Has Trump Committed Political Suicide?

Not yet.  Although few observers of politics expected Donald Trump to last this long, his descent into the ranks of inconsequential candidates will come.  Just not as soon as serious conservatives might hope. For Donald Trump is certainly not a conservative nor serious (probably not even in his own mind).

By calling John McCain “not a war hero”, he has set in motion a major disaffection from his standard that, polls indicate, has already begun in New Hampshire, though not yet in Iowa. 

Republicans, and those of a conservative stripe, in particular, are pro-military and very supportive of those who serve.  They are repelled by those deemed to be antagonistic.  Trump has, in their view, joined their numbers.  And this will be so despite the fact that McCain is not viewed with warmth by conservatives since his “right” credentials are suspect.  But his POW experience, not McCain’s voting record, was Trump’s target.

It is certainly true, of course, that Trump’s fumbling criticism of Mexican immigrants, (“illegals only”?) has been applauded by many on the right.  However, support for the man will evaporate as his characterization of McCain’s POW experiences sink in.

On a superficial level, that may not be deserved since Trump’s attack was an angry retort to McCain’s terming the seven thousand attending a Trump rally as “crazy.”  He probably gave the subject little thought, if any, before the blast.  It’s as if he were responding to an unfair attack by leveling one of his own.  (“I can call you names, too.”)  It was childish. 

As previously displayed, Trump chooses not to use a filter before talking.  Seemingly, what stirs his emotions soon pops out of his mouth.  The fact  that he’s not inclined to apologize for his thoughts compounds the problem.  You won’t be forgiven for mis-statements unless you ask for it.

Thus, I suggest that the McCain remarks will not be akin to shooting himself in the foot, a wound from which he would recover.  This time, a political cancer has set in.  That may not be immediately obvious judging by some of his poll numbers, but it will prove to be fatal as Republican voters absorb the outrageousness of what he said about prisoners of war.

Note:  McCain was not a hero – doing an extraordinary deed - because he was a POW shot down over North Vietnam.  Rather, it was due to the character he displayed by refusing to be released by the Communists as a propaganda ploy.  As a result, this son of a high ranking navy admiral was subjected to years more of imprisonment and torture which he could have avoided.  That’s why he is properly viewed as a war hero.