OPINION:
Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton — all these then-Senate Democrats voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006 authorizing, in the words of the legislation, “operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States.”
Nitpicking has since ensued over the matter of a fence versus the matter of a wall. But the fact is: At one time, Democrats wanted to control U.S. borders, both land and sea.
Now?
“Illegal Immigration,” rang a July headline from Investor’s Business Daily. “Yes, Democrats Are Now The Party Of Open Borders.”
What a sad sack case the Democratic Party has become.
In July, the House voted on a bill that expressed the sense of Congress for “continued support for all United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and personnel who carry out the important mission of ICE,” as well as for the continued support for “all federal agencies, state law enforcement and military personnel who bring law and order to our nation’s borders.”
As IBD pointed out: Only 18 Democrats voted for that resolution. Another 35 voted no. And yet another 133 skipped voting altogether — they simply registered as “present” for the vote.
And so here America stands, facing an infiltration of historical proportions from a kindly-called “caravan” of people coming from points south, waving foreign flags and vowing to storm across U.S. borders.
They don’t belong.
They haven’t gone the legal route.
They haven’t proven their allegiance to this exceptional nation of ours.
And this White House is absolutely correct is standing up to this mob and saying, in essence, no, no, no, not in my house you don’t. Not in this house, you come.
There was a time — not so long ago, even — that Democrats guarded this country as jealously as Republicans. There was a time when party affiliation played second fiddle to the realization that nothing else mattered, politically speaking, that is, if the borders became breached. There was a time when even Democrats, even those of liberal mindset and leftist persuasion, may have fought tooth and nail for progressive policies on Capitol Hill, but nonetheless stood down on demanding free entry to those of foreign nations who wanted only to come here to reap benefits and steal U.S. generosity — without first paying with pledges of allegiance.
So here’s an appeal for a return to common sense days. Are there any Democrats left who can cast aside partisanship to help save this great nation of ours?
The borders, once lost, will never be recovered.
And it’s not just Republican children who will suffer the consequences of a lost, crumbled nation, of a compromised Constitution, of a torn and shred system of law and order.
Surely, there are some Democrats who see that and can come forward to argue just that — who can put country before politics on this crucial, very crucial point. A nation of vulnerable children awaits.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley.
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