2 July 2018 — 0624 mdt

Democrats and progressives must put Americans first

Two days ago, thousands of Democrats and progressives held rallies protesting President Trump’s treatment of immigrant families who tried illegally entering the U.S. from Mexico. Some immigrants were political refugees, others were fleeing Central America’s lawlessness and vicious gangs, yet others simply sought more economic opportunity. Their treatment by our government has been heartbreaking and appalling. The rallies protesting it called attention to both the violation of fundamental human rights, and the danger that Trump’s immigration policies are making our nation a less compassionate place for immigrants and citizens alike.

But these rallies may be sending another message to the nation, a message unintended but powerful, a messsage to the detriment of progressive values and objectives: progressives care more about immigrants than they do about Americans, especially Americans having a hard time making their rent, keeping their old automobiles running, and putting nutritious and tasty meals on the table.

As Thomas Edsall noted last week, appearing to put immigrants first and Americans second is just what Trump wants Democrats and progressives to do. That allows him to argue that he’s the only one who puts Americans first, the only one who understands that limiting immigration is a nation’s sovereign right and sometimes a sovereign duty. If immigration becomes a defining issue of the 2018 election, that helps Republicans.

At this point, more pro-immigrant marches and rallies will be counter-productive. The winning issues for Democrats are health care, trade war induced increases in prices of energy, household goods, medicine, perhaps even food, and a foreign policy that does not increase the probability of war. Marching cannot change immigration policy. Only voting can. Winning a humane, responsible, immigration policy requires winning elections. Democrats and progressives must put down the protest signs, pick up clipboards, register voters, persuade voters, and work overtime getting out the vote. There’s no other way.