Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trump's horrendous CPAC speech
washingtonexaminer ^ | Feb 23, 2018 | Philip Klein

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: anotherchosenone; betamale; cpac; cuckservative; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; immigration; maga; mediawingofthednc; moveaside; nervousnelly; nevertrump; nevertrumper; nevertrumpers; partisanmediashills; pearlclutchers; philipklein; presstitutes; smearmachine; trump; trumpcpac; visas
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-85 next last
Philip Klein is the managing editor of the Washington Examiner. He formerly served as the Examiner's commentary editor. Prior to that, he was a Washington correspondent for the American Spectator and a reporter for Reuters. He is a graduate of George Washington University and holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.
1 posted on 02/24/2018 5:24:25 PM PST by MarvinStinson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson
It was a fantastic speech, of course. No need for yellow journalism, judge for yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaklqNRor1s&t=1s

2 posted on 02/24/2018 5:26:22 PM PST by Vision (Obama corrupted, sought to weaken and fundamentally change America; he didn't plan on being stopped)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson

People seemed to enjoy the speech. I did via video.


3 posted on 02/24/2018 5:27:11 PM PST by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson
"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."

Reagan was addressing legal immigrants in that speach... Not illegal immigrants.

4 posted on 02/24/2018 5:28:10 PM PST by jerod (Nazi's were essentially Socialist in Hugo Boss uniforms... Get over it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson
Ah, great: another "conservative" NeverTrumper open-borders zealot.

I'm sure that Bill Kristol (and George Soros) heartily agree with this guy.

5 posted on 02/24/2018 5:28:55 PM PST by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson

NeverTrumper Open Border Types.

The force is strong with this one. The President didn’t say he is opposed to immigration.

He wants a merit-based immigration system where we take in people with skills who contribute to the country, adopt its values and love its people.

What’s horrendous about that? Putting America First is not only conservative, its American, too.


6 posted on 02/24/2018 5:29:49 PM PST by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Forever))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson

I was there. The entire hall of thousands, supported Trump’s speech. Go to You Tube and listen to decide with your own mind.


7 posted on 02/24/2018 5:29:53 PM PST by FreedBird (C)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson
"They came to build," Reagan said in 1980, speaking in front of the Statue of Liberty about immigrants' contributions to our country.

Illegal Invaders are NOT "immigrants." They are Illegal Invaders.


8 posted on 02/24/2018 5:31:01 PM PST by SkyPilot ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson

The President’s CPAC speech was, in my not so humble opinion, probably his best to date!


9 posted on 02/24/2018 5:31:57 PM PST by Bob Celeste
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson
This dude has seen to many movies...he is living in a fantasy world.

He needs to take a drive around LA.

10 posted on 02/24/2018 5:34:09 PM PST by roses of sharon ("Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: vladimir998

Obviously a never Trumperi it was an excellent speech


11 posted on 02/24/2018 5:34:16 PM PST by gibsonguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson

Horrendous! Deplorable! More please!


12 posted on 02/24/2018 5:34:48 PM PST by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust Sessions. The Great Awakening is at hand...MAGA!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson

FR has become a clearing house for socializing the Leftist talking points and message. This post is just one of many examples of that at any particular time.

As a result, I don’t come here as often as I use to.


13 posted on 02/24/2018 5:35:29 PM PST by TruthFactor (Hang em', Hang em' High.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson

I don’t have to respect any person who is a non American citizen of another country. If we think they’re not the best one to bring here for whatever reason, America has an absolute right to keep them out. This idea that foreigners have American rights is outrageous.


14 posted on 02/24/2018 5:35:38 PM PST by Williams (Stop tolerating the intolerant.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

The merit, or need based immigration of 1890 to 1910 is what allowed my grandparents to come from Sicily and Italy.

They, my 2 grandfathers, had skills needed to build the towers of the late 1890s and early 1900s. One was a highly skilled stone mason and the other a steam engine engineer/operator.

It is what the President wants and I approve of.


15 posted on 02/24/2018 5:36:40 PM PST by Bob Celeste
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson

“. He is a graduate of George Washington University “

Nothing good comes from that place.


16 posted on 02/24/2018 5:38:40 PM PST by CodeToad (Dr. Spock was an idiot!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TruthFactor

I beg to differ, we have to know what the enemy is thinking and saying so we can counter them.


17 posted on 02/24/2018 5:38:57 PM PST by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson

The context was that Trump was lambasting Democrats for not agreeing to his terms as part of an immigration deal.

The way that democrats have been lambasting President Trump for not just agreeing with their terms to grant immediate blanket amnesty
without funding for a border fence or eliminating chain migration?


18 posted on 02/24/2018 5:39:54 PM PST by Vlad The Inhaler (The only trannie I want to see is a Muncie 4 Speed M-22 Rock Crusher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Chainmail
are Bill Krystal and George Soros still among the breathing?

Just wondering...haven't seen a photo of either in a long, long time...seems they just disappeared!!!!

19 posted on 02/24/2018 5:40:33 PM PST by haircutter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MarvinStinson
holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University

Yup.

20 posted on 02/24/2018 5:41:36 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (President Trump divides Americans . . . from anti-Americans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-85 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson