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President Trump spoke to the nation and the world last night in his first "Oval Office" speech.
He declared there is a "humanitarian crises, a crises of the heart and a crises of the soul."
He said a "wall that secures our borders is not immoral---for politicians to do nothing is immoral."
Be informed.
Passion and prejudice.
The president passionately said a "wall that secures our borders is not immoral---for politicians to do nothing is immoral."
While the president focused on the security and moral aspects of a secure border, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in their follow-up response, focused on the politics, accusing the president of misrepresenting the situation on the border as they urged him to reopen closed government departments.
Schumer said Trump "just used the backdrop of the Oval Office to manufacture a crisis, stoke fear and divert attention from the turmoil in his administration."
Would he have ever accused Obama of "using" the White House, although he regularly did, to promote and advance his "America is not so great" narrative, or to undermine the institution of marriage and the sanctity of life?
The media, of course, joined the Democrats in criticizing the president.
Associated Press editorialized their "news" piece of the speech last night with this:
"With the use of the White House speech instead of his favored Twitter blasts, Trump embraced the ceremonial trappings of his office as he tries to exit a political quagmire of his own making."
Reuters News Service ran this headline: "Trump Increasingly Being Blamed for the Government Shutdown." They also noted that 51% of adults believe Trump "deserves most of the blame" for the shutdown.
What they fail to report is that other polls find fewer percentages of people believe it's Trump's fault-- But most importantly they fail to tell the public that a substantial number of adults "do" believe that Trump is responsible for the shutdown and support him for taking a stand.
In the conclusion of his speech the president said this:
How much more American blood must we shed before Congress does its job?
To those who refuse to compromise in the name of border security, I would ask: Imagine if it was your child, your husband, or your wife whose life was so cruelly shattered and totally broken?
To every member of Congress: Pass a bill that ends this crisis.
To every citizen: Call Congress and tell them to finally, after all of these decades, secure our border.
This is a choice between right and wrong, justice and injustice. This is about whether we fulfill our sacred duty to the American citizens we serve.
When I took the Oath of Office, I swore to protect our country. And that is what I will always do, so help me God.
Thank you and goodnight.
The president has called for a meeting with leadership from both the House and the Senate leadership this afternoon.
We'll learn later today what if anything comes from the meeting. I doubt that much will. We'll see.
One thing is certain--Americans want border security.
There's bad news for Democrats and the globalist Left.
An Associated Press poll shows that border security is among the top 5 concerns of the American people.
A recent Gallup Poll reported that border security had moved into the top 2 concerns for Americans after the 2018 mid-term elections.
A Rasmussen Poll shows that nearly one-fourth of Americans would contribute their own money to build a border wall.
An Economist/YouGov poll shows that 62% of Americans view illegal immigration as either a "very serious problem" or a "somewhat serious problem."
Clearly, the Left is, once again, not on the same page as the American people.
The Left---religious and political--- is using the same tactics and narrative today they've used in the past to shame Americans into choosing not to secure our borders.
But this time it's different.
This time Americans have experienced---and are experiencing and witnessing tragic stories on the other side.
In California, an illegal immigrant gunned down Officer Ronil Singh, who left behind a wife and baby.
In San Francisco, Kate Steinle pleaded for help from her father while dying on a peer from an illegal's gunshot.
In Long Island, New York, MS-13 gang members killed 2 young girls. And in towns across America, tons of illegal Fentanyl are making their way from Mexico into suburban teen parties and killing our children.
What if Pelosi and Schumer are so obsessed with "stopping Trump," the facts and realities of our times fall on deaf ears and blind eyes?
Experts are confirming that President Trump could declare a national emergency---then build the wall.
A number of newspapers that regularly seek to undermine President Trump's agenda are quoting experts who confirm that the President of the United States has the power to declare a national emergency on our border, then proceed to "direct troops and other resources to help construct 'authorized civil works, military construction and civil defense projects that are essential to the national defense."
The New York Times says there are at least 2 laws that would permit Trump to take that action on the border. The Wall Street Journal agrees. So does the Los Angels Times. And the Washington Post.
Will he take this action?
I believe it depends in great part on what comes from the meeting this afternoon with leaders from Congress.
I also believe President Trump will be influenced by what he sees and hears when he visits the border tomorrow.
I believe one thing is becoming clear. The president loves his country, is keeping his promises to those who voted for him---and is not afraid to lead.
Securing our borders is not only the right thing to do---it is the biblical thing to do. And it's the moral thing to do.
Charles Carroll, a signer of our Declaration of Independence said,
"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion...are under mining the solid foundations of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments."
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Bold. Be Prayerful.