America First vs. Amnesty First, Anthem War Continues, Hollywood Hypocrisy
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| by Gary Bauer |
Many of the items are familiar: A border wall. Ten thousand more border guards. A crackdown on sanctuary cities and visa overstays. An end to chain migration in favor of a new merit-based immigration system. Some items are new.
I'm sure President Trump does not expect to get all 70 priorities included, but he is right to try. As Barack Obama famously told congressional Republicans during the Obamacare debate, "I won." Well, Donald Trump won last year. It's time his priorities were reflected in the legislation under consideration on Capitol Hill.
But the prospects for compromise don't look good. Democrat leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi blasted the president's list as "so far beyond what is reasonable."
In an interview, Pelosi said that Trump's list was "a complete non-starter," adding, "There's nothing in it to negotiate."
The left's position is "Amnesty First." And some progressives are threatening to shut down the government if they don't get it. How is that going to help DACA recipients?
I think Speaker Ryan should call Pelosi's bluff. Trump is willing to accommodate DACA recipients. But liberals are so committed to open borders and the free flow of illegal immigrants -- policies which undercut wages and our national security -- that they appear willing to sacrifice these so-called "Dreamers" to advance their far-left agenda.
I think we can win any debate between America First and Amnesty First.
The Anthem War Continues - The NFL's anthem war continued this weekend. But there are signs that the left is losing ground.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones threatened to bench any player who disrespects the flag. "If there is anything that is disrespectful to the flag, then we will not play," Jones said. "Understand? We will not. If we are disrespecting the flag, then we will not play. Period."
Jones wasn't alone. Steve Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins, has ordered his players to stand for the anthem, saying that Trump "changed that whole paradigm" of the debate. "I think it's incumbent upon the players today, because of how the public is looking at it, to really stand and really salute the flag," Ross said.
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith even conceded that President Trump had "successfully hijacked this issue. He's turned it into an issue about patriotism. . ." Smith added, "Trump has won this round."
Indeed, he has. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell now says that "everyone should stand for the national anthem." The Wall Street Journal reports that NFL owners are debating a change to league policies that would require all players to stand for the national anthem.
Memo to the GOP: Don't be afraid of these cultural issues. Trump won because he was willing to fight!
But the really big "touchdown" this weekend was scored by Vice President Mike Pence, who went home to watch the Indianapolis Colts play the San Francisco 49ers.
As you know, the anthem protests started with Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco. The 49ers have the largest group of players who have joined the movement that insists America is unworthy of being honored during the national anthem.
When the anthem was played at this weekend's game, a dozen 49ers took a knee, while the vice president, his wife and top aides (including my son) stood at attention with their hands over their hearts. When the anthem was over, Pence and the rest of his party all got up and walked out of the game in their own protest.
The vice president later tweeted, "I left today's Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National
Anthem."
Of course, the left-wing talking heads, who hail Kaepernick and other players for their "bold protests," said the vice president's walkout was a "stunt."
As you may know, the vice president's son, Michael, serves in the Marines. Just a few weeks ago, Vice President Pence was at Dover Air Force Base welcoming home the bodies of three real American heroes. They weren't called "heroes" because they were taking a knee on a football field. No, these men thought so much of America that they volunteered to serve on the battlefield. These heroes were killed by a Taliban jihadist.
If anyone wants to understand the division in America today, they don't have to look any further than these two examples. Our heroes are welcomed home with virtually no publicity, while "zeros" like Colin Kaepernick, in his Fidel Castro t-shirt and pig socks, receive fawning attention from America's elites.
By the way, while our cultural elites are fretting about the First Amendment rights of "oppressed" football millionaires, the FBI's Counterterrorism Division is warning that law enforcement officers are facing a growing risk of "premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence" from "black identity extremists."
America desperately needs racial reconciliation. But protesting the national anthem -- the singing of which is meant to be a unifying act -- has to be one of the worst possible ways to send a message.
Hollywood Hypocrisy - Harvey Weinstein was long seen as one of the most powerful men in Hollywood. Not surprisingly, he was also a huge liberal donor. According to one analysis, Weinstein donated or raised more than $2.3 million for progressive candidates and causes since 2000.
Weinstein was fired Sunday from the film company he co-founded in 2005 due to growing allegations of rampant sexual harassment. Several prominent actresses -- Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Rosanna Arquette -- have come forward with shocking stories of abuse. Three women have accused Weinstein of raping them.
According to various reports, Weinstein's behavior was a poorly kept secret for decades. Yet time after time, progressive politicians who railed against the so-called "war on women" eagerly solicited Weinstein for donations.
But now that this scandal has been exposed, of course Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the Democrat National Committee will return all the money he gave them, right? Waiting. . . Waiting. . . Waiting. . .
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Gary Bauer is a conservative family values advocate and serves as president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families
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