Democrats Itching for a Fight with Trump Over Deportations Take a Leap of Faith on Garcia.
When I was young, and coming up in politics, I worked with a guy whose older brother was friends with the famed Republican political consultant Lee Atwater. And through his brother he learned some bits of political wisdom from Atwater, which he passed on to me. He told me that Atwater said that if you want to know what rank and file Democrats think you should check out the monologue of the Tonight Show and if you want to know what the Democrats in power think you should read the Atlantic Magazine. I never forgot that. And even after all these years the magazine is still around and read seriously by Democrats. The Atlantic is to Democrats what Playboy is to an 18-year-old boy. Full of wonder, and fantasy. I admit I used to read the Atlantic, for the very reason that Atwater said. As for Playboy, well, I can honestly say I never read it.
Even after all these years The Atlantic’s influence continues, it has a small circulation, which has led Trump to describe it as a “failing magazine”, but its influence comes from the people who do read it, they may be small in number, but they are the people who fund the Democrats and head the Party. All articles in the magazine are there for a reason. They are there to prompt Democrats, to inspire and motivate them, and most importantly, to give them ideas. They are there to shape the narrative and world view of Democrats. Steve Job’s widow, Laurene Powell, bought the magazine a few years ago, she did it probably so she could influence the Democratic Party. My guess is someone very smart politically came to her and told her that if she really wants to influence Democrats buy the Atlantic. It is more powerful than campaign contributions, which I’m sure she also makes.
The latest example. If it weren’t for the magazine, we probably never would have heard of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
On April 1st, The Atlantic ran a story about the Garcia case. In the title of the article Garcia is described as “A Maryland Father” deported by mistake. The Atlantic started a narrative for Democrats, it seemed perfect. A dad gets deported, Democrats decided to run with it, they couldn’t resist, it sounded so promising. The reason it sounded promising is that Democrats have wanted to personalize the issue. Overall, the public supports mass deportations, (Democrats are opposed to 90 plus percent of all deportations), so they have to find an indirect approach to stopping Trump. They believe that they have to find an innocent person caught up in Trump’s removal effort. They could highlight that and maybe win public support. This is their hope, probably only hope. The Atlantic thought they had such a case, and without careful consideration Democrats ran with it.
Well, the Trump administration adroitly countered the narrative, perhaps people in the White House read the Atlantic as well, on April 16th, they released information about Garcia’s gang ties, then more came out about Garcia, including a report that his wife filed a police complaint against him claiming that he hit her.
Democrats are stuck. They can’t back down now. They have already embraced Garcia, he is right up there with George Floyd, Rodney King, Trayvon Martin, and that guy in Ferguson Missouri who tried to rob a convenience store and then attacked a police officer. A martyr for the cause of social justice. Their base is all ginned up over this, itching for a fight, as Obama would say they are all “wee weed up.” David Brooks is even calling for a “national uprising.” Think about this, David Brooks is the New York Times “conservative”. He is also taxpayer funded NPR’s conservative voice. James Carville at times one of the few sane voices in the party says, returning Garcia needs to be a “Top agenda” item. A top agenda item needs to be returning an illegal alien with ties to MS-13. Well, if that is a Democrat top agenda item they will keep losing. Democrats wanting to talk about Kilmar Abrego Garcia would be akin to Mike Dukakis wanting to talk about Willie Horton in 1988.
Hillary Clinton, still upset or should I say bitter about her loss to Trump in 2016, said last week, “I told you so, “Before the election, I warned that there is no safe haven under authoritarianism. If they can ship Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a foreign prison—accused of no crime, with no trial—they can do it to anyone.” Echoing that nightmare scenario, Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren said on the Morning Joe Show,” If they can disappear Abrego Garcia, they can disappear you.” She looked right at Joe Scarborough when she said that. I don’t know about you, but I’d like Joe Scarborough to disappear. Democrats have also used the word “abducted”. Could you be abducted by ICE and deported? Well, before you answer, consider that Garcia is not a citizen of the United States. He was here illegally. The American people want illegal aliens out of the country. To the extent that Democrats fight to bring Garcia back it will hurt them politically. And I also don’t think the public would find unfairness in this case.
As far as the other claim of Democrats, namely lack of due process. Well, I am now well into middle age, and an American citizen. I have been before two judges, both were civil cases, traffic court. Garcia illegally entered the country sometime in 2012. Since then, he has been before 3 judges with mixed results. One of them was an Obama appointed judge. Well, that’s a lot of due process for someone who is not a citizen. But we have to bring him back for a 4th visit with a judge. It’s absurd.
I think maybe that is the plan. Tie up our courts and run out the clock. Due process can go on forever. Think of all those murders on death row. Why do they die in prison of old age? Because of due process. Imagine, we have at least 10 million illegals here, and we have to give them all at least 4 court appearances. That would probably take 100 years. I have no doubt that Biden considered that when he allowed millions to come in. I also find it rich to hear Democrats complain about the administration’s lack of proper vetting in doing the deportations, considering that they didn’t complain about Biden’s lack of vetting when he let them in.
I think Trump is in a strong position, both politically and legally. I am sure he is happy that Democrats want to talk about deportations, the issue favors him, and legally he has, as he might say, “all the cards.” Garcia is not an American citizen. And the President, under article II of the Constitution, has control of foreign policy. A court can’t make him ask a foreign government to do anything.
Trump’s position seems strong. It reminds me of that line from the old 80’s television show The A-Team, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
David Shephard is the author of two books. Elections Have Consequences, A Cautionary Tale.
Norton’s Choice:An Inside Politics Exposé: Shephard, David: 9781892538802: Amazon.com: Books
