Turtle-man, Ryan defend Khans

"Turtle-man" McConnell, Ryan defend Khans amid Trump remarks 

By Seung Min Kim

Senate Majority Leader Mitch "the Turtle" McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan on Sunday waded into the controversy surrounding Donald Trump and his dismissive comments toward a Muslim-American couple whose son was killed in combat during the Iraq War.

Without mentioning the GOP nominee's name, McConnell subtly rebuked Trump's comments directed to Khizr Khan — who delivered a memorable speech condemning Trump's rhetoric toward Muslims on Thursday evening at the Democratic National Convention — and his wife, Ghazala.

But the Kentucky Republican declined to explicitly disavow the comments from Trump, who sparked yet another firestorm when he implied Ghazala Khan had stayed silent during the DNC speech because of her Muslim faith and accused Khizr Khan of having "no right" to critique Trump over his knowledge of the Constitution.

"Captain Khan was an American hero, and like all Americans, I’m grateful for the sacrifices that selfless young men like Capt. Khan and their families have made in the war on terror," McConnell said in a statement Sunday. "All Americans should value the patriotic service of the patriots who volunteer to selflessly defend us in the armed services."

In his own statement, Ryan also declined to name Trump.

"Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military, and made the ultimate sacrifice," Ryan said Sunday afternoon. "Captain Khan was one such brave example. His sacrifice — and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan —should always be honored. Period.”

But Democrats made it clear the tepid repudiations weren't enough. In a blistering statement Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) ripped the two Republican leaders, calling anything short of withdrawing their endorsements of Trump "cowardice."

Reid invoked McConnell's swift disavowal of former Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) in 2012, whose "legitimate rape" remarks during his candidacy for the U.S. Senate were widely condemned by top Republicans — and Reid said McConnell should be willing to do the same for Trump.

“This shouldn’t be hard," Reid said. "Donald Trump is a sexist and racist man who insults Gold Star parents, stokes fear of Muslims and sows hatred of Latinos. He should not be president and Republican leaders have a moral responsibility to say so."

Khizr Khan, an attorney from Charlottesville, Virginia, delivering a stirring and emotional speech in Philadelphia as he discussed his son, Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in 2004 while serving in Iraq. During his DNC remarks, Khan chastised Trump over his proposal to bar Muslims from entering the United States, adding: "You have sacrificed nothing, and no one."

In subsequent interviews, Khizr Khan has also singled out McConnell and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for backing Trump and has urged the two powerful Washington Republicans to withdraw their support for the nominee.

McConnell made no indication that he would do so in his Sunday statement, and neither did Ryan. But both Republicans also stressed that they do not support Trump's proposed ban on Muslim immigrants coming into the United States.

"As I have long made clear, I agree with the Khans and families across the country that a travel ban on all members of a religion is simply contrary to American values," McConnell said.

Added Ryan: “America's greatness is built on the principles of liberty and preserved by the men and women who wear the uniform to defend it. As I have said on numerous occasions, a religious test for entering our country is not reflective of these fundamental values. I reject it."