Former first lady Laura Bush should read a book before wading into immigration debate

Analytics 22:47 20.06.2018
As the nation vigorously debates the fate of children detained at the southern U.S. border, it is no surprise that former first lady Laura Bush — a doting mother and grandmother — felt the need to wade into the national immigration debate.
 
There is just one problem: The former librarian should have checked out a history book first. 
 
It was her own husband, President George W. Bush, who signed into law in 2008 a comprehensive immigration reform package including a policy pertaining to unaccompanied minors at the border.
 
Bush’s law, in conjunction with later federal litigation, resulted in the prohibition of the detention of families together as one unit as they awaited their fate at the border. 
 
For the former first lady to critique the Trump administration over a policy that her husband approved is the epitome of hypocrisy.
 
In fact, it is the kind of hypocrisy that the American people hate most about “the swamp.”
 
However, she didn’t stop there.
 
Not only did the former first lady critique President Donald Trump for something her own husband signed into law, she made an outrageous claim to boot — that the current border situation is morally equivalent to the shameful internment of Japanese-Americans in the wake of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.
 
Her comparison is not only outrageous, it is one of apples to oranges. 
 
The internment camps of the 1940s were perpetrated against actual citizens of the United States, who were rounded up from their private homes, arrested, and thrown into concentration camps. Contrast this to the border crisis today which pertains to actors who aren’t citizens of this country and, therefore, have no claim to be on American soil in the first place. 
 
That is a big difference.
 
The act of imprisoning its own people according to race-based blocs of Japanese-Americans, Italian-Americans and German-Americans undoubtedly left a mark on American history, and it is an act for which the United States has since apologized. 
 
However, a sovereign nation acting well within its rights to maintain its borders and uphold immigration law as it pertains to foreigners attempting to unlawfully enter and in some cases, do harm, is quite another matter. 
 
Any attempt to equate the two is not only an historically inaccurate comparison, but an outrageous claim of the sort that is beneath a former first lady.
 
Sadly, the Republican former first lady’s rhetoric is no different than the attempts by Democrats to suggest that today’s border crisis is just like the Jewish Holocaust and compare the Trump administration to Nazis in 1940s Germany.
 
Never mind that the perpetrators of the referenced incidents were left-wing leaders — President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the case of U.S. internments, Adolf Hitler regarding the Holocaust — or that, in the case of the latter, millions of people were gassed and murdered in other ways. 
 
To suggest that the American government is conducting itself in a manner anywhere near that is simply irresponsible.
 
The cavalcade of former politicians need to do the rest of the nation a favor and ask themselves before they speak if they are adding constructively to the discussion. In this particular case, the addition of the former first lady’s voice did nothing but increase the outlandish, racially-charged rhetoric and give cover to those who erroneously seek to equate President Trump to a genocidal leader such as Hitler. 
 
If lifelong politicians like the Bushes were serious about solving the problem at the border, instead of berating President Trump, they would encourage Democrats to support the common-sense legislation already in the U.S. Senate and to close the loopholes once and for all in the Trafficking Victims Reauthorization Act and other tenets of Bush’s failed immigration policy.
Azerbaijan takes measures to turn Khankandi into safe city - VİDEO

News line

Russia prepares for new offensive in May-June l – says Zelensky
23:52 28.03.2024
Russian investigators have evidence of Ukraine link to Crocus terrorists
22:24 28.03.2024
Committee members of the EU Council will visit the South Caucasus region
19:48 28.03.2024
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
19:00 28.03.2024
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
18:33 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan, UN Development Program mull future co-op
18:00 28.03.2024
An Independent Trade Union Established within International Eurasia Press Fund - First in NGO sector - PHOTOS
17:39 28.03.2024
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
17:23 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan lends clarity to color requirement for taxis
17:02 28.03.2024
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
16:45 28.03.2024
Nigerian army eliminates over 200 militants in 2 weeks
16:30 28.03.2024
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
16:15 28.03.2024
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
15:55 28.03.2024
Türkiye plays an important role between Russia and Ukraine - says political scientist Ismail Cingoz
15:45 28.03.2024
2 schoolchildren detained in France on suspicion of sending bomb threats
15:35 28.03.2024
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
15:26 28.03.2024
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
15:15 28.03.2024
Media: US did not transfer all information about terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall to Russia
15:00 28.03.2024
Movement ‘Together’ calls on Armenia’s parliamentary forces to express vote of no confidence in Pashinyan
14:41 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
14:32 28.03.2024
Le Pen accuses French government of fraud
14:22 28.03.2024
Armenian Government Grapples with Internal Division on Village Return Issue - Ishkhan Verdiyan talks on Ednews
14:12 28.03.2024
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
13:41 28.03.2024
Expert Ilyas Huseynov Predicts Peaceful Return of these territories to Azerbaijan
13:20 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
12:55 28.03.2024
Russian MFA concerned about upcoming Armenia-US-EU meeting
12:23 28.03.2024
Secret Points of Pashinyan's Meeting with French Representative: Is Peace Agreement Signing Imminent?
12:00 28.03.2024
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
11:47 28.03.2024
The US-Armenia-EU Joint Conference is a part of the pressure plan on Azerbaijan - MP Konul Nurullayeva
11:30 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
11:23 28.03.2024
CSTO chief: ‘Yerevan doesn’t participate in our work, but there are no statements about suspension’
11:13 28.03.2024
Ammunition found in Khankandi
Ammunition found in Khankandi
11:00 28.03.2024
Russia had been aware of preparation for terrorist attack at Crocus - says intelligience chief
10:46 28.03.2024
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
10:33 28.03.2024
Head of the SSS: France is inciting Armenia to a new war
10:21 28.03.2024
Are we in the brink of World War III? - Pundit talks on Ednews
10:10 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan's National Security: Reflecting on 105 Years of Defending Sovereignty
09:55 28.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev: Rasmussen fell in forgetfulness to attach payment to his report
09:35 28.03.2024
Hand grenades found in Kalbajar
09:25 28.03.2024
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
08:50 28.03.2024
Hamısı