Donald Trump, Jr.,Twofer
Just in case anyone was wondering whether the apple really does fall close to the tree...
1) Donald Trump Jr. makes 'gas chamber' reference in criticizing media
Donald Trump Jr. made a reference to "warming up the gas chamber" while complaining about how the treatment his father has received by the political press compares to coverage of Hillary Clinton.
"The media has been her number one surrogate in this. Without the media, this wouldn't even be a contest. But the media has built her up. They've let her slide on every indiscrepancy, on every lie, on every DNC game trying to get Bernie Sanders out of the thing," Trump Jr. told Philadelphia-based conservative talk radio host Chris Stigall on Wednesday.
"I mean, if Republicans were doing that, they'd be warming up the gas chamber right now. It's a very different system -- there's nothing fair about it," Trump Jr. added.
Trump Jr. also said that as a Republican running as an outsider, "every day, everyone's throwing everything they could possibly throw at him."
Gas chambers were used by Nazis in the Holocaust -- the genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II.
Trump's campaign denied that Trump Jr. was referring to the Holocaust, saying he meant the "gas chamber" used in capital punishment.
Trump's campaign denied that Trump Jr. was referring to the Holocaust, saying he meant the "gas chamber" used in capital punishment.
"The liberal, dishonest media is so quick to attack one of the Trumps that they never let the truth get in the way of a good smear," Trump senior communications adviser Jason Miller said in an emailed statement. "Don Jr. was clearly referring to capital punishment to make the case that the media continues to take words out of context in order to serve as the propaganda arm of the Hillary Clinton campaign -- something that's only gotten worse as Trump's poll numbers have improved."
Evan McMullin, an independent presidential candidate running as a conservative alternative to Trump, lambasted Trump Jr.'s remark on Twitter, saying, "An unsurprising Nazi reference from the 'alt-right' movement's presidential campaign. This is the real Trump."
. @DonaldJTrumpJr: Media would be "warming up the gas chamber right now" if Trump was caught lying https://t.co/8iPYrHF8yw
- Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) September 15, 2016
The Anti-Defamation League, a prominent Jewish advocacy organization, on Twitter called on Trump Jr. to apologize.
"Trivialization of the Holocaust and gas chambers is NEVER okay," the group said in one tweet, directed at Trump Jr.
"We hope you understand the sensitivity and hurt of making Holocaust jokes. We hope you retract," it followed up in another.
. @DonaldJTrumpJr: Trivialization of the Holocaust and gas chambers is NEVER okay. https://t.co/jL2ZC9Z8pH
- ADL (@ADL_National) September 15, 2016
. @DonaldJTrumpJr: We hope you understand the sensitivity and hurt of making Holocaust jokes. We hope you retract.https://t.co/jL2ZC9Z8pH
- ADL (@ADL_National) September 15, 2016
"It's factually inaccurate, but the particular wording is extremely insensitive, divisive and probably pretty consistent with the type of rhetoric he heard around the house growing up. I think it is never acceptable to use language like that," Podesta said during a press call.
Trump Jr.'s comments came after he in another interview dropped his father's campaign's argument that he hasn't released his tax returns because of ongoing IRS audits -- instead saying those returns would distract from his father's message.
"Because he's got a 12,000-page tax return that would create ... financial auditors out of every person in the country asking questions that would detract from (his father's) main message," Trump, Jr. told the Tribune-Review in Pennsylvania in a piece published Wednesday.
Source: CNN
2) Trump son: Dad can't release tax returns because then everyone will see them."
For months, the official talking point of the Trump campaign has been that Donald Trump would be happy to release his tax returns but cannot because they are under audit.
This explanation is disingenuous for a couple of different reasons. First, being subject to an audit does not prevent Trump from releasing his tax returns. (From a legal perspective, it makes it less risky.) Second, most of Trump’s tax returns are not under audit. We know this because the Trump campaign released a letter confirming that all of his tax returns from 2008 and earlier are not under audit.
Still, this is the official explanation. His running mate Mike Pence said it. His campaign manager said it. Trump himself has said it repeatedly.
In January, Trump described his tax returns as “all approved and very beautiful” and pledged to release them soon without even mentioning the audit.
But in an interview with the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review published on Wednesday night, Donald Trump Jr. revealed a completely different - and presumably more accurate - explanation.
Trump Jr. didn’t mention the audit but said that his father would not release his tax returns during the election because it would create a “distraction” and people would have a lot of “questions.”
When asked why his father has not released his tax returns as presidential candidates have traditionally done, Trump Jr. said, “Because he’s got a 12,000-page tax return that would create … financial auditors out of every person in the country asking questions that would detract from (his father’s) main message.”
The fact that Trump’s tax returns would be a subject of discussion is precisely why they should be released. Among other things, his tax returns would provide a clearer picture of the many conflicts between a Trump administration and his business interests.
Every major presidential candidate for the last 40 years, except Trump, has released their tax returns.
Arguably, Trump’s returns are the most consequential. Most candidates have long careers in government, making their tax returns quite simple since government service largely precludes complex financial entanglements. Trump, however, has a been involved in intricate financial dealings for decades.
His returns would shed light on the true extent of his charitable giving, whether he took aggressive measures to avoid paying tax and provide a more accurate picture of his real income.
These are questions, according to Donald Trump Jr., that he doesn’t want answered during the campaign.
Source: ThinkProgress
The first one is gross; the second one is just plain hilarious! It's so great when liars accidentally tell the truth that they are trying to hide. Nice going, Donny boy. I'm sure Daddy is SO proud of you right now, lolol!
