Donald Trump bitterly complains about "his enemies" politicizing mass shootings — or any situation at all, ever, where he and/or his party might have some responsibility.
But in the wake of yesterday's terror attack in New York City, committed by a 29-year-old man named Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, Trump immediately politicized the attack in order to justify his agenda of harm against both Muslims and immigrants.
Saipov was born in Uzbekistan, and reportedly entered the U.S. in 2010 via the Diversity Visa Lottery. Seizing on that fact, before it was even confirmed, Trump went on a tweetstorm in which he blamed the Democrats, and specifically Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, for having enacted the Diversity Visa Lottery program.
Trump begins morning after NYC attack to use what he sees on Fox to launch his own twisted political barrage on the backs of dead civilians pic.twitter.com/7CcTjdWGxg
— michael adams (@mla1396) November 1, 2017
Except, the Diversity Visa Lottery is not a "Chuck Schumer beauty" at all.
Hey, @realDonaldTrump, the Diversity Visa Lottery was not started by @SenSchumer. It was started by Ronald Reagan. https://t.co/zMxkQvc6np
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) November 1, 2017
In fact, Schumer "was part of the Senate's Gang of Eight, which in 2013 came up with a sweeping bipartisan proposal to revamp U.S. immigration laws. Among other things, that proposal called for eliminating the diversity lottery. The bill passed the Senate but died in the House."
So, Trump is not only politicizing the attack in the very way he routinely claims is awful, but he's getting his facts completely wrong, as usual, disseminating misinformation that the deplorables will believe and regurgitate ad nauseum.
As for his part, Schumer was appropriately wry.
I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017
I guess not.
My condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the eight people who were killed yesterday. I hope the people who were injured have access to the care they need to recover. I grieve with everyone of decency that our president has made yet another tragic situation even worse with his lack of compassion and insistence on being a relentless nightmare human.
Shakesville is run as a safe space. First-time commenters: Please read Shakesville's Commenting Policy and Feminism 101 Section before commenting. We also do lots of in-thread moderation, so we ask that everyone read the entirety of any thread before commenting, to ensure compliance with any in-thread moderation. Thank you.
blog comments powered by Disqus