The adults in the room are speaking up. First, former First Lady Laura Bush published an op-ed in the Washington Post calling Trump’s decision to separate families at the border “cruel” and “immoral.” Former First Lady Michelle Obama retweeted Laura Bush, adding “Sometimes truth transcends party.”
Hillary Clinton joined the first lady call to reunite asylum-seeking families while giving a speech at the 8th annual Elly Awards, which honors outstanding women. The speech, which at times received loud, sustained applause, is exactly the type of leadership we need at this moment, especially with Republicans (who have control of the White House, the House and the Senate) failing to act.
This is what a real leader sounds like. A partial transcript below is available below the video.
Meanwhile, what’s happening to families at the border is horrific. Nursing infants being ripped away from their mothers. Parents being told their toddlers are being taken to bathe or play, only to realize hours later they aren’t coming back. Children incarcerated in warehouses and, according to one account, kept in cages. This is a moral and humanitarian crisis. Every one of us who’s ever been a parent or grandparent, an aunt, a big sister, any one of us who’s ever held a child in our arms, every human being with a sense of compassion and decency should be outraged. [Applause]
You know, I warned about this during the debates and on the campaign trail that Trump’s immigration policies would result in families being separated, parents being sent away from their children, people being rounded up and loaded into trains and buses. And now as we watch with broken hearts, that’s exactly what’s happening. And let’s be very clear. This is not happening because of the, quote, Democrats’ law, as the White House has claimed. Separating families is not mandated by law at all. That is an outright lie. And it is incumbent on all of us, journalists and citizens alike, to call it just that. [Applause]
And so is the president’s attempt today to stoke fear of immigrants, not only in our country, but around the world, by claiming that migrants in Germany are causing crime. In fact, I know not everybody pays attention to, or even likes to hear facts, but I’m still kind of devoted to them. In fact, crime in Germany is at its lowest level since 1992. Nor are these policies rooted in religion. In fact, those who selectively use the bible to justify this cruelty are ignoring a central tenet of christianity. I went to a lot of years of Sunday school. I even taught it from time to time. I’ve studied the bible, both the old and the new testament. And what is being done using the name of religion is contrary to everything I was ever taught. Jesus said, suffer the little children unto me. He did not say, let the children suffer. [Applause]
So, the test of any nation is how we treat the most vulnerable among us. Laura Bush made that case eloquently in the Washington Post this weekend, writing, “This zero tolerance policy is cruel, it is immoral, and it breaks my heart.” And she is absolutely right. [Applause]
We are a better country than one that tears families apart, turns a blind eye to women fleeing domestic violence, and treats frightened children as a negotiating tool as a means to a political end. These actions are an affront to our values and they undermine America’s reputation as a beacon of hope and freedom in the world. So, yes, these are perilous times with no shortage of problems for us to solve. These problems transcend borders and so must our solutions. And the women in this room know that better than anyone. This is a support network. This is a network of problem solvers. And our country has never needed you more.
She went on to say, “women’s voices are not shutting up.”…..
The separating of children from their mothers will cause permanent harm on some of the children and this will be a campaign issue in both the midterms and 2020. Don’t underestimate its impact.
Shame on the evangelical pro- family crowd who mostly supports this policy.
I agree Z
It’s almost as if Trump is dragging the party into a ‘loser’ hole…..
They see it
But just won’t avoid it…