Dear media: When Donald Trump shoots down a bipartisan immigration proposal because it would allow in too many (black) people from “shithole countries” when he wants more (white) people from Norway, it is not the Democrats’ fault if the government shuts down over the issue. When congressional Republicans will not allow a vote on a bipartisan proposal to prevent Dreamers from being deported, it is not the Democrats’ fault if the government shuts down over the issue.
Media organizations in need of getting this message include the New York Times and the Washington Post. According to the Post, "A division for Democrats: Force a shutdown, or push for a political victory?" Which … guys, what political victory do you imagine if Democrats sacrifice one of the few small pieces of leverage they have?
The Times, too, follows a similar line. The key division that matters in their telling is between Democrats “on the ballot this November in states that are heavily white, have little sympathy for undocumented immigrants and that Mr. Trump won” and “some Democrats considering presidential runs.” Funny story, though. There are bills out there that all Democrats would vote on. There are bills out there that the vast majority of Democrats and at least a few Republicans would vote on. Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, the Republicans who lead the House and Senate, will not allow those votes to come up for a vote. Which means that the key division is not actually between Democrats.
Here’s a thought: If Republican leadership would simply allow a vote on bipartisan legislation to prevent hundreds of thousands of Dreamers from being deported thanks to Donald Trump’s actions, we would not be having this discussion. It’s in their hands morally. And politically, as Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham—one of the Republicans working on the bipartisan approach—said, “To believe that you can successfully blame Democrats for a shutdown over the DACA debate is naïve.” Donald Trump thinks he can. We don’t need the media enabling him.