Ron Johnson disparages Vindman before testimony

How low will Trump defenders go? Very low, it seems

News with a Twist

Satire from Ted Block

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), in a letter sent Monday to House Republicans, questioned the credibility of Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, a Ukraine specialist with the National Security Council who listened in on President Donald Trump’s July 25 call with Ukraine’s president, in which Trump pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate his political rivals.

Vindman, a decorated U.S. Army infantry officer who received a Purple Heart medal for wounds he received from an IED attack in the Iraq War in 2004, is also the recipient of many other decorations and medals including, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster (2nd award), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters (4th award), Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters (3rd award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (4th award), Valorous Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation, and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. He is a recipient of the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Basic Parachutist Badge, the Presidential Service Badge, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.

“A significant number of bureaucrats and staff members within the executive branch have never accepted President Trump as legitimate and resent his unorthodox style and his intrusion onto their ‘turf’,” Johnson wrote. “They react by leaking to the press and participating in the ongoing effort to sabotage his policies and, if possible, remove him from office. It is entirely possible that Vindman fits this profile.”

Of course, in context, “entirely possible” is an unfortunate way of Johnson saying he has no proof to substantiate his irresponsible rhetoric.

Johnson’s letter prompted Rep Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) to offer the far-right senator some sensible advice: “Here’s a pro-tip: if you find yourself lying about a war hero, you should probably question your choices in life. My advice to Ron Johnson is to walk around the block and think about it.”

Well, Around the Block has learned that apparently Ron Johnson has done a lot of walking “around the block,” not just thinking, but writing.

In his forthcoming book, “Profiles in Uncourage,” Johnson will reveal the truths about many decorated American war heroes, debunking their heroism wherever it was “entirely possible”

In a service to our readers, Around the Block was able to get some pre-publication excerpts of Johnson’s book:

• U.S. Army Sgt Alvin York, WWI: “York was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross as a pacifist? Pacifists can’t be real heroes. If it wasn’t for Gary Cooper playing him in a fake biopic, no one would have heard of York.”
• U.S. Army Lt. Audie Murphy, WWII: “Murphy received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. Really? The rumor was that he was gay. And then he went on to star as himself in a biopic. Not a hero. Just part of that Hollywood elite.”
• U.S. Navy Cmdr. David McCampbell, WWII: “Campbell won the Medal of Honor for shooting shot down nine Japanese planes in 95 minutes? Didn’t even reach the standard for the award – 10 planes in 90 minutes! What were they thinking?”
• U.S. Army Lt. Eddie Rickenbacker, WWI: “He was awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking a formation of five German planes and downing two of them…but he let the other three escape? That’s a hero?”
• U.S. Navy RADM James B. Stockdale, Vietnam: “Stockdale won the Medal of Honor for spending eight years in a Vietnamese POW camp.” (See John McCain)
• U.S. Army Gen Jimmy Doolittle, WWII: “How could he have received the Medal of Honor? He was only 5’6”. American heroes are tall, like John Wayne and Donald Trump.”
• U.S. Navy LtCmdr. John C. McCloy*, Boxer Rebellion; Battle of Veracruz: “The what rebellion? Battle of what? They actually gave medals for wars no one’s ever heard of?”
  • *Full disclosure: I served on USS McCloy, DE-1038, named for John C. McCloy.
• U.S. Navy LtCmdr. John McCain, Vietnam: “Yes, I know McCain was shot down over Hanoi and was imprisoned and tortured in the Hanoi Hilton for 5-1/2 years and he won the Silver Star, two Legion of Merits, Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Star Medals, two Purple Hearts, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and the Prisoner of War Medal. But, so what? As my real hero, Donald J. Trump said, ‘He was captured. Does being captured make you a hero? I don’t know. I’m not sure. I like people that weren’t captured.’”

The book is due out in January and will reportedly have a cover blurb from Donald Trump: “It’s over three pages so I didn’t read it. No time. Too busy making America great again after O’s disaster. I’m a big fan of Ron Johnson. I know he’s a big supporter of mine. So I’m sure it’s a great book. In fact, people tell me it’s maybe the best book…fantastically, terrific!!!