Note: The schadenfreude tag is because I just love seeing this obnoxiously entitled spoiled brat screw up royally!
1) Donald Trump Jr. makes 'gas chamber' reference in criticizing media
Donald Trump Jr. made a reference to "warming up the gas chamber" while complaining about how the treatment his father has received by the political press compares to coverage of Hillary Clinton.
"The media has been her number one surrogate in this. Without the media, this wouldn't even be a contest. But the media has built her up. They've let her slide on every indiscrepancy, on every lie, on every DNC game trying to get Bernie Sanders out of the thing," Trump Jr. told Philadelphia-based conservative talk radio host Chris Stigall on Wednesday.
"I mean, if Republicans were doing that, they'd be warming up the gas chamber right now. It's a very different system -- there's nothing fair about it," Trump Jr. added.
Trump Jr. also said that as a Republican running as an outsider, "every day, everyone's throwing everything they could possibly throw at him."
Gas chambers were used by Nazis in the Holocaust -- the genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II.
Trump's campaign denied that Trump Jr. was referring to the Holocaust, saying he meant the "gas chamber" used in capital punishment.
Trump's campaign denied that Trump Jr. was referring to the Holocaust, saying he meant the "gas chamber" used in capital punishment.
"The liberal, dishonest media is so quick to attack one of the Trumps that they never let the truth get in the way of a good smear," Trump senior communications adviser Jason Miller said in an emailed statement. "Don Jr. was clearly referring to capital punishment to make the case that the media continues to take words out of context in order to serve as the propaganda arm of the Hillary Clinton campaign -- something that's only gotten worse as Trump's poll numbers have improved."
Evan McMullin, an independent presidential candidate running as a conservative alternative to Trump, lambasted Trump Jr.'s remark on Twitter, saying, "An unsurprising Nazi reference from the 'alt-right' movement's presidential campaign. This is the real Trump."
. @DonaldJTrumpJr: Media would be "warming up the gas chamber right now" if Trump was caught lying https://t.co/8iPYrHF8yw
- Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) September 15, 2016
The Anti-Defamation League, a prominent Jewish advocacy organization, on Twitter called on Trump Jr. to apologize.
"Trivialization of the Holocaust and gas chambers is NEVER okay," the group said in one tweet, directed at Trump Jr.
"We hope you understand the sensitivity and hurt of making Holocaust jokes. We hope you retract," it followed up in another.
. @DonaldJTrumpJr: Trivialization of the Holocaust and gas chambers is NEVER okay. https://t.co/jL2ZC9Z8pH
- ADL (@ADL_National) September 15, 2016
. @DonaldJTrumpJr: We hope you understand the sensitivity and hurt of making Holocaust jokes. We hope you retract.https://t.co/jL2ZC9Z8pH
- ADL (@ADL_National) September 15, 2016
"It's factually inaccurate, but the particular wording is extremely insensitive, divisive and probably pretty consistent with the type of rhetoric he heard around the house growing up. I think it is never acceptable to use language like that," Podesta said during a press call.
Trump Jr.'s comments came after he in another interview dropped his father's campaign's argument that he hasn't released his tax returns because of ongoing IRS audits -- instead saying those returns would distract from his father's message.
"Because he's got a 12,000-page tax return that would create ... financial auditors out of every person in the country asking questions that would detract from (his father's) main message," Trump, Jr. told the Tribune-Review in Pennsylvania in a piece published Wednesday.
Source: CNN
2) Trump son: Dad can't release tax returns because then everyone will see them."
For months, the official talking point of the Trump campaign has been that Donald Trump would be happy to release his tax returns but cannot because they are under audit.
This explanation is disingenuous for a couple of different reasons. First, being subject to an audit does not prevent Trump from releasing his tax returns. (From a legal perspective, it makes it less risky.) Second, most of Trump’s tax returns are not under audit. We know this because the Trump campaign released a letter confirming that all of his tax returns from 2008 and earlier are not under audit.
Still, this is the official explanation. His running mate Mike Pence said it. His campaign manager said it. Trump himself has said it repeatedly.
In January, Trump described his tax returns as “all approved and very beautiful” and pledged to release them soon without even mentioning the audit.
But in an interview with the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review published on Wednesday night, Donald Trump Jr. revealed a completely different - and presumably more accurate - explanation.
Trump Jr. didn’t mention the audit but said that his father would not release his tax returns during the election because it would create a “distraction” and people would have a lot of “questions.”
When asked why his father has not released his tax returns as presidential candidates have traditionally done, Trump Jr. said, “Because he’s got a 12,000-page tax return that would create … financial auditors out of every person in the country asking questions that would detract from (his father’s) main message.”
The fact that Trump’s tax returns would be a subject of discussion is precisely why they should be released. Among other things, his tax returns would provide a clearer picture of the many conflicts between a Trump administration and his business interests.
Every major presidential candidate for the last 40 years, except Trump, has released their tax returns.
Arguably, Trump’s returns are the most consequential. Most candidates have long careers in government, making their tax returns quite simple since government service largely precludes complex financial entanglements. Trump, however, has a been involved in intricate financial dealings for decades.
His returns would shed light on the true extent of his charitable giving, whether he took aggressive measures to avoid paying tax and provide a more accurate picture of his real income.
These are questions, according to Donald Trump Jr., that he doesn’t want answered during the campaign.
Source: ThinkProgress
The first one is gross; the second one is just plain hilarious! It's so great when liars accidentally tell the truth that they are trying to hide. Nice going, Donny boy. I'm sure Daddy is SO proud of you right now, lolol!
Note: The schadenfreude tag is because I just love seeing this obnoxiously entitled spoiled brat screw up royally!