1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Stephen Miller told reporters: “This country doesn’t have a future if we don’t end birthright citizenship…. One way or another, this nation has to end birthright citizenship.” Always an interesting take from a guy whose family immigrated to America to escape persecution and potential death in their home country. And they did quite well in achieving the American dream that most of our ancestors came here for. The promise of America was theirs for the taking. But Miller would like nothing more than to deprive others, in the same situation as his ancestors, the same hope. At a Faith and Freedom Coalition town hall in DC this week Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), third-ranking Republican in the House, made the white nationalism of the GOP clear. He said: “Minnesotans are so afraid that you’re gonna call us a racist, you’re gonna call us an Islamophobe…. You know what? I would argue that I never did care, but I’m done being careful, even the least bit careful…. [Somalis] don’t assimilate. And if they don’t assimilate, then they should go the hell back to where they came from.” It was pointed out that wasn’t always Emmer’s opinion. In 2016 he said that the Somali community in Minnesota was among “the fastest-assimilating populations that we’ve had.” “I’m going to say it out loud,” he said, “when you move to a community, as long as you are here legally, I am very sorry, but you don’t get to slam the gate behind you and tell nobody else that they’re welcome. That’s not the way this country works.” That guy was right on. What happened to him? And the GOP in general? I hope he doesn’t represent the majority of his party. But he and others in the Congress sure make it appear the GOP has happily become a party of radical white nationalist extremists. P.S. The Hasidic community in NYC has largely rejected cultural assimilation, maintaining strict isolation from secular society to preserve their traditions. Just saying. Meanwhile Trump is trying out midterm messaging that calls Democrats “hard core, godless communists.” “They’re animals,” Trump in a speech to Christian (?!) conservatives at a convention of the Faith & Freedom Coalition in DC. “We have to stop this, this horrible thread of cancer that’s permeating our country called communism.” Ahhhh the perennial political bugaboo when you got nothing else. Reminder. Communism is a political ideology that calls for public ownership of major resources and the means of production. The state owns all factories, farms, mines, etc. Then in theory, rarely in practice, wealth is redistributed equally to the people. Reminder. The only politician calling for state takeover of private industries is Trump. His government has taken stakes in at least nine companies involved in steel, minerals, nuclear energy, and semiconductors. Costing at least $10B in taxpayer money. Think we’ll see any communist trickledown to our pocketbooks? An early June Brennan Center survey showed that 92% of Americans worry about corruption in government. That includes 90% of Republicans, 93% of Democrats, and 93% of Independents. 79% want a constitutional amendment to restore limits on money in elections. 66% think the government has a responsibility to make sure all Americans have health care versus 33% who say it does not. The Democratic ‘communists’ Trump is railing against argue that robust private enterprise cannot survive unless the government combats dramatic wealth inequality through regulation and taxation. And operates the segments of society that people need to survive, like transportation, utilities, and health care. Democratic candidates are calling for an end to government corruption. Breaking up monopolies. Protection for workers and consumers. Universal health care. And an end to big money in politics. I know political memories can be short. But these policy demands are not radical. If you look back, they used to be firmly within the GOP political tradition. Read the Republican platform of 1956. It is a vision of America that all of us would love to live in. Inclusive. Ethical. Recognizing the importance of friends and allies. And throughout it supported social welfare programs in all its forms. Robustly. In fact the people’s wellbeing, in mind, body, and economic stability, was the driving philosophy. What happened to that party? Now we see a party of grievance, directed at anyone not white, heterosexual, or Christian. The party of Lincoln, one of our country’s most articulate observers of the human condition and supporters of the American dream for all, has become small. Petty. Downright soulless. And the exact opposite of the Christian teachings of Jesus. It can’t be said often enough. We the people do not want the current GOP vision for, and version of, America. Following a fringe trend of hate and violence and calling it patriotism, expecting it to be widely embraced by the people, is never going to work. It just won’t. No matter how low you go. We are better than that. Even though our elected officials don’t appear to be. We don’t want a country ruled by fear and hatred. And you shouldn’t either.