Conservatives smear Purple Heart recipient who raised concerns about Trump's Ukraine call

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman earned a Purple Heart in Iraq when a roadside bomb detonated and wounded him on one of his multiple tours of service — making him a war hero.

But now, top Republican defenders of Donald Trump are engaged in a shameful smear campaign against Vindman, questioning his loyalty after Vindman testified that Trump was endangering national security with his corrupt demands on the Ukrainian president.

Former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), who resigned his seat earlier this year and cashed in on a paid CNN contributor gig, questioned whether Vindman had more loyalty to Ukraine than the United States.

“We all have an affinity to our homeland where we came from,” Duffy said of Vindman, who came to the United States at the age of 3 and continues to serve in the United States military.

“He has an affinity for the Ukraine,” Duffy added.

This is clearly the attack line Republican Trump defenders are circulating, as it originated Monday night on Fox News and continued Tuesday morning.

Fox News anchor and noted white supremacist Laura Ingraham also questioned Vindman’s loyalty on her show Monday night.

“Fox & Friends” host Brian Kilmeade also questioned Vindman’s loyalty on Tuesday’s show, saying Vindman, “is from the Soviet Union, he emigrated here, and has an affinity to the Ukrainian people.”

The morning after Laura Ingraham suggested Alexander Vindman is a hostile double agent, Brian Kilmeade simply notes that Vindman "is from the Soviet Union, he emigrated here, and has an affinity to the Ukrainian people." pic.twitter.com/0TOKeWQP6j

— Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) October 29, 2019

Of course, all Vindman was doing was ensuring that Trump was adhering to policy the United States Congress passed.

Trump himself attacked Vindman, calling him a “never Trumper” in a Tuesday morning tweet. Trump has called so-called never Trumpers “human scum.”

In the past, Republicans have stood by as Trump went after the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), as well as the father of the late Humayun Khan, who died while serving in Iraq.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.