FLAK FOR DONALD – AT 12:31 P.M. ET:   Donald Trump's plan to put on a rally tonight to benefit wounded veterans, competing directly with the Fox-hosted Republican debate, isn't getting universal applause.  It's being reported that some veterans' groups want nothing to do with a political feud.  From Fox: 

The head of an Iraq and Afghanistan veterans group says they will decline donations from the fundraising event Donald Trump plans to hold Thursday night as he sits out the Republican primary debate.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America founder Paul Rieckhoff said on Twitter Wednesday that his group had not heard from the Trump campaign and did not know which organizations would be involved in the veterans event.

He then tweeted:

If offered, @IAVA will decline donations from Trump's event. We need strong policies from candidates, not to be used for political stunts.

Rieckhoff’s criticism wasn’t reserved only for Trump. He had a similar message for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz after a super PAC supporting the presidential candidate offered to donate $1.5 million to veterans if Trump accepts a one-on-one debate challenge:

Now it's Cruz yanking vets into the nastiness of the presidential fights before Iowa. This is not what vets need.

COMMENT:  Applause.   Many veterans need serious help and sound policies.  They should not be used as political props.  This whole episode involving tonight's debate has cheapened our politics even further.

January 28, 2016