On August 6, the same day I received six emails from Senator Fettermans office, I received a video response from Senator Dave McCormick.
It's posted on youtube:
This is the senator's response to this blog post.
In that post, I asked:
So my question: Were the President's actions appropriate or was it an opportunity to forward his political agenda?
Last time I checked the First Amendment was still in place - and of course anyone breaking the law must be held accountable in order to protect the rule of law.
I also pointed out in the next paragraph that Trump was also the guy who refused to call the National Guard when his mob stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Senator McCormick did not address the attempted coup. He does, however, say this:
With regard to the raids, President Trump campaigned very clearly on the fact that we needed to close our borders, and I supported this, and also repatriate illegal immigrants that had come into our country. Of course, the priority needs to be those that pose a risk to the health and well-being of Americans. So, the drug cartels—we had more than 10 million illegal immigrants come in. It's been documented and, well validated that we had many, many thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of cartels of people on the terrorist watch list. That needs to be the first priority. And then the authorities will work their way down the list, and President Trump's already made some adjustments to that policy to make sure we do that thoughtfully and empathetically, and treat those people with respect, even as we put them back across the border because they entered this country illegally.The LA riots were an example of something that is completely unacceptable in our society. Listen, I'm a strong supporter of free speech. The need and the ability—I fought for this as a soldier—to peacefully protest. But what happened in LA wasn't peaceful protest. It's the destruction of property. It's violence against law enforcement. It's a destruction of communities. It's—it cannot be tolerated. It cannot be tolerated in sanctuary cities, and it cannot be tolerated anywhere in our country.
I think President Trump was absolutely right to deploy the National Guard. He did that very specifically, not to enforce the immigration law, but to protect the federal agents and federal properties, that were under risk as a result of those violent riots in LA.
The only problem with McCormick's answer is what it left out.
Take a look at this from The New York Times:
Federal agents in tactical gear armed with military-style rifles threw flash-bang grenades to disperse an angry crowd near downtown Los Angeles on Friday as they conducted an immigration raid on a clothing wholesaler, the latest sign of tensions between protesters and law enforcement over raids carried out at stores, restaurants and court buildings.
The operation was one of at least three immigration sweeps conducted in Los Angeles on Friday. In another one, federal agents converged at a Home Depot where day laborers regularly gather in search of work.
The raid at the clothing wholesaler began about 9:15 a.m. in the Fashion District, less than two miles from Los Angeles City Hall.
Clothing wholesaler? Home Depot?
But the senator said the raids were to protect the country from the drug cartels. He said that ICE's first priority was the drug cartels and people on the terrorist watch list. Perhaps he needs to explain how day laborers gathering at a Home Depot is a threat to the "health and well-being of Americans."
How many of those were picked up in LA's fashion district, were existential threats to the homeland, Senator?
Dave (can I call you Dave?) by failing to tell a more complete story, you're letting anyone who watched your video think that ICE was targeting terrorists or members of South American drug cartels in LA in June. That's is what's known as a lie of omission, Senator.
The violence that triggered the National Guard being called up was done in response to those ICE raids.
Then there's this part of the Senator's response:
Listen, this is a tough issue. The president's been very clear on it and I support these efforts to deal with the immigration crisis with a strong commitment to enforcing the law and in doing that in a way that protects all Americans.Um, in this letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, California Governor Gavin Newsome's office wrote:
At present, law enforcement authorities from the City and County of Los Angeles are safeguarding public safety, and, as demonstrated by the robust law enforcement response yesterday evening to protect federal facilities, local law enforcement resources are sufficient to maintain order. In dynamic and fluid situations such as the one in Los Angeles, State and local authorities are the most appropriate ones to evaluate the need for resources to safeguard life and property. Indeed, the decision to deploy the National Guard, without appropriate training or orders, risks seriously escalating the situation.
There is currently no need for the National Guard to be deployed in Los Angeles, and to do so in this unlawful manner and for such a lengthy period is a serious breach of state sovereignty that seems intentionally designed to inflame the situation, while simultaneously depriving the State from deploying these personnel and resources where they are truly required. Accordingly, we ask that you immediately rescind your order and return the National Guard to its rightful control by the State of California, to be deployed as appropriate when necessary.
There was no need to send the National Guard as the local law enforcement were sufficient to safeguard public safety and federal facilities. So any reason President Trump used as an excuse to send them in is moot.
I thought the GOP was in heartily in favor of states' rights and state sovereignty.
Not anymore, I guess.
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My transcript:
A number of you have sent in questions or feedback by email or letter or phone call regarding the raids by the Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents across our country on illegal immigration and also the president's response to the LA riots.
Let me, let me start by saying thank you. Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it. I was elected to represent every single Pennsylvanian and so the way I can do that best is by engaging with you and hearing the questions that are on your mind and having the best chance possible to give my response and my answer and listen to your feedback.
With regard to the raids, President Trump campaigned very clearly on the fact that we needed to close our borders, and I supported this, and also repatriate illegal immigrants that had come into our country. Of course, the priority needs to be those that pose a risk to the health and well-being of Americans. So, the drug cartels—we had more than 10 million illegal immigrants come in. It's been documented and, well validated that we had many, many thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of cartels of people on the terrorist watch list. That needs to be the first priority. And then the authorities will work their way down the list, and President Trump's already made some adjustments to that policy to make sure we do that thoughtfully and empathetically, and treat those people with respect, even as we put them back across the border because they entered this country illegally.
The LA riots were an example of something that is completely unacceptable in our society. Listen, I'm a strong supporter of free speech. The need and the ability—I fought for this as a soldier—to peacefully protest. But what happened in LA wasn't peaceful protest. It's the destruction of property. It's violence against law enforcement. It's a destruction of communities. It's—it cannot be tolerated. It cannot be tolerated in sanctuary cities, and it cannot be tolerated anywhere in our country.
I think President Trump was absolutely right to deploy the National Guard. He did that very specifically, not to enforce the immigration law, but to protect the federal agents and federal properties, that were under risk as a result of those violent riots in LA.
Listen, this is a tough issue. The president's been very clear on it and I support these efforts to deal with the immigration crisis with a strong commitment to enforcing the law and in doing that in a way that protects all Americans.
