Donald Trump’s Trolls Unleash Hell on Veterans

Donald Trump’s Trolls Unleash Hell on Veterans
The Daily Beast
Tim Mak
February 16, 2016

Veterans who have passed on being the GOP frontrunner’s props have found themselves targeted by his legion of trolls.

Veterans groups who stood up to Donald Trump’s pandering to their ranks are now routinely bombarded with nasty messages from the mogul’s supporters, who want to punish them for daring to challenge their leader.

Paul Rieckhoff, the CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, learned this firsthand when he stood up to the Republican presidential frontrunner in late January, saying he would decline any donations from Trump’s charitable foundation if offered.

“We’ve gotten a flood of nasty attacks… many scary and threatening emails, [the] worst social media trolling I’ve ever seen,” Rieckhoff told The Daily Beast. “Showing what happens when you simply say no. This is the climate he’s created with his followers.”

So when Rieckhoff said he didn’t want his organization to be used as a political prop, and pre-emptively declined any proceeds from Trump’s fundraiser, the businessman’s fans directed wave after wave of viciousness against IAVA and its CEO on Twitter and Facebook.

Rieckhoff was called a “fucking scumbag” by one commenter, then told by another to “get off your ass and get the funding or get fired.” “Keep your mouth shut and take the money,” another Trump fan said. Added a tax-conscious individual: “I hope your asses get audited.”
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Linked from Opposing Views

Donald Trump’s Hotline For Veterans No Longer Accepting Calls
By Jordan Smith
February 16, 2016

A hotline set up by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in July 2015 is reportedly no longer taking calls.

Attempts to reach the number resulted in an automated voice message requesting the caller to send an email, The Blaze reported.

Trump announced the creation of the hotline in the wake of a controversial exchange with Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, when the business mogul said the military veteran was not a hero.

“Mr. Trump has established a hotline (855-VETS-352) and email address (veterans@donaldtrump.com) for Veterans to share their stories about the need to reform our Veterans Administration,” a statement from the Trump campaign read at the time, according to Mediaite. “If he is elected President he will take care of these and all Veterans complaints very quickly and efficiently like a world-class businessman can do, but a politician has no clue.”

The automated message asked callers to use the email address because they “are working hard for our country’s veterans,” according to The Blaze.
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