Obama's "Show Me the Money" Moment

Obama’s “Show Me the Money” Moment

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
July 11, 2014

Republican presidential candidate Dwight David Eisenhower made the bold pronouncement in his October 25, 1952 speech, that, “I shall go to Korea!” This, of course, was two-plus years into the Korean Conflict that history seems to have lost between WWII and the Cold War.

Eisenhower, one of America’s greatest generals, went on to defeat Adlai Stevenson just 10 days later, on November 4^th, in an Electoral College landslide, 442-89, losing only nine southern states. Less than a month later, on December 2, 1952, Eisenhower, maintaining the courage of his convictions, kept his campaign pledge and visited the war-ravaged Korean Peninsula.

On his desk, President Harry Truman, a Democrat, kept a sign reading, “The buck stops here.” Another man who lead by the core of his convictions and followed his principles despite their lack of popularity. Two examples – Truman desegregated the United States armed forces and was the first to recognize the creation of the new nation of Israel. Truman acted in accordance with his beliefs, did the right thing in spite of the high level advice he received to do just the opposite.

On the flip side of these two men behaving both presidentially and responsibly – one a Republican, one a Democrat, is Barack Hussein Obama. This has been his “Show me the money” moment. When asked by Texas Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, to visit the border and assess first-hand the catastrophe created by Obama, in essence, he said “no way, Jose.” When begged by Congressman Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, to do likewise, Obama could not be bothered to travel the couple hours from the fundraisers he attended. Filling the coffers of so-called party faithful is more important to Obama, claiming he does not do photo ops, than addressing a crisis he created head on. This from the man who never met a camera he didn’t like.

Cuellar, again, a Democrat, was told by the White House to back off and not make any more public pronouncements about the crisis on the southern border of the United States. In an interview with Fox News, Cuellar said he received a phone call from the White House, but added, “I’m more concerned not about who gets angry at me at the White House; I’m more concerned about my constituents.” When queried as to the effect of the White House demands, Cuellar responded, “I’m still talking about it,” adding that if Obama could visit Texas for fundraising purposes, he should do his job and see what his unilateral border policy has wrought.

Adding insult to injury, Obama has time to go drinking and shoot billiards in Colorado, while, once again, fundraising for at least three candidates who deem Obama so toxic, they won’t be seen publicly with him. But he still can’t drag his tuchus to the border.

And while flitting around the country raising money for candidates who don’t deserve to be elected/reelected, Obama is demanding $3.7 billion for his “save the illegals” fund. The breakdown is as follows:
           

            $1.8 billion – Department of Health and Human Services

            $1.1 billion – Department of Homeland Security

            $433 million – Border Protection

            $300 million – State Department

             $64 million – Justice Department

Obama can demand this money all day long, yet it is the Congress, the House of Representatives that must approve this finding request. From where are the offsets coming to turn this into a zero sum gain? Throwing money at this crisis does not solve the problem of securing the southern border – it only further exacerbates the situation.

Most Americans are advocates for LEGAL immigration – provided it is done properly, and there too, changes are necessary. Returning to the immigration policies from the turn of the last century would be ideal. You may apply for entry if you have promise of sponsorship and employment. You may apply for entry if you will take no government funding – such programs didn’t even exist during the great influx of the 1880s to WWI period. You may apply for entry if you are medically cleared by a qualified physician. You may apply for entry if you clear a criminal background check. All who are denied entry are to be photographed and fingerprinted for a national data base. (When the time comes for them to apply for US citizenship, passing a test about US History, the Constitution, and English language literacy should be a must. Three strikes and out –three failing attempts is a ticket back to their country of origin.)

As for the swarm of children teeming our southern border by the thousands, while many may empathize with their plight, they were not required to come here; no one asked them to come to the United States, and the legal taxpayers should not be expected to foot the bill to absorb those who arrive here illegally.

This problem, growing on a daily basis, should have been dealt with head on at the border, not after the illegal entry into this country by thousands and thousands of people. The National Guard should have been mobilized to cover the border from San Diego to Brownsville and deny entry to any and all who have no legal authority to be in the United States. Seems Mexico has an air tight southern border of their own, but their northern border with the US is a veritable sieve.

