words were disrespectful.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/356301-ex-clinton-aide-on-kelly-dont-be-distracted-by-the-uniform

[Solly Mack]

1. Exactly.

What I had to say on the subject a few minutes ago.

No one - and I do mean no one - gets to determine how a military spouse grieves.

They don't get to determine who they share that grief with or who is around them in their time of grief.

Kelly is in no position, not even after his own loss, to attempt to set a standard for how others experience the grief process.

His son died but that doesn't grant him some special license to speak on how others grieve - or to judge it.

He doesn't get to set a standard on who can be around the grieving spouse/family and he doesn't get to pretend he has some special right to judge how they experience grief.

He used to be a General with some authority over those in his command. Used.to.be.

He has no such authority now and no one owes him even a token gesture of respect for his stars - to pretend those once worn stars mean he has some elevated status when it comes to grieving military families.

He doesn't.

[justhanginon]

8. Very well stated and I completely agree with you.

[riversedge]

11. WELL SAID.

[HAB911]

12. +++++++++++

[Old Vet]

14. Reminded me when Gen.Powell was shaking a bottle of white stuff at the UN/ Credibility GONE..

[susanna]

17. This is so true. Thank you, Solly Mack. Well said. n/t

[Gothmog]

2. Kelly is a sad and disgusting man

[DK504]

3. Soooooo ..... his son died and he wore a uniform so he could attack freedom of speech.

Got it, thanks for the tip, but STFU 'general'

[Corgigal]

4. Kelly

is now the male Melania for Trump. What's next? Gonna be ducking blows from him too ?

[bluestarone]

5. man i'm not sure

but i think they all come from one egg

[BigmanPigman]

6. No, they come from pods...like the film Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

[defacto7]

7. It's not what they say....

It's how it's perceived that counts. If it's perceived as disrespectful, then it was disrespectful. You either speak to communicate or you speak to manipulate. It's up to the speaker. The speakers failed.

[rockfordfile]

9. you tell Kelly is a idiot and racist just like Trump

[not fooled]

10. The stakes are high

in terms of trying to prop up dump as a supporter of military families in order to appeal to the red meat base. So, that will bring out the worst in people trying to defend the indefensible. We can now include General Kelly in that list of sellouts.

[niyad]

13. the fact that a military man would choose to work for that draft-dodging sob told me

everything I needed to know about him currently (unfortunately for johnny boy, I still remember when he was commandant of the marines)

[dalton99a]

15. Kelly is a racist, fascist pig.

[stollen]

16. Kelly voted for Trump

nothing to feel sorry for