Anti-Trump Veterans Group Says Dan Crenshaw “Hid” From Their Questions, but Video Tells Different Story

An anti-Trump veterans group called “Common Defense” posted video to their Twitter account Thursday of two men described as combat veterans aggressively following Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) to an elevator while questioning his support for President Trump.

The group, which bills itself as “the country’s only veteran-led grassroots organization committed to engaging, training and mobilizing veterans to elect accountable leaders and promote progressive values in 2020 and beyond”, is in favor of impeaching the President. Crenshaw, a wounded war veteran who served multiple tours in Afghanistan, is not.

In a teaser they published along with the video, the group states “GOP Rep @DanCrenshawTX hid in an elevator today when combat vets confronted him about his support for Donald Trump.” Watch the 2+ minute video on Twitter – https://twitter.com/commondefense/status/1174836424631300098

GOP Rep @DanCrenshawTX hid in an elevator today when combat vets confronted him about his support for Donald Trump.

We’re standing up for our democracy and holding Trump’s cronies accountable. Join us: https://t.co/1pTmoYMH1d pic.twitter.com/5VKiPN8mpa

— Common Defense (@commondefense) September 20, 2019

“[We have confirmed] the identities of the men as U.S. Army veterans Jason Hurd, 40, and Alan Pitts, 36, a Purple Heart recipient,” Newsweek reported.

It’s not my place to get in the middle of a “veteran vs. veteran” battle, but this video angered me for a number of reasons:

1) Crenshaw did not “hide” from anyone. The video clearly shows attempts by Crenshaw, who maintained his composure, to engage in conversation within 20 seconds of the encounter starting.

Once they made it to the elevator, Crenshaw pointed out it was a “members only” elevator. There’s a reason it’s stipulated that way for members of Congress and their staff that pretty much everyone should understand (safety and security, hello?). It had nothing to do with “hiding.”

2) As Crenshaw pointed out, they were there to make a video, not to have a dialogue. This was to promote their group, not to have a substantive back and forth. Crenshaw tried a number of times to respond to what was being said but the guy stalking him just continued to talk over him, actually questioning his commitment to his country.

3) At one point, the guy on Crenshaw’s heels says “you need to get your courage back, man.” He said this to a Navy SEAL who lost his eye in combat, and who then decided to continue to serve his country once he came home by running for Congress. I don’t think he needs a lecture on courage from anyone.

I asked people on my Twitter feed to give me their takes on what happened, and was especially interested in takes from military veterans. Here are some of the responses:

Every veteran deserves respect for signing up but not every veteran is respectible. Crenshaw handled himself well and I’m not surprised the ambush did not go the way they expected it to. That is this veteran’s take.

— poor dude (@wes_aka) September 20, 2019

I’m not a fan of anyone who leverages their vet status to strengthen their stance. Just like I don’t like when people use their age, ethnicity, sex, or other characteristic.

If you have a strong point, it doesn’t need a prop.

— Kyzar Says So (@skyzarbiker) September 20, 2019

U.S.M.C. veteran here….This guy does not represent the majority of veterans. First of all he is very whiney, and clearly was just interested in making a video instead of having a conversation. A Complete political stunt and Dan called it out!

— Anthony Barnhart (@AJBarnhart) September 20, 2019

The guy was being intentionally confrontational. He did not go there to “have a conversation”
He was trying to make a video. He said and did things that appeared to try to provoke a physical confrontation. Like insulting Crenshaw’s courage in public.

— Keith Roberts (@Roberts175) September 20, 2019

I actually tweeted about this last night! That guy was pretty whiny for a combat veteran. Not disputing his career, but he certainly doesn’t speak for me as a veteran. I thought Rep. Crenshaw was on point.

— Angelina ZoomaZooma (@Thumbelina80) September 20, 2019

Another “playing to the camera” moment. Dan knew that. He was willing to have a conversation. They wanted a viral video.

— Lainey (@lainey3416) September 20, 2019

Crenshaw is a combat veteran himself, and even if he weren’t, he would owe political allegiance to people who are. What’s more, ambushing someone in a hallway and yelling at them is hardly the way to create political change.

— Evan (@DukeMaximum) September 20, 2019

(Duke confirmed with me that he actually meant to say Crenshaw “would not owe political allegiance” to combat veterans even if he wasn’t one himself.)

Sadly, instead of doing actual journalism on this story, Newsweek decided to write about it using the very same biased take Common Defense gave:

2/3 – @Newsweek‘s @christinaxzhao borrows @commondefense‘s take in her piece on the Dan Crenshaw elevator incident. “unsuccessfully tried to lose two combat veterans” – #Journalism pic.twitter.com/BeLOmdnpGE

— Sister Toldjah (@sistertoldjah) September 20, 2019

3/3 – @Newsweek‘s @christinaxzhao borrows @commondefense‘s take in her piece on the Dan Crenshaw elevator incident. “Dan Crenshaw attempted to evade veterans who confronted him … ” – #Journalism pic.twitter.com/Jb1LNZEyP9

— Sister Toldjah (@sistertoldjah) September 20, 2019

“Crenshaw, who had largely ignored the veteran …” -are you seroius, @christinaxzhao piece? Did you even watch the video? Crenshaw attempted to speak numerous times but the veterans who ambushed him didn’t give him a chance. You gotta be kidding me with your take on this story.

— Sister Toldjah (@sistertoldjah) September 20, 2019

Apologies for the typos in that last tweet. By that point I was really annoyed, not just with how Common Defense had falsely portrayed what happened, but with Newsweek treating the group’s spin as the gospel truth.

This is clearly a case of a blockbuster story not coming anywhere close to living up to the hype. The actual footage shows a far different story than how both Common Defense and Newsweek spun it. In reality, Crenshaw handled what happened in a much classier way than how others in a similar position would have.

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— Based in North Carolina, Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 15+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter. –

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