As for those already here, they need to be returned to their country of origin, and the cost absorbed by those countries. All costs incurred by the United States should be deducted from aid this country already provides that nation. In fact, as long as illegals are continuing to arrive, all business with those countries of origin should be suspended indefinitely. A price tag of $252 per day, per child, is the estimate cost to the United States.

The illegals are a genuine security risk. Because they are here illegally, it is difficult to determine their real identity, ages, level of education, and motivation for coming to the United States. It has been determined that roughly 80 percent of the 16-17 year old males entering the United States illegally of this current throng are of questionable background – lacking English skills, education, having gang tattoos, potentially connected to MS-13, one of the most mercenary and violent gangs in the world. Their presence here is deleterious to the safety of American citizens and legal residents of all ages. This is painfully reminiscent of the 1980 release of thousands of Cuban prisoners who flooded the shores of Florida during the Mariel boatlift, depicted in the opening scenes of 1983 film Scarface.

Also painfully reminiscent of another historical tragedy is the manner in which elected officials and news media are being treated regarding the visitation of these, for lack of a better term, refugee camps. Yes, right here in these United States, refugee camps. Congressman Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) was denied access to one such location where illegals are being warehoused in his own state. He was told to make an appointment for three weeks hence while other members of Congress were similarly denied the same access prompting Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to demand access as should be the right of governmental officials.

The aspect of these denials that is reminiscent of history pertains to the Obama administration cherry-picking the Fort Sill, OK location of illegals housed in a refugee-type circumstance. The media has been told this is the one location to which they would have access, but would not be permitted to interact with the illegals, the staff in charge of the facility, members of the border patrol who are serving as intake scribes, or any other personnel involved with this site. On a small scale it reminds one of the so-called model concentration camp Theresienstadt near Prague. This camp had been designed by the Nazis to allow visits by the Red Cross and other international requests for inspection to demonstrate to the world that the Jews were being treated humanely, which of course was a complete fabrication. The Red Cross and others saw what they wanted to see, blindly and blithely turning away from the reality that was the methodical extermination of Jews and their defenders simply for being Jewish.

Make no mistake, this is not to suggest that the illegals housed on American military bases or anywhere else are being treated like the Jewish victims of Nazi slaughter, but the limited access concept is chilling.

Also beyond damning in this entire illegals invading the southern border of the United States, is the call for nearly $2 billion of the $3.7 billion to come from HHS to, among other things, provide medical care for these children here illegally. Not only is it beyond damning, but an outright slap in the face of each and every single member of the United States military waiting for an appointment through the VA system. American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen, and reservists are literally dying before getting the medical treatment they deserve. They should be at the front of the line while the illegals should not only not be in line, but they should not even be in this country. Those veterans are being treated so disrespectfully when they have sacrificed both mind and body. Allow them the medical treatment being given to illegals, and return the illegals to their countries of origin where they belong.

The Obama administration may not be guilty of creating the VA crisis; it is most definitely complicit in its perpetuation and worsening, instead of attempting to solve the problem. The same is true of the 2008 legislation signed into law during the George W. Bush administration pertaining to the deportation of unaccompanied minors. The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 was designed “to prevent victims of child trafficking from being automatically sent back to those who had effectively enslaved them, with the court appearance designed to allow the judge to evaluate their particular situation.” (http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/18650-obama-admin-blames-bush-era-law-for-failure-to-deport-illegals)

Clearly the enormous influx of illegals across the southern border is an attempt to exploit the 2008 legislation, which was a bi-partisan measure, partially written by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and introduced by then Senator Joe Biden (D-DE). But the more important issue is allowing these illegals on to American soil, thus giving them the opportunity to lay claim to Wilberforce. If they are turned away at the border before entering the US, Wilberforce does not apply.

Once again, it comes down to Obama’s poor decision making skills or worse yet, his desire to flood the system with those to which he can one day grant amnesty, put on a path to citizenship, and fortify the Democrat’s voter rolls. For Obama to only now, weeks after the fact, consider commissioning the National Guard, is akin to locking the barn door after the horses escaped to Mexico.

This is also yet another sterling example of Obama’s tyranny against the American people, such as thrusting thousands and thousands of illegals onto communities, who were never asked if they could, or would, absorb them at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars. In his continuing attempt to be the executive branch as well as the legislative branch, employing his pen and phone overtime – he is not doing either job well at all and the American people are suffering because of his whims and desires to work unilaterally often times against the will of the people.

