OPINION:
Sen. Chuck Schumer took to MSNBC and told hostess Rachel Maddow that the tea party, the precursor to President Donald Trump, has always been anti-immigration.
This, of course, is a blatant lie. And it does nothing to advance the supposed diplomatic approach Republicans and Democrats are committed to achieving on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, for the good of the country, no less.
But it does clear up why Schumer would pull back on a reported $25 billion deal with Trump to reopen government in exchange for long-promised wall funding: He never intended to deal in the first place.
He only said as much to save face from his blink on DACA and his white flag toss to Republicans that led to the reopening of government on Friday.
With Schumer, telling tall tales seems to be one and the same as proper politicking.
Look at what he told Maddow: “[T]he hard right has always opposed immigration. Donald Trump ran on an anti-immigration platform, the tea party’s — one of their fundamental values is anti-immigrant, which is horrible, disgusting, but that’s who they are.”
How is that helpful?
Tea partyers, Trump and those of like political mind have pressed for controlled borders — nothing more, nothing less. Schumer’s mischaracterization does nothing to further the DACA debate or lay the groundwork for reasonable discussion.
And once again, the clock is ticking.
On Twitter, Trump wrote: “Nobody knows for sure that the Republicans & Democrats will be able to reach a deal on DACA by February 8, but everyone will be trying … with a big additional focus put on Military Strength and Border Security. The Dems have just learned that a Shutdown is not the answer!”
Apparently — not.
Schumer’s a wall. And if he continues his deceitful attacks on conservatives and the president, the next round of DACA talks aren’t going to go any better than last week’s. That means, in layman’s: Prepare for another shutdown show.
Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley.
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