Trump is losing the debate over splitting up immigrant families

[DonViejo]

By James Hohmann
June 15 at 9:15 AM

With Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve.

THE BIG IDEA: Thursday was a tipping point in the debate over President Trump’s policy of separating children from their undocumented parents at the border, as GOP lawmakers distanced themselves and conservative faith leaders mobilized their flocks against it.

Republicans might be able to win political fights over “sanctuary cities,” the border wall and the president referring to Hispanic gang members as “animals.” But party strategists privately acknowledge they will not be able to prevail in a messaging war over whether it’s a good idea to take kids away from their folks, especially against the backdrop of dramatic visuals and a stream of relatable stories about traumatized young people being housed in shelters. This policy is widely believed by operatives to play especially poorly with suburban women who are key to Democratic hopes of retaking the House.

This explains why more and more elected Republicans — especially those facing tough reelection fights — are going on the record to say they oppose splitting up families. Even Paul Ryan declared that he is uncomfortable with the policy. “We don’t want kids to be separated from their parents,” the speaker told reporters during his weekly news conference, though he blamed the courts and not Trump.

While the president could easily direct his administration to stop separating families, Ryan nonetheless pushed for a legislative fix. A few hours later, House GOP leaders circulated a proposal that would, in effect, allow children to be detained alongside their parents. The provision is part of a broader compromise on immigration between conservative and moderate Republicans that would give a path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship for “dreamers,” $25 billion for a border wall and reductions in legal immigration. It’s not clear the measure, which may still change, will have the votes to pass when it comes up on the floor next week.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2018/06/15/daily-202-trump-is-losing-the-debate-over-splitting-up-immigrant-families/5b2305ab30fb046c468e6ee4

[kysrsoze]

1. I've gotta say... the media have woken up and are finally pushing back on him.

I'm actually pretty excited to see they not letting up on him and lambasting Sarah Huckleberry Sanders. Sad and sickening as the detainee situation is, this is the first time I'm truly getting the feeling people are seeing through all the lies and deflection. People who are willing to consider reality now see the writing on the wall.

[mopinko]

2. soccer moms. how come no one calls them soccer moms any more?

oh, cuz that would be to admit that w loved them and left them, and they wont get fooled again.
but that IS who we are talking about here.