Kevin Cramer Admits His Stand Will Hurt Him: “I Know It Perhaps Sounds Not Very Compassionate”
While a majority of Americans watched the news of family separations with horror, Republican Senate candidates — scared of antagonizing their pro-Trump base — have spent the week cheerleading for Trump’s indefensible policy.
Candidates have doubled down as Trump has continued lying — alternately blaming their Democratic opponents, liberals, and “laws” for a policy entirely of Trump’s own creation that cruelly separates migrant children from their parents.
“The sight of of children being torn away from their parents is so painful it transcends partisan politics. Republican Senate candidates who have failed to call out this kind of cruelty are going to face furious voters of all parties in November,” said American Bridge spokesperson Joshua Karp.
Here’s what some of them had to say:
- Corey Stewart (R-VA): “I think that’s the right policy. Now, the fact is we do have to enforce the law, however, otherwise we’re going to have another humanitarian crisis at the border like we did a few years ago…We have to send the signal to everybody else south of the border that if you come to the United States, illegally, you’re going to get arrested and yes, your children will be temporarily separated from you.” (MSNBC: Kasie DC, 6/18/18)
- Mike Braun (R-IN) campaign: “Mike Braun believes politicians have failed to fix our broken immigration system… just like President Trump, he doesn’t want to see families separated…he believes Congress needs to step up and address this problem and secure our border.” (WSJV, 6/19/18)
- Kevin Cramer (R-ND): “I think the spirit of the law–let me put it this way: if we don’t have zero tolerance for criminal behavior…we attract more criminals…I know it perhaps sounds not very compassionate.” (KXJB, 6/20/18)
- Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): “We are in this position because liberals would not pay to enforce our immigration laws or build appropriate facilities for asylum seekers.” (WTVC, 6/20/18)
- Martha McSally (R-AZ): “We need to enforce our laws in a consistent and humane manner and (Homeland Security) should not have to choose between enforcing the law and keeping children with their parents.” (Arizona Republic, 6/18/18)
- Josh Hawley (R-MO): “None of that will change until McCaskill and the D.C. crowd take some responsibility and build the wall and secure the border.” (Washington Post,6/18/18)
- Matt Rosendale (R-MT) campaign: “[Rosendale] believes we need to get tough and enforce our laws. We need to end the free flow of illegal immigrants into our country and finally secure our border by building that wall.” (Helena Air, 6/18/18)
- Patrick Morrisey (R-WV): “Congress must change the laws to make that happen.” (Roll Call, 6/19/18)
- Leah Vukmir (R-WI): “I believe that we are a nation of laws and we have to stand up and uphold those laws.” (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/20/18)
Published: Jun 20, 2018 | Last Modified: Feb 1, 2024