Tyranny is to be met with swift opposition, and as noted in “Needing Independence Day More Than Ever,” (http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2014/07/needing-independence-day-more-than-ever.html) a second American Revolution may be on the horizon. Be among the brave new leadership to right the wrongs of this soon to be sinking ship. We the people must save it from itself.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

What Southern Border?

What Southern Border?
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

June 13, 2014

The confluence of just some of Barack Obama’s failings – Obamacare, the Veterans Administration scandal, and now the tens of thousands of children teeming across the southern border of this country, illegally, now held in refugee-like conditions are actually related as part of Obama’s pledge during his 2008 campaign to fundamentally change the United States of America.

This administration is pledging $2 billion to help the thousands and thousands of children who have no legal right to be in the United States – including legal aid to help what many in the so-called mainstream media are calling “young immigrants,” as if they were somehow forced by this country to come here.

Being held in deplorable conditions in places like Nogales, AZ and McAllen, TX where border agents are now being used as intake human resource administrators instead of doing their job, which, as it is, is damn near impossible as the resources they need have been sliced and diced as if by a Ginsu Knife ®, the children are both economic and political pawns in a dangerous chess game that can only be lost by all involved.

Illegal aliens, because the term undocumented immigrants suggests they have a right to be in the United States, but simply forgot to fill out some form, do not have legal standing in this country, yet Attorney General Eric Holder is undertaking a precedent-setting course of action to treat these people as welcome residents.

“We’re taking a historic step to strengthen our justice system and protect the rights of the most vulnerable members of society,” said Holder. Holder seems to have forgotten a little something called the rule of law. One would think the highest ranking attorney in this country would understand and uphold the laws of the land – this land – the United States; not Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, or any other country whose children have come here for purposes unknown.

Giving rights to the illegals does not strengthen the American justice system. It weakens it by delivering the message that those who can sneak into the United States can make their way through the legal system with the hopes of remaining in this country, claiming sanctuary in some form or another. And what rights are we protecting? Holder said we are protecting the rights of these children here illegally.

This current flood of unaccompanied children in the United States illegally has reached nearly 50,000, with predictions of another 50,000 before year end. This is a product of Obama’s open borders belief. While not saying he supports open borders, his actions have certainly spoken more loudly by the cuts made in border patrol agents.

Such an influx of unaccompanied minors will only lead to parents and other relatives clamoring for entrance into the United States to be with and claims to support their children. But in reality, they are coming here for the entitlements they know they can steal from the taxpayers of this country – both citizen and legal resident alike. Free education, but they won’t learn English – they’ll demand to be taught in their native language; food stamps they did not earn; welfare which they also did not earn; and of course medical care.

Doctors are being sent to the border, when instead they should be sent to every VA hospital in these United States to provide the long overdue medical care and attention the brave men and women who don the uniform of this country putting their lives on the line every day deserve – immediately. The disastrous way our veterans are being treated, or mistreated, is simply a microcosm of the abomination that is Obamacare.

Instead, what Obama should be sending to the border is the National Guard to rein in the chaos and havoc being wreaked by those who have no legal right to be here – a concept that can’t be stressed enough. These children, who somehow got to the United States, can certainly go back.

This is an issue that should not be emotional, but logical and pertaining to the rule of law. Those who cross the border without permission are here illegally, have broken the law, and must be returned to their country of origin. Yet, by nature of the fact that these are unaccompanied children, it becomes an emotional issue as painted by the far left media. The American people are seeing pictures of what look like Third World refugee camps in the Middle East, but are actually in the American Southwest, and yes, they not only tug, but yank at the heartstrings. How could they not?

But the United States cannot, should not, absorb any or all of these children. Yes, it is a sad story, but there is still the rule of law. Allowing the children will ultimately set a poor precedent for permitting their parents or other relatives to add to the welfare rolls, compete for jobs when unemployment continues to remain over 10 percent when considering those who have removed themselves from the job hunt.

