Here we go, folks. Trumpster Carl Higbie cited World War II Japanese internment camps as “precedent” for setting up a Muslim registry. I doubt a single person was reassured by his insistence that he doesn’t think we should actually do that here (yet).
In an interview on The Kelly File Wednesday night, Kelly noted to Higbie that Kansas Secretary of State Chris Kobach, who helped write Arizona’s immigration law, said that Donald Trump’s policy advisors are considering a proposal to reinstate a registry for immigrants from Muslim countries.
The following exchange, via Media Matters, ought to scare the heck out of everyone:
HIGBIE: Yeah, and to be perfectly honest, it is legal. They say it will hold constitutional muster. I know the ACLU is gonna challenge it, but I think it’ll pass, and we’ve done it with Iran back—back a while ago. We did it during World War II with Japanese, which, you know, call it what you will, maybe—
KELLY: Come on. You’re not—you’re not proposing we go back to the days of internment camps, I hope.
HIGBIE: No, no, no. I’m not proposing that at all, Megyn, but what I am saying is we need to protect America from—
KELLY: You know better than to suggest that. I mean, that’s the kind of stuff that gets people scared, Carl.
HIGBIE: Right, but it’s—I’m just saying there is precedent for it, and I’m not saying I agree with it, but in this case I absolutely believe that a regional based—
KELLY: You can’t be citing Japanese internment camps as precedent for anything the president-elect is gonna do.
HIGBIE: Look, the president needs to protect America first, and if that means having people that are not protected under our Constitution have some sort of registry so we can understand, until we can identify the true threat and where it’s coming from, I support it.
Personally, I'm a lot more frightened of this kind of "protection" than I am of any Muslim immigrant who is probably already properly vetted. And if Trump does set up this anti-American registry, wouldn't any smart ISIS member just pretend to be some other religion? Or does Higbie think we should start snooping into people's religious practices, too?
Watch the terrifying discussion below, from the November 16, 2016 The Kelly File.
I also note that the Right worked diligently to block President Obama from being able to help any of these people – even to the point of blocking an extension of Unemployment benefits.
At the heart of so much of the conservative movement is that. Populist demogoges using dog whistle politics to stir up the right. This has been festering for decades with Fox News being a clearinghouse for mainstreaming this crap. What do you think is at the root of Fox’s war on political correctness? F—k how non-whites, women, and non-Christians feel in a diverse nation.
The after affects of the Great Recession which Trump is scapegoating on foreigners (including immigrants) is appealing to those left behind and unable to transition.
“Trump-Loving Man Throws Tantrum At Black Starbucks Employee Over Coffee”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-supporter-throws-tantrum-at-starbucks_us_582deb07e4b058ce7aa9a5bd
So there you Newshounds liberals! Take that! But wait… 😼
All kidding aside, my girlfriend informs me (I’m avoiding the news) it’s been reported since Trump was elected incidents of hate crimes are up.
What this guy is proposing is not that far off from what Trump was initially discussing – the notion that any Muslim coming into the US should be looked at with suspicion as they might suddenly become radical members of ISIS, or maybe they’re already secret terrorists. Fox News has tried ringing this alarm bell more times than I can count. What exactly Trump wants to do about the “Muslim Problem” has varied with each time he’s discussed his feelings about it. At one point, he wanted to halt all immigration of Muslims and force them to stay in tent villages or something in Syria. At another point, he discussed “extreme vetting”, whatever that means. At all points, he essentially stated that he doesn’t trust any Muslims in the USA since he thinks any one of them could suddenly turn out to be an ISIS recruit.
The notion of the Right Wing trying to play on the public’s fears of attack with something like internment camps is not really that far fetched. They could easily do what some of them are now feeling bold enough to suggest publicly – a “Muslim Registry” where any Muslim in the US would have to be identified and monitored. The steps from there to internment camps are not very large ones. And the more important point is that this group would be intentionally isolated as an OTHER, which sadly would increase the number of people around the world that would sympathize with and/or join extremists.
We also need to be prepared for Trump to follow through on his promises about attempting to deport as many undocumented immigrants as he can, as well as any legal immigrants who have been arrested for any crime whatsoever. Meaning that someone holding a valid work visa who’s been hit with a DUI would fall under the net. After the first wave of immigrants has been expelled, we should expect Trump’s Justice Dept to start on the rest of the undocumented immigrants, particularly the younger ones who were foolish enough to register with the DACA idea. Meaning that most undocumented immigrants will flee into the shadows completely – which is where the Right Wing wants them. It is unlikely that this group will ever trust a US government program again – and the perpetual twilight of their situation means that they can be exploited at will by US companies who will pay them extremely little for their work. Also expect Trump to withhold federal funds from any city he thinks is “defying” him in this effort, which means we could be looking at extensive court battles over whether he has the right to do this, but they will happen after he does it.
It is a no-brainer that Trump will erase every single act of Obama, including things like the Iran nuclear treaty and the easing of hostility towards Cuba. Expect Trump to walk away from the Iran deal and thus embolden Iran into actively seeking nuclear weapons from anyplace it can. Expect Trump’s State Dept to walk away from Cuba and thus shut down whatever progress was made over the last year. And that doesn’t even get into Trump scrapping the ACA and instilling the farthest right wing judges we’ve ever heard of to the Supreme Court. (Expect that Anthony Kennedy will retire from the Court before 2019, given that he’s in his early 80s now. This will give Trump at least two appointments and he’s already indicated he’ll be inflicting judges in their mid-40s who can stay on the Court for at least 40 more years if not more. I don’t expect Thomas to step down as he’s not yet 70 and could stay on for another 15 years if he wanted. But you never know – Thomas could do so with the knowledge that Trump will appoint a much younger far-right judge in his place, thus securing at least a 5-4 Hard Right majority on the Court for the next 30 years. If either Ginsburg or Breyer have any health issues before 2020 or 2024, we could be looking at a 6-3 or a 7-2 Court. In that event, all bets are off on Roe v Wade and many other decisions.)
We should also be prepared to see the comedy of a show prosecution of the Clintons and their aides, but not one that I would expect to lead anywhere but a deadlock. The only reason these guys will do it is for the theatrical display, and to slake their hatred for the Clintons.
Assuming that this group will do anything other than what they have been threatening is simply asking to be repeatedly disappointed. Better to be prepared for what they’ve been promising, and then be happily surprised if they are unable to follow through.
As I’ve said before, this is a group of childish bullies. They are not interested in getting along with anyone. They are not interested in trying to work together or in trying to do anything that will actually help anyone. At this moment, and likely for the next year, their intent is to make sure the other kids in the schoolyard know to stay in line. They’re not just coming for your homework and your lunch money. They want to deliver a few beatings to make sure you’re getting the message.
A helpful word of advice to Donald Trump: generally it’s a good idea if it survives the hangover.
When I told conservative buddies during Election 2016 the Japanese internment camp days were returning they called me a hater. They’re all nationalists fully immersed in WWII pride and history but even they remember that as shameful US history.
Warning to Megyn. Better not put up too much of a fuss here, dear. You’ll lose your audience. 😼