system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why does the press respond so differently to Trump saying that McCain was not a hero than Bush saying the same thing about Kerry?
gpt
Two things: 

1) Your suggestion probably contributes. People expect Trump to say ridiculous and offensive things. Media loves playing to expectations because people like having their personal biases confirmed.

2) It probably helped that Bush and Kerry were in opposing parties. There is a built in opposition to Trumps comments because he is attacking "his own". Bush was attacking "the bad guy". Further, the 2004 presidential election was particularly vitriolic. People were more receptive to that kind of political rhetoric.