Republicans have been looking for someone to vanquish Donald Trump ever since he entered the GOP field and gutted their "deep bench" of presidential candidates. Democrats have sought a way to enlist more Americans against the menace Donald Trump represents. Now the two parties finally have their answer: Khizr and Ghazala Khan.
It is true that the couple made their partisanship known by first appearing at the Democratic convention, but their status as the grieving parents of a fallen soldier who sacrificed himself for his unit make them unassailable spokespeople for patriotism. And after they challenged Trump's reading of the U.S. Constitution and he responded by trivializing their loss (he's "made a lot of sacrifices" too) and smearing their Muslim faith (maybe Mrs. Khan “wasn't allowed” to speak), politicians are finally being called to follow the lead of these two ordinary Americans who are deeply devoted to their son, deeply devoted to their faith, and deeply devoted to their country.
Mrs. Khan's weekend op-ed in the Washington Post is now one of the most viewed op-eds ever run at the paper, according to the Post's Ruth Marcus. Khan wrote:
Walking onto the convention stage, with a huge picture of my son behind me, I could hardly control myself. What mother could? Donald Trump has children whom he loves. Does he really need to wonder why I did not speak?
On Monday, Khizr Khan told CNN it was time for the GOP to take a stand. "We had patiently been subjected to the maligning of this candidate for a whole year. Enough is enough,” he said, apologizing for being emotional. “Every decent Republican has stood up and rebuked his behavior, yet no one has stood up and said, 'Enough. Stop it. You will not be our candidate.'"
Trump's jaw-dropping series of deplorable responses, including his charge that he had been "viciously attacked" by the Khans, has finally given Democrats license to name what's ailing the GOP nominee: He's mentally unstable. That may not be news to many of us. But as America tuned into this quarrel between a temperamental billionaire and two grieving parents who have exhibited enormous grace, Trump was stripped down to his essence: He's an unflagging narcissist, blind to the dignity of others.
Finally, President Obama could make a direct prognosis: "I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president."
Finally, President Obama, echoing the words of Khan himself, could call on Republicans to put their country first.
“There has to be a point at which you say, this is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party."
That would be the right thing to do. That would be the patriotic thing to do. Might it be a sacrifice? Sure. It remains to be seen who among them can continue to praise the Khans for their unfathomable sacrifice without being willing to make those of their own.