Donald Trump needs immigration sensitivity training

Unfortunately, Donald Trump denies his mother's Scottish immigrant heritage (Mary Anne MacLeod Trump), every time he panders to the right wing Republicans, who are opposed to protecting DACA (Deferred Action) children and others who deserve a path to American citizenship.

The Washington Post opinion writer Michael Gerson has a point of view about the Donald Trump cruel immigration hypocrisy.  

Here is an "echo" of Gerson's commentary:

Even on his finest behavior, Trump can’t be gracious to immigrants

In general, a State of the Union (SOTU) address is massive in the moment and quickly forgotten. And President Trump’s first State of the Union address was even more unmemorable than usual.

That, presumably, was the point. The speech aspired to political normalcy, and largely achieved it. The lavish use of everyday heroes was welcome relief from Trump’s relentless narcissism. The partisan jabs were generally within acceptable State of the Union boundaries. The proposals on vocational schools and prisoner reentry gave evidence of a working White House policy process. The platitudes of unity were familiar and reassuring.

For Trump, rhetorical expectations are always a hurdle just millimeters above the ground. (Maine Writer ~ Trump's administration is serial political drama.)

Did Trump call for restrictions on press freedom? Did he try to obstruct justice? Did he attack an opponent’s wife? 

With Trump, being anodyne (ie, inoffensive, often deliberately so) is an achievement. On State of the Union ~ SOTU~ night, official Washington was like a sailor returning home from the Southern Hemisphere — grateful to be navigating by familiar stars.

But the speech was instructive in another way: by the obvious exception to its general tone. 

Even on his finest behavior — even wearing his Sunday best — Trump could not be gracious to immigrants. 

Their role in the address was largely to create an atmosphere of menace — variously killing children or running a truck into a bike path. “Americans are dreamers, too,” said the president, as though young people facing deportation were living lives of privilege at the expense of American citizens.

Elements of Trump’s immigration approach are better than his rhetoric. A path to citizenship for migrants brought to the United States as minors is a genuine concession on the part of the president. A pivot toward skills-based immigration has broad support, and not only on the Trump right. Few have ideological objections to additional border security (although Americans generally don’t support a wall).

It is the sum total of Trump’s plan, however, that reveals his deeper intention: a dramatic cut in legal immigration. 

According to a Cato Institute report, the president’s approach would reduce the number of legal immigrants by up to 44 percent each year. It would likely bar 22 million immigrants over the next five decades. These would be the largest cuts in legal immigration since the 1920s.

Trump’s arguments on immigration are uniformly exaggerated or wrong. There is little evidence that migrants take jobs from working-class Americans. They generally have skills and attitudes toward work that put them in competition with other migrants. 

There is no evidence that immigrants have higher rates of crime. The opposite is true. And most terrorism experts see little urgent threat from refugees (who are highly vetted) or from family unification.

But Trump is not really making a case that can be refuted with rational arguments. He exemplifies what social psychologist Jonathan Haidt calls the moral foundation of “purity.” 

(IMO~ "evil")....Trump’s approach to immigration assumes that migrants are contaminants. Haitians “all have AIDS,” Trump is reported to have said. Developing nations are “shithole countries.” “They’re bringing drugs,” he argued, “They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” His language about the border is borderline eugenic. The wall would prevent not just migration but infection, too.

As the State of the Union demonstrated, this attitude is not a removable part of Trump’s appeal. It is a Jenga (block) piece at the bottom of his ideological tower. Without promoting fear of  “the other,” there would be no Trumpism (aka, ~ says MaineWriter~ modern "Nazism").

The desire to cut legal immigration is at odds with America’s long-term interests. An aging population taking more and more entitlement benefits will require more workers to sustain those commitments (or confiscatory tax rates that undermine economic growth). Trump is opposed to entitlement reform and proposes to exclude tens of millions of legal immigrants — a dreadful combination. This demonstrates a reckless ignorance of economics and demography. It would condemn the United States to declining wealth and power.

America actually needs a generous supply of skilled immigrants over the next few decades. But “skilled” does not just mean engineers. Our US economy requires skills in construction, the service industry and the agricultural sector as well — capabilities across a spectrum of work.

Economic arguments, however, go only so far. The best response to dehumanization is humanization. Someone needs to highlight the resilient Syrian refugees fleeing oppression and violence; migrants seeking a better life for their families beyond the Rio Grande; Haitians working long hours to send remittances back home. 

Their stories also deserve telling in the State of the Union address. But that will require a different president.

Read more from Michael Gerson’s archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook

Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, was Donald Trump's Scottish Immigrant mother

Obviously, Donald Trump needs immigration sensitivity training, beginning with an appreciation of the history of Mary Anne Macleod Trump, his own mother.

Nikki Haley finally stands up truth to Trumpy - Donald Trump was "Trumped"

Governor Nikki Haley R-SC:“Some people think that you have to be the loudest voice in the room to make a difference. That is just not true. Often, the best thing we can do is turn down the volume. When the sound is quieter, you can actually hear what someone else is saying. And that can make a world of difference.

