Fire with Fire

Can the Republican congress defund Obama’s immigration initiative?  Can the bill financing the Department of Homeland Security be so crafted that it includes all of the department’s programs—except those enabling the president to implement the equivalent of amnesty for illegal aliens?

The Democrats insist on a “clean” bill.  By this they mean one that allows Obama to provide illegals with the trappings of citizenship.  They say that unless this is done, they will not allow any bill to escape the senate.  They will filibuster whatever they find unsatisfactory to death.

But the Democrats go farther.  They insist that if this occurs the Republicans will have shut down the Department of Homeland Security.  Republicans, they argue, will have denuded the nation of its protection—all to gain a partisan advantage.  Clearly this is an irresponsible act.

Many allies of the Republicans are now advising the House of Representatives to comply with Democratic demands.  The Democrats, they say, have set a trap and the only way to avoid it is to give them the bill that they want.  Otherwise it will be the Republicans who are accused of malfeasance.

Thus, capitulation is described as moderation and firmness as intransigence.  How strange?  Congress is said to have the power of the purse, but if anytime it threatens to use it, it is successfully intimidated into not doing so it does not have it!

Counsels of moderation are right about one thing.  Republicans will be accused of shutting the government down.  The Democrats have already begun doing so and the media, as usual, seconds this motion.

 History, we are told, ensures that Republicans are always blamed for shutting down the government.  This is what happened when Newt Gingrich tried to rein in Bill Clinton.  It is what took place when Ted Cruz tried to stop ObamaCare.  Therefore it is certain to happen again.

It will, however, only if Republicans allow it to.  Oh yes, the Democrats will make the same tired accusations and their media allies will double down on them.  The question is, will this tactic work?  Can it be stopped?

The answer is yes, but this entails fighting fire with fire.  Clearly it is Democrats who are threatening to shut down the Department of Homeland Security.  They are the ones who will not allow any funding to pass if it does not include moneys for the president’s immigration policy.

Why are they doing this?  Obviously, they want to protect their president and a program they believe will win them votes down the line.  They care not a whit about what is constitutional.  They are concerned not a jot about the security of the nation.

So why don’t Republicans say so.  Why don’t they shout it from the rooftops?  It is the truth.  Even Democrats and media types know it.  So why doesn’t the public?  Why don’t ordinary Americans realize they are being bamboozled?

It is because they have repeatedly been told otherwise.  Most don’t pay attention to political details; hence when a sound bite is repeated often enough, it is perceived as factual.  The trick to counteracting this ploy is to engage in sound bite warfare.  Democrats too must be accused of shutting down the government.

Not only must they be accused, they must be accused every day.  And not only every day, but every week and every month.  This was how the Democrats got their absurd accusations accepted in the first place.  Now the moment has come to repay them in kind.

And if the media refuse to cover these charges, Republicans should go around them.  They should do what the oil companies do.  They should buy ads on television.  And not just a few ads, but media wallpaper.  When people don’t listen, you must sometimes shake them by the lapels.

The truth is the truth only if people are aware of it.  Why then aren’t conservatives more vigorous in its defense?

Melvyn L. Fein, Ph.D.

Professor of Sociology

Kennesaw State University