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Because this will undercut the only politically popular Republican position, which Republicans are currently wielding as a cudgel against the Biden Administration. In the process, Republicans are treating the people crossing the border worse and worse, increasing human suffering. If Biden can take control of the narrative of the border, there is a real possibility he can start to make things better and decrease human suffering.
There's a possibility he can, but no possibility he will.
What other option does the Biden administration have when working with Republican border states, a split Congress, and a massive right-wing media megaphone of disinformation?
The great thing is that no matter how much he capitulates, Republicans will immediately scream that the borders are wide open.
He could be invading Mexico and shooting anything that moves and Republicans wouldn't accept it as enough.
Partly true. So do nothing and accept that a majority of independents and even a sizable chunk of Democrats have concern over the (admittedly inflated) "border issue"?
No matter what Biden does, Republicans will ignore it and scream "open borders" anyway.
He gains nothing from this but the sheer joy Democrats experience when they throw vulnerable minorities under the bus.
Of course Republicans will. We write them off.
But we're talking about swing voters and independents, and even some Democrats who have this as a top issue.
You lose those, you lose the election, and now life gets very bad for immigrants and minorities for years to come.
We do? Because it sure looks like we're appeasing them.
They know better and choose to accept Republican bullshit already. They're gonna keep accepting Republican bullshit.
And when this round of appeasements fails to work, the same rhetoric will persist and continue to work. And we'll keep hearing that we need to treat them worse and worse to appease people for whom treating them worse is the only goal.
I say again:
The border issue is a top concern for independents, swing voters, and even many Democrats, based on polling just this week.
If Democrats don't win the independents and swing-voters, they lose. Period.
When they lose, you may be happy with your pyrrhic victory, but immigrants and minorities under Trump and Republicans sure won't. Congratulations. You just accelerated the pain and misery for these people.
Unless you can tell me how Democrats can magically win without actually appealing to what independents and swing voters' are telling you is their top concern, then I think we're done here because this defies all reason and patterns of election history.
If you're pissed off that Democrats are doing this, perhaps you should redirect your focus on why these people believe this is an issue in the first place and address the root of the problem.
And it just so happens that when you discover the root of the problem is right-wing media propaganda and its grip on the national narrative, one realizes democrats must often play the game under this unfortunate reality. Because while you're busy driving wedges on Democrats, Republicans rhetoric is lockstep.
I'll say it again: capitulation won't work.
I know it'll make you feel good to throw desperate people under the bus, but that's all this will accomplish.
Losing won't work either. Have to face the brutal reality of elections somehow.
But do go into the oval office and tell Biden, "I know a large amount of Democrats and I know a majority of independents and swing voters cite this as their top issue, but I really think you should do nothing because your hands are tied anyway by Republicans. So yeah, don't even bother appealing to them! Trust me. This is a winning election strategy!"
Capitulating to Republicans won't win anything.
But you'll get to capitulate to Republicans, which is its own reward.
Polling says otherwise.
And just like that, polling this far ahead of the election means something.
Yeah, you're right... What am I thinking. Clearly this issue that has persisted for years and only continued to rise as a concern in voters' minds will go away and it's not a good idea to get a head-start on it in terms of shaping the campaign. Guess Ukrainians should just continue to suffer without aid, too.
"Just a few hundreds more people in concentration camps and thousands more deported, and we can finally stop the Republicans from imprisoning and deporting immigrants and refugees!"
Democrats having a normal one about human rights, eh?
Edit: This may be a good place to remind everyone that the people we're de facto targeting with these policies are people with indigenous roots. This can and should be interpreted through the lens of colonialism and our ongoing genocide against Native groups.
Edit 2: Oh boy I cannot believe I have to say this, but these people with indigenous roots are not limited to Mexico and Central America. Does anyone know anything about history here?? My God, I'd assume if one is going to comment that one would at least have the slightest idea what they're talking about.
Edit 3: And to the people who think it's some kinda "gotcha" to point out that I'm disengaging from people who are shit-deep in the anti-immigrant hysteria, you got me. Nearly half my family are immigrants, some of whom have been detained and/or deported by our racist border policy, and I live surrounded by batshit conservatives. So yes, this is a sensitive and personal issue to me. If I wanted to talk to people like that, I'd go to the gas station or bar. Lemmy is my opportunity to talk to people who at the bare minimum agree on certain fundamental ideals, an opportunity I don't have much in real life. I will block and report you for name calling or other uncivilized attacks on my character.
What, in the purview of an election year (and risk of putting someone obviously orders-of-magnitude worse for such people), with the right-wing border propaganda resonating with many voters, with GOP border states that don't actually want to work with Biden, and with a divided Congress, do you want Biden to do?
It's one thing to throw peanuts from the peanut gallery, but another to look at the pragmatic reality and actual viable options versus consequences.
Treating people's lives like political pawns in a campaign is NOT okay. Stop trying to normalize this shit.
Don't ever speak to me again. Enabling this shit is a horrible thing to do to people. Let's put you in a camp or send you into a violent situation and see how much you like it. "BuT iT's ElEcTiOn YeAr" I don't care
I say again since you're obviously deflecting: It’s one thing to throw peanuts from the peanut gallery, but another to look at the pragmatic reality and actual viable options versus consequences.
You can live with your idealistic pyrrhic victory while you naively reject the reality of the political consequences and put someone far worse in power. But you do you, buddy.