MIKE CUTLER: ON THE DEFEAT OF THE DREAM ACT…
Hi Gang:
As you undoubtedly know, I end my commentaries by saying that “Democracy is not a spectator sport!”
I am gratified beyond words that so many of our fellow Americans did not sit this dance out but got involved!
At about 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, this morning, the DREAM Act failed to get the necessary votes and I am certain that the efforts so many of our fellow Americans made helped to make certain that the DREAM Act was defeated earlier today!
I feel compelled to tell a story that deals with the experiences I had yesterday in calling the offices of many of the United States senators in Washington. In a couple of instances I was greeted by a staffer who began the conversation by inquiring as to my zip code!
When I asked why they needed to know it, I was told that they were instructed to only speak with constituents! One young lady actually disconnected our call when I told her I was from New York City and said she was transferring me to Chuck Schumer’s office! Before I could respond I heard a phone ringing and had to presume that it was Chuck’s phone that was ringing! Understanding just how futile any conversation with his staffers might be, I simply hung up!
Here is the point- senators and members of the House of Representatives certainly need to provide representation to their constituents. The problem is that when members of Congress vote on bills the impact can and is felt clear across our nation!
In one case I asked a staffer, who initially did not want to speak with me because I was not from the state her senator represented, “Just answer one simple question- if enacted would the dream act not impact the entire United States of America? If enacted, would not this bill impact the residents of the State of New York?” She reluctantly spoke with me but with all of the enthusiasm of someone being served rancid milk!
Several years ago a gentleman by the name of Steve King treated me to lunch on the bank of the Mississippi River after I had testified before the House Judiciary Committee field hearing that was conducted in Dubuque, Iowa. As you no doubt know, Steve King was the Ranking Member of the Immigration Subcommittee and, thankfully, is about to become the chairman of that subcommittee in January.
We spent a couple of leisurely hours enjoying an outdoor meal with one of his staffers, discussing a variety of issues relating to the immigration crisis that confronts our nation today. At one point I told him, “Steve, you know I am a died in the wool New Yorker but it would almost be worth moving my family to Iowa to live in your district to have you represent me in Congress, even though I have been registered as a Democrat ever since I cast my first vote more than 4 decades ago!”
Steve King looked me in the eye and said, “Mike, I would love for you to move to Iowa and would like to have you as a next door neighbor, but you certainly do not need to move to my state to have me represent you and your family- I already do that every time I vote on bills in Congress- I do my best to represent all Americans!” He went on to explain that he certainly does whatever he can to help the citizens who live in his Congressional district but he certainly understands how all of our citizens are impacted by the bills that are enacted in Washington!
Perhaps I can convince Steve to conduct training sessions for his colleagues who, on so many levels, don’t “get it!”
Anyway, I am certainly in a celebratory mood this afternoon- having just watched the news coverage of the vote on the DREAM Act right after I returned home from my appearance on Fox & Friends this morning! What a great way to start a weekend!
Here is a link to a video clip of Harry Reid when he made a statement about illegal immigration in 1993. There was a science fiction movie “The Invaders From Mars” where the martians implanted a device in the back of the necks of their human victims to make them act and speak the way they wanted them to. Someone should really check the back of Harry Reid’s neck to see if he has had one of the control devices implanted in his neck!
If you wonder why I say this- just check out Harry Reid’s brief video when he actually made sense
The first step in problem-solving is to first identify the problems and vulnerabilities and then devise strategies to overcome them.
If our country is to survive and if our children and their children are to get their share of the “American Dream” the citizens of this nation must take their citizenship seriously!
We the People must be the best citizens we can be, citizens who are worthy of the gallantry demonstrated by our valiant men and women in the military, law enforcement and firefighters, who routinely go in harm’s way in defense of this nation and our citizens.
My goal in writing this and other commentaries is to point out our nations many failings before more victims pay the ultimate price for the incompetence and ineptitude of our government.
If you find yourself to be in agreement with this commentary, I ask that you forward it to as many of your friends and family members as possible and encourage them to do the same. We need to create a “Bucket Brigade of Truth!”
If our nation’s continuing failures to secure our borders and create an immigration system that has real integrity concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional “Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!
All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!
We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.
Border security and the creation of an immigration system that possesses real integrity are neither a “Conservative” issues, nor “Liberal” issues- simply stated, these are most certainly AMERICAN issues!
You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!
Democracy is not a spectator sport!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
-michael cutler-
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