I believe almost everybody is happy when Americans donate to help our veterans. However, they aren't as happy when the rich and powerful use our veterans as props for their self interests.
Donald Trump was really upset over the way he has been treated by the press over his highly publicized Veterans Fundraiser because they dared to ask him how much, when and where the money was going to after he cancelled on the Fox News Republican debate.
Instead of just sending out a document that details how the money was handled to the media, he held a press conference to tell the world how wonderful and generous his event was.
He also spent most of his time during the presser castigating reporters for their truly awful and corrupt reporting on him and added a caveat that he never wanted any credit for doing the hugely public fundraiser.
He repeatedly said, "I didn't have to do this," and I agree. He didn't. Trump could have easily raised that money by making a few phone calls to his wealthy businessmen brethren and raised almost the same amount of money, if he really was in it for the veterans alone.
As he was reading off the list of charitable organization he cuts checks to, Donald named some of the wealthy people that donated to his fundraising night.
"Carl Icahn gave a half a million dollars. Phil Ruffin gave a million. Stewart "Stewie Rah-Rah" Rahr gave a million. Ike Perlmutter gave a million."
And again he said, "I didn't have to do that."
Remember when Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told the Post that the event had raised about $4.5 million — less than the $6 million originally announced by Trump — because some who'd pledged contributions had backed out?
If we add up those names, plus Trump's one million dollar donation - between those five wealthy individuals, they donated about 4.5 million dollars.
The same figure that Lewandowski quoted to the press.
If he wasn't doing it for the publicity, then why make it a very public event? Why not dial a few more names from his Rolodex, and add to this group, but never make it public?
There is only one real answer.
He used our veterans to get back at Fox News.
(Also cross posted at the Huffington Post)
