How solid is Jeb Bush’s position on immigration? So very solid that one line of Trump’s criticism was all it took to crush it.
In Tuesday night’s debate, Jeb’s blunder was attempting to defend his immigration policy in a forum where he could be contradicted. I wonder if his handlers now wish he hadn’t.
Seriously, though, it’s not like we could have expected something more. Jeb’s positions, his answers, his objections, they are all steeped in that patented RINO “Can’t Do” attitude.
The smart play would have been to argue from carefully considered positions of the categorical right thing to do, based on sound ethical reasoning. “My position would be the best solution in light of…” national interests, or public interest, or some other basis.
In the case of complicated decisions with mixed results, argue which is the best option going forward, explaining what benefits outweigh which risks.
Did he do any of those things? No. Because RINOs never do. Owing perhaps to their carefully cultivated culture of failure, they build out policy from that strong starting position of surrendering to the opposite ideal. Isn’t that what they’ve done through Obama’s entire administration? Well, that’s what Jeb did here. I’ll prove it.
What compelling virtue did Jeb build his immigration argument on?
Deportation is “just not possible” and “is not embracing American values. And it would tear communities apart. And it would send a signal that we’re not the kind of country that I know America is.”
That’s not leadership. That’s pragmatism founded on fear and compromise. It’s reminiscent of that old quip about a secondhand French rifle, “dropped once, never fired”.
News flash, Jeb: this is why RINOs lose. “We can’t do it because it’s hard.” (Really, Jeb? Well, so is living in a nation where 121 murders have been attributed to illegal immigrants Obama’s DHS has released from prison.)
What is implicit in Jeb’s statement? He is saying that “American values” do not include honoring American laws. He is “signaling” that people who have neither the right to vote, nor legal standing to live here can overwhelm and force the hand of government agents (elected or otherwise).
He is saying crowds of people can demand that the government break its own laws, whether they were sworn to uphold them or not.
And how did Trump respond? Exactly the way someone who values immigrants OUGHT to answer:
“We have millions of people on[sic] line trying to come into this country; very, very unfair to people who want to come into our country legally.”
Many honest immigrants, trying to bring skills and a real desire to work within the American culture, and willing to adapt to the American way of life are told “no” by immigration officials.
How fair is it to the honest immigrants, if those taking their place are doing so by explicitly rejecting the American rule of law, the American immigration system, and the American way of life.
Tell me more, Jeb, about how your way is “more American”.
