Durbin’s “Shithole” Spectacle

By Sam Frescoe

http://samfrescoeproject.blogspot.com/

#SamFrescoe #Trump #Durbin #shithole #DACA

Political theater and breakfast collided on the morning of 12 Jan 2018: headlines blazing with profanity. Trump! Shithole! Racist!  Hysteria, a dramatic frenzy, seemed to cover the internet. – Once again, the news media was asking us to believe that Trump is a root of evil in the United States.

The motives of human action are emotions:
rivalry, envy, jealousy, revenge, pride,
and demand for recognition. [1]
– John Adams –

While the breadth and depth of the “shithole” spectacle is worth unpacking, such a discussion is well beyond the scope of this article. As such, this article examines the video of Senator Durbin (D-Ill) speaking to the news media. A summary of the Senator’s comments, with views and commentary, are provided in upcoming sections.

“So What?”

In politics, there is nothing new under the sun. This is a truism that reaches back through the centuries to a time before American politics. Now, as then, the common variant of mass media is being used to adjust the political landscape. Because the purpose of such an effort is to adjust the beliefs of others (including the citizenry, nationally and internationally), it’s in the interest of each citizen to see through the subterfuge.

The “spectacle” makes much of life ceremony and ritual; and
what is seen more important than what is known; and
what can be written more important than what can be proven. [2]
– John Adams –

Getting Started – Consider the following spectacle

Suppose…

-       …a board member attended a private meeting with the CEO and others.

-       …the member presented an idea: a major policy change.

-       …the CEO became disagreeable and disruptive.

-       …the idea was rejected with commentary deemed offensive by the member.

-       …the member became upset and emotional.

-       …because it’s private, there are no minutes, notes, or transcripts of the meeting.

Suppose the snubbed board member engaged the court of public opinion, and…

-       …placed dirty laundry in the local paper and online.

-       …the CEO was named.

-       …the member was named.

-       …associates of both where named.

-       …and those associates provided commentary of their own.

Suppose the news media…

-       …repeated, embellished, and repeated again comments of their choice.

-       …repeated those comments until clients assumed they are objectively true.

Suppose…

-       …everyone scrambled to separate themselves from the CEO.

-       …the CEO was liabled, slandered, defamed, and adversely characterized.  

-       …the reputation of the board was smeared, nationally and internationally.

Suppose the snubbed board member continued to need the concurrence of all those impacted by his campaign, especially the CEO.

What do you think? How do you feel?

Are you offended? Are you entertained?

Would you do such a thing? Would you tolerate others doing such a thing?

Does circumstance matter? Should there be a pass for certain people (or roles)?

The Durbin “Shithole” Spectacle

Link to Video

In my view, the Senator Durbin’s comments are intended to communicate an issue and related sub-issue.

The Issue

       

Given the total of his comments, it seems Senator Durbin is driving an implied issue: The United States is facing an immigration crisis that will start with the expiration of DACA on 5 Mar 2018. Because DACA will expire, and remove legal protections for more than 700,000 “Dreamers” residing in the United States, a suitable replacement must be enacted. – It seems that this issue is the primary legislative concern for Durbin and others. He claims that the most recent proposal (a draft bill) represents four months of dedication.

Sam:

Give me a break! – First, the United States is NOT facing an impending immigration crisis. For more than two centuries, the United States successfully addressed the needs, wants, and desires of those concerned with accepting immigrants. Given the record, it seems reasonable that the United States is fully capable of addressing current needs, wants, and desires of same.

Second, on one hand, thank you for doing the job that you were elected to get done: negotiate the making of law. On the other hand, I don’t hand out trophies or favor for claiming to do your job. Get back to work.

On 11 Jan 2018, President Trump disapproved of the proposed DACA replacement in a manner deemed hateful by Durbin. Durbin supported his claim by saying that the President “said things which were hate-filled, vile, and racist.” “He said these hateful things; and he said them repeatedly.” Durbin warranted his claims by saying, “You’ve seen the comments in the Press. I've not read any of them that’s inaccurate.” In my view, Durbin used a combined empathy-credibility rhetorical style to single out and attack President Trump. “I cannot believe, that in the history of the White House, any President has spoken the words our President did yesterday.” “That was the nature of this conversation.”

Sam:

Grow up! – You voluntarily walked into the “authoritarian den” with a proposal that ran counter to the needs, wants, and desires of the Chief Executive. What did you expect would happen? If you can’t (or won’t) check your emotions long enough to hear past the words to the message, then take your ball and go home.

The Press, all of it, is accurate. Really? – Let me get this straight. You want me to believe or agree that the Press is 100% accurate because you (a four term idea broker) claim to have not read an inaccurate report? Really?

