Check out this letter then-Governor Jeb Bush wrote to the swiftboaters in 2005

From Daily Kos:

Who could forget the vicious campaign Republicans waged against John Kerry for his service in Vietnam? Secretary of State John Kerry received not one, not two, but three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star during his combat time in Vietnam. Nevertheless, Republicans mocked and belittled his military service throughout the campaign. It was a key feature of the 2004 Republican National Convention, when delegates and supporters wore cutesy purple bandages in an effort to degrade the Purple Hearts Kerry was awarded.

More here.

What Trump said about McCain is totally lame, of course. Say what you want about his politics: the Senator from Arizona is DEFINITELY a war hero, and deserves our respect, if only for that. Of course, Secretary of State John Kerry is also a war hero, and, a little over a decade ago, when he was running for president as the Democratic nominee, THE ENTIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY went totally to town on his record of distinguished service.

So I call bullshit on all these crocodile tears being shed about how wrong it was for the Donald to go there.

Republicans don't really care about this shit. I mean, it could be freaking Sergeant York, Sergeant Rock, Sergeant Fury, Audie Murphy, whatever, and his war record would only count in his favor if he was a conservative. There's a lot of things regarding Trump about which Republicans can be honestly angry. Trashing John McCain is not one of them.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$