Governor Nikki Haley is the Republican governor of South Carolina. Her family are immigrants from India who came to the United States through Canada, reported on her Wikipedia page. Obviously, Govenror Haley is a role model for Republicans who want to be inclusive and tolerant of immigrants.  

Thankfully, at least one repsonsible leader in the Republican party has taken a stand against Donald Trump. In her post "State of the Union" speech, Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina spoke against the regressive impact of anger and intolerance spewed by the Republican Donald Trump, who wants to bully his way into being nominated to run for the position of leader of the free world.

Haley delivered the Republican response to President Barack Obama's final State of the Union (SOTU) address on January 12, 2016.[10] Haley has also been touted as a potential vice-presidential nominee for the Republican ticket.

In her articulate national response to President Obama's motivational rally to make America a better and more tolerant nation, Haley acknowledged the salient points in the State of the Union speech. In fact, Haley didn't wast time arguing with the President. Instead, she wisely used her rare opportunity to speak directly to the American people and stood up to the anger spewed by Donald Trump! In so doing, Haley effectively "trumped" the Trump.  What was particularly brave about Governor Haley's speech was how she "Trumped the Trump". There's little the Trumpity-Trump can do to intimidate Governor Haley, because doiing so would serve to reinforce his anger and intolerance, that she spoke about in her speech.

Governor Haley's speech excerpts: 

“Barack Obama’s election as president seven years ago broke historic barriers and inspired millions of Americans. As he did when he first ran for office, tonight President Obama spoke eloquently about grand things. He is at his best when he does that."

“We need to be honest with each other, and with ourselves: while Democrats in Washington bear much responsibility for the problems facing America today, they do not bear it alone. There is more than enough blame to go around.

“We as Republicans need to own that truth. We need to recognize our contributions to the erosion of the public trust in America’s leadership. We need to accept that we’ve played a role in how and why our government is broken.

“And then we need to fix it."

About immigration, Governor Haley gave credit to her family's immigrant heritage (from India) and added:

“Today, we live in a time of threats like few others in recent memory. During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation.

“No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country."

Governor Haley was at her best when she spoke about racial tolerance:

“Our state was struck with shock, pain, and fear... (following the tragic murders in Charleston SC church massacre). But our people would not allow hate to win. We didn’t have violence, we had vigils. We didn’t have riots, we had hugs.

“We didn’t turn against each other’s race or religion. We turned toward God, and to the values that have long made our country the freest and greatest in the world.

“We removed a symbol that was being used to divide us, and we found a strength that united us against a domestic terrorist and the hate that filled him.

“There’s an important lesson in this. In many parts of society today, whether in popular culture, academia, the media, or politics, there’s a tendency to falsely equate noise with results.

“Some people think that you have to be the loudest voice in the room to make a difference. That is just not true. Often, the best thing we can do is turn down the volume. When the sound is quieter, you can actually hear what someone else is saying. And that can make a world of difference.

Thank you Goovernor Haley!

Nevertheless, right wing media has been critical of Governor Haley's speech.  

In my opinion, Governor Haley's speech must've been vetted by her peers. Of course, she made the final decision to stand against intolerance rather than to succomb to Trumponian tirades. 

Indeed, Governor Nikki Haley has gratefully trumped the Trump.

Republicans can't compete with Futurstic Obama Vision

Republican rely on the gloom of a potentional political doomsday message to gain attention. They want to run our government by maintianing fear. Americans can't allow this to happen.

The only thing we have to fear is feaar itself

An optimistic President Obama, on the other hand, sets a hopeful vision in his last Sate of the Union address where American ingenuity and the hopeful spirit of our people were spotlighted. 

It's shameful to see Republican leaders behave like spoiled children, sitting on their hands, stoic faced, when President Obama calls for programs to improve the lives of all Americans.  

Moreover, President Obama rightly challenges the US Congress to vote on a war against the evil Islamic State (ISIS), rather than create fear about terrorism without providing action. In other words, don't create fear! Rather, provide support for destroying the enemy by taking a vote on declaring war.  

Americans must be reminded about the inspired words of President Franklin Roosevelt who said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."  

President Obama is calling for the goodness in the American spirit to shine forth from skepticism.  

Americans must vote all Republican out of office because their political positions are rooted in negativity and contrary to the human spirit. We must scrub clean the fear, negativity, skepticism and divisiveness out of American politics. Republicans can't compete with President Obama's futuristic vision of America. 

Republicans have had their chance to create the regressive America they envision, but they've failed to show progress regarding anything except to block life saving gun ownership regulations and obstruct immigration reform.

America needs to rid ourselves of regressive politics and follow the bright and futuristic visision portrayed by President Obama in his brilliant State of the Union speech.  The world order will always be challenged by change, but "We the people", as our Constitution says, can rise together to build a better life for our children and imrpove our nation's future.