-       Question-1: Who made the decision to feed the originating narrative to the news media on the 11th?

Believe…just…stop. – To disrespect the President himself is bad enough; but, to smear the entire Office and its history in a bid to make you look righteous is magnitudes worse? Your behavior is unprofessional and unacceptable.

The Senator continued to comment and made the following claims: Trump said, “Haitians, do we need more Haitians?” – Trump called “the nations they come from shitholes.” (Nations refers to African nations.) – Trump “used (a) vile and vulgar comment…not just once, but repeatedly.” – Trump disregards the belief held by African-Americans “migrated to America in chains.” – They (includes Trump) “scoffed” at the notion of “family reunification.” The US is “a nation with values families, with the flag as the most important symbol of our future.” “It was a heartbreaking moment.”

Sam:

Haitians – Question: Given the education and industrial ability of the typical Haitian, how would such an addition improve the ability of America to create wealth?

Nations – Given the video evidence, the only person communicating the use of “vile and vulgar” language is you. However, while I’m on this point:

-       Question-1: How does removing the best and brightest of underdeveloped African nations benefit the development of those nations?

-       Question-2: How does removing the least and dullest of underdeveloped African nations benefit the best and brightest of United States?

-       Question-3: If we cannot trust you to maintain professional bearing in the face of troubling words, then why should anyone trust your troubling words regardless of your professional bearing?

Chains – Really? You want me to believe or agree that African-Americans believe they “migrated to America in chains” is a blanket truth (all or nothing)? – Question: How and why does anyone benefit from this belief?

Families – Do you hear yourself when you talk? Is there a coherent thought here?

The Sub-Issue

       

The sub-issue is also implied: addressing the immigration crisis by protecting “Dreamers” is virtuous, and he (Durbin) is their champion. – “I have a single mission. And the mission is this. To give these Dreamers, and as many members of their families as possible, I chance to be part of America's future in a legal status.”

Sam:

Give me a break! – As the second in command for the Democratic Party in the Senate, your single mission is to push and secure the party platform (virtue by championship). – In Illinois, per the 2016 census, there are 12.8 million citizens. Of those, 0.33% are “Dreamers” protected by DACA.[3] That means there are 42,200 voters that are absolutely dependent on the protection of the federal government.

Question: How does the current immigration system and criteria unjustly target, restrict and exclude “Dreamers?”

“I am convinced that there is a majority in both the House and the Senate, both Democrats and Republicans, who support that concept.” “We're going to prepare a bipartisan agreement for introduction into the Senate next week.”

Sam:

Okay. – You are in a position to know; and are empowered by the Constitution to act in your capacity. Please continue.

“I know there's an overwhelming majority of Americans who support that concept.”

Sam:

Give me a break! – There is no way you can know this to be true. You are either lying, delusional, or both.

“I'll be on the phone today with my Republican colleagues, and my Democratic colleagues, begging them to support this measure.” “Time is running out. We have to get this done.”

Sam:

Beg, boy. Beg! – You want me to believe or agree that the deal is worthy of support because you intend to beg for supporting votes?  Why should any other Senator accept your personal crisis as a mutual problem?

“I'll tell you that I'm not going to quit.”

Sam:

Dang.

Parting Thoughts

To the best of my research, the DACA related meeting in the Oval Office at the White House on 11 Jan 2018 was not recorded by stenography or the news media. Therefore, there is no direct, publicly-available evidence of the meeting.

The Washington Post claims to be the first to report Trump’s use of vulgarity during the meeting. – Given that the meeting was not attended by the Post, and the source is not identified, then report is hearsay.

Later, The Washington Post supported and warranted its original report with matching reports from “numerous other news outlets.”[4] – Given that the prior report is hearsay, as are all subsequent reports for the same reasons, then the entire line of reporting is hearsay (at best) or illegitimate (at worst).

Finally, consider this, for the news media to populate the internet as it did with nearly identical stories prior to Durbin’s appearance on the 12^th, those reporting outlets received that information after the meeting on the 11^th and well ahead of his appearance on the 12^th.

Bottom Line: Senator Durbin is a master “hitter” on the political theater stage.

Your View

Your thoughts and perspectives are important. I invite you to tell me what you believe with the comment section.

© 2018 – SamFrescoeProject.Blogspot.com – All Rights Reserved

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[1] John Patrick Diggins, “John Adams”, Times Books, 2003, ISBN: 0-8050-6937-3 (paraphrased)

[2] John Patrick Diggins, “John Adams”, Times Books, 2003, ISBN: 0-8050-6937-3 (paraphrased)

[3] https://qz.com/1069844/who-are-the-dreamers-and-where-do-they-live/ (accessed 180114)

[4] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-acknowledges-toug (180112)