GOP is Caught in Lie after Lie, and Who Cares?

Nobody, as far as I can tell.

In their responses to the State of the Union address, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said in English:

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

At the same time, that does not mean we just flat out open our borders. We can’t do that. We cannot continue to allow immigrants to come here illegally. And in this age of terrorism, we must not let in refugees whose intentions cannot be determined.

We must fix our broken immigration system. That means stopping illegal immigration. And it means welcoming properly vetted legal immigrants, regardless of their race or religion. Just like we have for centuries.

I have no doubt that if we act with proper focus, we can protect our borders, our sovereignty and our citizens, all while remaining true to America’s noblest legacies.

And this is what Miami Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart said in Spanish (translation from the Miami Herald):

No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love the United States should ever feel unwelcome in this country. It's not who we are.

At the same time, it's obvious that our immigration system needs to be reformed. The current system puts our national security at risk and is an obstacle for our economy.

It's essential that we find a legislative solution to protect our nation, defend our borders, offer a permanent and human solution to those who live in the shadows, respect the rule of law, modernize the visa system and push the economy forward.

I have no doubt that if we work together, we can achieve this and continue to be faithful to the noblest legacies of the United States.

Notice how Diaz talks about fixing the problems with immigration, problems that doubtless frustrate many of the people who listen to this in Spanish.  Whereas Haley basically says, We're not xenophobic, but enough already with the terrorist foreigners!

Now why would the party hardest on immigrants try to soften their message in the version most likely to be heard by immigrants?  I have no idea.

This article was updated on May 9, 2023

David F