On NBC’s Today show this morning Sen. Chuck Schumer said he will ask for a repeal of Trump’s hugely unpopular travel ban today, saying “This is a blanket ban. It hurts innocent people and doesn’t stop terrorism. It’s just appalling,”
Watch courtesy of NBC’s Today show:
WATCH: “This evening I will ask for a vote on the floor of the Senate to repeal this [travel ban].” @SenSchumer's full interview w/ @MLauer pic.twitter.com/q3q0yJL11B
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 30, 2017
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Schumer eviscerated Trump’s actions, saying,
“It was done in such a sloppy and careless way. Major agencies — the Border Patrol, Customs didn’t even know about it. There were major holes in how it was done. It almost seems like back-of-the envelope. So even for those who might be for this – I am certainly opposed – the slap-dash way it was done was appalling and created the chaos. But more importantly, this will make us less safe. John McCain is exactly right. It will encourage lone wolves here in America. They have created most of the terrorism. The biggest problem we’ve had from terrorism are not from these countries. In fact, there’s something called the Visa Waiver Program which allows people from France, Belgium places with known terrorists to come in no questions asked. I don’t even get what they were getting at because they’re not even stopping terror, they’re instead doing what is in effect as Rudy Giuliani said, a Muslim ban which is not what America’s about.”
Asked by Matt Lauer what he could do about it, Schumer answered,
“This evening I will ask for a vote on the floor of the Senate to repeal this. Sen. Feinstein has very carefully thought out legislation to repeal this. I hope Mitch McConnell allows that vote…We should repeal this and then we should sit down and in a careful, thoughtful way figure out ways we need to tighten up things against terrorism.”
Chuck Schumer is right in every detail, and despite Trump’s claims to the contrary this morning, the chaos at American airports was caused entirely by Trump’s ill-thought out executive order.
And as he went on to point out, 11 Republicans have also spoken out against Trump’s order, including John McCain. Of course, any vote depends on Mitch McConnell, and he has declined to criticize Trump’s actions, which leaves that a slender reed. However, the action must be taken regardless of its chances for success and Schumer is right to speak out.
Hrafnkell Haraldsson, a social liberal with leanings toward centrist politics has degrees in history and philosophy. His interests include, besides history and philosophy, human rights issues, freedom of choice, religion, and the precarious dichotomy of freedom of speech and intolerance. He brings a slightly different perspective to his writing, being that he is neither a follower of an Abrahamic faith nor an atheist but a polytheist, a modern-day Heathen who follows the customs and traditions of his Norse ancestors. He maintains his own blog, A Heathen’s Day, which deals with Heathen and Pagan matters, and Mos Maiorum Foundation www.mosmaiorum.org, dedicated to ethnic religion. He has also contributed to NewsJunkiePost, GodsOwnParty and Pagan+Politics.
