True Compassion vs. Rank Hypocrisy

Folks, the Democratic Congressional members did us proud today.

I watched the dueling DACA pressers this morning with Nancy Pelosi, Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, and Michelle Lujan Grisham (chair of the Hispanic Caucus in the House), Joaquin Castro,  Kamala Harris, and others for the Democrats, and then Paul Ryan for the GOP, live. I missed a portion of Ms. Pelosi’s kick-off comments, but saw all of the remaining remarks, and Mr. Ryan’s babbling. Both videos are worth watching.

I was struck by the contrast between the two parties, in how the DACA recipients are spoken of. While the republicans tick all the boxes, it is obvious that the DACA/DREAMERS represent little more than a concept, a political football for the GOP to game with. Those young people are not real to them, they are not human. They are “these people”, “these kids”, a “DACA dilemma”, a border control issue that the GOP has to solve with a border wall. Never is there empathy, sympathy, or any real identification with them as human beings being terrorized by a government that swore to them they would be safe if they came into the sunlight and followed a few simple rules. It’s damnable.

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I’m not especially a fan of Chuck Schumer, not because of his politics of positions on issues, but because of style, never substance. That said, I always listen and respect what the man says. He was magnificent this morning.

From this press conference, I learned a lot: that Dick Durbin Introduced the original DREAM act very early in the Bush administration, and has been a fierce champion for the children sheltered under DACA since then. He’s in there, still fighting, still swinging. I learned the our party has not been idle, had prepared for this eventuality and planned for the day the GOP would shoot DACA down.

But, what held my attention today, besides the content of the speeches, was the contrast between Sen. Schumer and Rep. Ryan. What a difference a heart makes. Ryan made me want to vomit.

I won’t go into great detail on either, because you can watch the videos for yourself on YouTube and elsewhere (links provided below).

Compare

Sen. Schumer’s remarks contained phrases like (transcribed excerpts):

“Congress has an ability and an obligation to ask, which is why we today are calling on speaker Ryan and leader McConnell to immediately put the DREAM Act on the floor for a vote in the house and senate. We're ready to pass it.”

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”… if a clean Dream Act does not come to the floor in September, we're prepared to attach it to other items this fall until it passes.”

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Nice, sweet, committed and to the point.

In short, Sen. Schumer pointed out the sheer cruelty and meanness of Trump’s decision,  expressed his disgust at Attorney General Sessions blatantly obvious, unholy delight at being able to make the announcement that DACA recipients are persona non grata. The others did the same, in their turn. All tried to offer aid and comfort to the DREAMERS — to let them know they have done no wrong and would be fought for. Like-minded GOP congressional members were acknowledged and given a shout-out.

All vowed that the DACA recipients would not be left in limbo, because the Democrats were prepared to fight, and give no quarter.

Then there was the GOP conference (partial video linked here and below) primarily focused on the budget, but with words for DACA by Paul Ryan, looking very presidential-wanna-be, and screwing up his mug in false compassion. Still, he could not conceal his signature smirk, as a reporter asked him for comment on Trump’s pronouncement of another broken promise.

Ryan needs to just STFU already.

He started out trying to sound reasonable and compassionate — I think he even tried to squeeze out a tear or too before ending by hollering and claiming the democrats were trying to use the DREAMERS as a political football to force concessions out of the GOP, right before he threatened to hold up giving the DREAMERS the security and path to citizenship they need, in exchange for “consessions”.

DACA in exchange for the border wall is a solution that he called a “balanced response” to the “DACA dilemma”.

The clip I have is slightly less than 5 minutes long, as stated. I’ve transcribed the first minute or so, on DACA, because it says all anyone needs to know about where HIS head is at. Hopefully I’m not skirting fair use. Emphasis is mine. Note the inhuman way in which he talks about the DACA young people, and how he begins with the obligatory swipe at President Obama. And all this in the first minute or so, remember.

"President Obama was wrong to do it in the first place because he overstepped his constitutional bounds." ...

"President Trump was right in his decision. He made the right call." ...

“He gave us time to work out a consensus, to find a compromise, because these kids don't - for the most part, don't know any other home than the United States.

“So I think the president was right to give us the time to find that compromise. Where does that compromise exist? That's what we're going to spend the next months figuring out: where that compromise exists.”

“But I think it's totally reasonable and appropriate, that when you take a look at the DACA dilemma, this is a dilemma that in large part stems from the fact that it is a symptom of a larger problem. And the larger problem is, that we we do not have control of our borders.”

“And so it's-it-it-it's only reasonable and fitting that we also address the root cause of the problem which is, borders that are not sufficiently controlled while we address this very real, and very human problem that's right in front of us.”

“So I think that is perfectly reasonable as to the second part of your question, we will not be advancing legislation that does not have the support of president Trump because we're gonna work with the president on how to do this legislation and if we have legislation coming through here that is worked with and supported by the President I-I-I'm very confident that our members will support that.”

Despicable. Mean. Cruel. Cynical. Duplicitous. Hypocritical.

I’m no longer a True Believer, may never have been, to be truthful, but I believe in Karma. And Karma’s a flaming bitch.

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UPDATE: Edited the title and rearranged some text.