Thread: Trump camp slams media over 'out-of-context' frenzy on PTSD remarks

Trump camp slams media over 'out-of-context' frenzy on PTSD remarks

Published October 04, 2016 FoxNews.com

The Donald Trump campaign is firing back at the media over a slew of “out-of-context” reports and headlines asserting the Republican nominee took a swipe at veterans suffering from PTSD by suggesting they aren’t “strong” and “can’t handle” the stress of war.

Trump technically said those words during remarks to veterans in Herndon, Va., on Monday. But he did so while addressing how to help veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and prevent military suicides.

"When you talk about the mental health problems, when people come back from war and combat, and they see things that maybe a lot of the folks in this room have seen many times over – and you're strong and you can handle it – but a lot of people can't handle it,” Trump said Monday.

He went on to say the country needs more mental health help for veterans and vowed to launch a “very robust” effort.

Soon after, BuzzFeed ran a headline that said: “Trump Suggests That Soldiers With PTSD Aren’t ‘Strong.’”

Many other outlets followed suit. The New York Daily News declared: “Donald Trump sparks outrage by suggesting vets with PTSD aren’t ‘strong’ and ‘can’t handle it.’”

The newspaper reported that, “Some veterans are furious at draft-dodging Donald Trump for suggesting soldiers who develop post-traumatic stress disorder aren't ‘strong’ and ‘can't handle it,’ seeing it as the latest in a string of insults toward their military service.”

A Huffington Post column was headlined: “Donald Trump’s Comments On Veteran Suicide Are Exactly Why There’s PTSD Stigma.” The story described it as an “abhorrent comment about mental health” from the GOP nominee.

Some articles cited veterans and veterans’ groups concerned about the tenor of Trump’s remarks, amid comparisons to his infamous and widely criticized dig last year at Sen. John McCain’s time as a prisoner of war.

But others jumped to Trump’s defense, saying his remarks here clearly were taken out of context. The campaign circulated a statement from the Marine staff sergeant who originally asked Trump the question about PTSD.

“I think it’s sickening that anyone would twist Mr. Trump’s comments to me in order to pursue a political agenda,” Chad Robichaux, founder of Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs in California, said in the statement. “I took his comments to be thoughtful and understanding of the struggles many veterans have, and I believe he is committed to helping them.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, an outspoken Trump booster, said “the media continues to operate as the propaganda arm of Hillary Clinton as they took Mr. Trump's words out of context in order to deceive voters and veterans -- an appalling act that shows they are willing to go to any length to carry water for their candidate of choice.”

He argued Trump was merely “highlighting the challenges veterans face when returning home after serving their country.”

Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Joe Davis also put out a brief statement that seemed to agree with Trump’s premise: "It is true that not everyone can handle traumatic events, be it from war, bad car accidents, violent crime or even surviving a hurricane. Regarding veterans, we need to treat those who need help and research how two people experiencing the same time and place can be impacted so differently."

That didn’t stop Vice President Biden from slamming Trump on CNN.

Speaking Tuesday, Biden called Trump “out of touch” and said: “His ignorance is so profound."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016...d-remarks.html

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Definition

PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.

It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger.

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topi...sd/index.shtml

The ignorance is not with Trump, it's with the CORRUPT MEDIA and CLINTON CAMPAIGN.

PTSD is from fear of dangerous and scary experiences that causes in some people their brains to readjust in a way to defend themselves against or run from the threat.

Like Trump says, if you're not willing or able to discuss a problem, you're not going to solve it.

Trump was telling the truth, not to demean Veterans suffering from PTSD, but to help them, which he wants to do, can do and will do if he's elected President of the United States.

If Veterans want better treatment for themselves, less war for others, and more prosperous secure lives, then they will get all of that in a Trump Presidency.

They already know what they got with Obama, Biden and Clinton.