Posted on 02/24/2018 5:24:25 PM PST by MarvinStinson
President Trump's speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference started out as a relatively tame performance touting signature accomplishments such as tax cuts and judicial nominations, but it took an ugly turn as he moved to the topic of immigration, broadly painting those who come here as a result of the lottery system as "horrendous."
The context was that Trump was lambasting Democrats for not agreeing to his terms as part of an immigration deal. Though they're willing to give him funding for the wall, he said, they won't budge on other issues, such as chain migration and ending the visa lottery.
Kali Uchis Breaks Down "After The Storm" Watch Full Screen to Skip Ads "Think of a lottery," Trump then said. "You have a country. They put names in. You think they're giving us their good people? Not too many of you people are going to be in the lottery." He then pointed out to the CPAC crowd and continued. "So we pick out people. Then they turn out to be horrendous. And we don't understand why."
Now, it's one thing to say, it would be preferable to decide immigration based on merit than by random chance, as Trump went on to argue. But it's another thing to speak of lottery winners as a group as bad people. Now, I'm getting some blowback from Trump supporters on Twitter, arguing that Trump was merely calling the lottery a horrendous system. Go back and reread what he said or watch it again. He was not referring to the lottery as horrendous. He wasn't even saying when you have a lottery, there's a risk that some people being let in won't be as deserving as others who happened to lose out, thus making a merit-based system superior.
He said, mockingly of other countries, "You think they're giving us their good people?" Then he said, "We pick out people. Then they turn out to be horrendous." Key point — not some of them turn out to commit crimes, but, "they" — broadly speaking — "turn out to be horrendous."
Also worth noting: those who believe the U.S. should draw a harder line on immigration have traditionally argued they are critical of illegal immigrants, who by their very presence in this country already broke the law. But Trump in this context is speaking about people who followed the legal process to enter this country. Yet he calls these people "horrendous."
To hammer his point home, Trump then repeated a ballad he has occasionally recited at rallies called, "The Snake." It tells the story of a "tender-hearted woman" who rescues a snake only to have the snake bite and kill her.
There was a great controversy last month over whether Trump, during a meeting with Democrats on immigration, referred to some places as "shithole" countries. But this isn't some private meeting where Trump's defenders can deny he said something. Trump's ugliness on Friday came in his public statements before a large conservative audience, that, sadly, cheered him on.
As noted previously, Trump's rhetoric on immigration is a stark contrast to Ronald Reagan, the man who for decades was the hero of CPAC-goers, routinely invoked by speakers to the point of parody.
"They came to build," Reagan said in 1980, speaking in front of the Statue of Liberty about immigrants' contributions to our country. He went on to say, "They brought with them courage, ambition and the values of family, neighborhood, work, peace, and freedom."
At the end of the ballad Trump performed, when the lady asks why the snake bit her, the snake responds, "Oh shut up, silly woman ... You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in." Indeed, everybody knew who Trump was when he was taken in, they are being reminded now, and his disgusting words were met with ravenous applause.
It's heartbreaking to witness the darkness that movement conservatism has descended into.
exactly
What do you think of Phillip, Marvin? I myself think Phillip is lower than pond scum.
I thought Washington Examiner was pro-Trump.
President Trump’s CPAC speech was tremendous!
The author complains about a very pro-America speech like a progressive.
So Phil, do you try to hire good people for the Examiner or do you just toss a lot of names in a box and have someone draw one at random????
Read what he writes.
I did read his words and this author is a Judas to all conservatives. You never answered my question. What do you think of this author?
I think you aren’t too swift.
Get lost.
The writer is totally anti-Trump. Does that describe you as well?
So you show up, spout off, and tell a member since 1998 to get lost?
You’re about a dick, Marv.
halfwit bumblegummer is a retard, so he never comments on the thread subject.
I told you to get lost.
Golly, you’re too clever for me Marv.
I read that speech. Do you have a problem with illegal aliens in the USA?
Told to get lost by a NeverTrumper like you. Imagine that. Maybe Kasich or Jeb Bush will run against Trump in a few years. That should make you “lost cause” types happy.
As I said, I don’t get the impression that you are very bright.
And the fact you’ve got bumblegummer in your corner says even more about you.
LOL
Trump was talking about legal immigrants in his speech, too.
I am bright enough to realize that you continue to dodge my questions. You are an anti-Trumper to chicken shit to admit it.
BFD, I think you stepped in dog shit, (this “ article”), and now you’re dragging it around, stinking up the place.
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