The economic ramifications will be severe as greater job loss will be incurred, demands for entitlements will soar, further crowding will occur in hospitals, and schools as demands for free breakfast and lunch becomes even more costly than it already is. There will also be the health risks. We don’t know what infestations these children are bring across the border and how that will affect the children with whom they interact in the schools and elsewhere.

This administration will never deport these children; for they are the political pawns alluded to earlier. They will eventually be absorbed with their families, as Obama’s lawlessness will become a unilateral and illegal granting of amnesty for this current crop of invaders along with the other 12 to 20 million already in the United States. Those granted amnesty will eventually become voters pledging their allegiance to the Democrats, who would loyally vote for candidates who forever keep them as a permanent underclass with the promises of entitlement and cradle to grave government care.

The emotionality of this issue must be removed and the rule of law enforced. Those here illegally must be fingerprinted, photographed, and sent home – yes, deported. There it is – the dirty magic word – deportation. This is not the 1930s and 1940s Nazi-era-style deportation. Under the Nazis, millions of legal Jewish citizens were deported to concentrations camps leading to certain slaughter. They had not invaded any country seeking entitlements and unearned benefits, as this crop of illegals is doing.

We, the law abiding citizens and legal residents of the United States welcome legal immigrants who come to the United States through the front door the way our own ancestors did via Ellis Island and other legal ports of call.

They came with a dream of a better life through education and hard work. They did not demand that the rest of America learn Italian, Greek, Russian, Polish, Magyar, or Yiddish. They struggled to learn English and did so with pride. Today it is just the opposite with demands for government documents to be printed in myriad languages. The legal immigrants of the late 1800s through early 1900s came with the promise of a job and a sponsor or they were sent back. Today it is just the opposite with demands for welfare. The legal immigrants of the late 19^th-early 20^th centuries were required to submit to a medical examination. If they failed, they were either sent back to their country of origin or quarantined until able to join their family and/or sponsor. Today it is just the opposite as we are told we can’t discriminate against those with disease or illness. They come demanding free health care, only ratcheting up the costs to the taxpayers – costs which Obama claims would be reduced under a single-payer, European-style system that is failing on the other side of the Atlantic.

But make no mistake, the issue of illegal aliens and amnesty was not born under the Obama administration, he simply waved the white flag of surrender. President Ronald Reagan, one of my three political heroes, unfortunately granted what was supposed to be the amnesty to end all amnesties in 1986. That clearly failed and the floodgates remained open. Liberals take great joy in citing the Reagan amnesty, but in their ignorance simply perpetuate the reasons as to why amnesty is terribly wrong.

All presidents since John Adams inherited the problems of their predecessors. How they handle them is part of what defines them and their legacy. Reagan handled Carter’s failings, and there were many, by not complaining, but instead by rolling up his sleeves and getting to work on day one fixing the economy, restoring pride and dignity to the United States, and returning us to the status of global leader and world power.

While Reagan lifted the United States out of the malaise that was the Carter administration, Obama is doing all he can to diminish the United States in the eyes of the world, and sadly, he is succeeding. This is not his failing, but instead, his goal as per the Rules for Radicals written by his mentor Saul Alinsky.

Obama continues to be on the wrong side of the most important issues facing the American people, and at costs too great for the United States to sustain. He must be held accountable – even via impeachment for the laws he has broken – the cover up pertaining to Benghazi (addressed in a previous column), the cover up pertaining to the VA hospitals (to be addressed in an upcoming column), as well as the failure to give the Congress the appropriate 30 day notice regarding the trade of GITMO detainees in the unconscionable Bowe Bergdahl deal with the Taliban (also to be addressed in a future column).

Obama’s continued threat to use his telephone and pen to enact the executive orders in place of legislation he knows would never pass the House of Representatives must be silenced. The House must have the temerity to do what is right, and not what may be expedient or popular simply because the media declares it to be so.

Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) just lost his seat in an overwhelming primary defeat at the hands of Dave Brat because Cantor was too in bed with Obama on amnesty for illegals as well as losing touch with his constituents back home, a mere two and one half hour drive from the Capitol Building. It is not racist to follow the rule of law.

The establishment had better be paying attention or they will also find themselves unemployed, but if that means electing new members possessing a backbone, bring them on, and send the illegals home. With the drive and determination that they used to get to the United States, they should strive to make their home countries places to stay, work, play, and prosper.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.