Veterans’ Group Responds To Sarah Palin, Says President Obama Not To Blame For Her Son’s PTSD

Folks who expected Sarah Palin to be a lighting rod for controversy during the present election cycle aren’t likely to be disappointed. The former Alaska governor raised eyebrows on Tuesday with a lengthy, seemingly off-the-cuff endorsement speech for GOP frontrunner in Alaska and then followed up with a speaking engagement on Wednesday in which she seemed to blame President Obama for her son’s affliction with post traumatic stress disorder. Palin’s son Track was diagnosed with the condition after serving with the United States Army in Iraq.

“I can talk personally about this, I guess it’s kind of the elephant in the room,” Sarah Palin said during a speech in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “My son like so many others, they come back a bit different, they come back hardened, they come back wondering if there is that respect for what it is that their fellow soldiers and airmen and every other member of the military so sacrificially have given to this country. And that starts from the top.”

As noted by The Inquisitr, Sarah Palin did not specifically touch upon her son’s recent arrest for domestic violence. Track Palin was arrested on January 18 for allegedly punching his girlfriend in the face. Police advised he was under the influence and armed with an AR-15 rifle at the time.

During her Tulsa speech, Palin did go on to imply that President Obama and his administration’s policies fuel disrespect for veterans, suggesting this worsens the impact of PTSD. She encouraged her audience to vote for Donald Trump, saying he would “treat our troops better than illegal immigrants,” according to Real Clear Politics.

Although the purported link between her son’s PTSD and the actions of President Obama appear as something of a non sequitur to many, her Tulsa speech did not feature as many “head scratcher” quotes as Palin’s Trump endorsement speech. The New York Times compiled a list of some of the more unusual terms and statements uttered by Palin on Tuesday, including her coining of the apparent portmanteau “squirmishes.”

As reported by NBC News, a prominent veteran’s group soon objected to Palin’s characterization of the nature and causes of PTSD.

“It’s not President Obama’s fault that Sarah Palin’s son has PTSD,” said Paul Rieckhoff, of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). “PTSD is a very serious problem, a complicated mental health injury and I would be extremely reluctant to blame any one person in particular.”

IAVA is the largest the largest organization for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars according to a report by 1 to 1 Media. The nonpartisan endeavor assists combat veterans in the transition back to civilian life.

Rieckhoff also noted that Donald Trump’s campaign has been less than specific regarding what a Trump presidency would do to assist veterans. He urged Palin to discuss PTSD with the Republican candidate and encouraged her to “resist the urge to politicize” the disorder.

Hullaballoo aside, Donald Trump is beaming with enthusiasm and optimism following the endorsement by Sarah Palin. The real estate mogul has maintained his lead in the key state of Iowa over the course of recent weeks despite a robust challenge by Senator Ted Cruz. While Cruz and Palin have been on warm and friendly terms for many years, Palin’s decision to endorse Donald Trump is seen by many pundits as a significant blow to the Texas senator’s momentum. For her part, Sarah Palin has indicated she will be joining Donald Trump on the campaign trail for the foreseeable future, providing amble opportunity for further offbeat quotes and conversations.

[Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images]