Wednesday on MSNBC, while discussing President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) said Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), who speaks about his “Christian heritage,” should put it to work on behalf of the DREAMers with a vote to pass the DREAM Act.
Gutierrez said, “There’s a lot of pain. There’s a lot of confusion. There’s a lot of torment, unfortunately. But at the same time, they’re a resilient community. They’re strong. We didn’t get all of the way here because they don’t know how to fight. So they’re on the streets. And that’s where we need to take and keep this campaign before. Yeah, we’re going to go into the courts, but we need to keep it also in the courts of public opinion. But, you know, just as importantly, I think the politicians should stop saying how much they care, love, admire the DREAMers. Words are cheap. Actions are what’s important right now. Speaker Ryan speaks eloquently about his values and his principles and his Christian heritage. Put it to work and set aside the DREAMers from danger. Give us a vote. Say no to your extreme right wing, the right wing of your party and give us a vote.”
He added, “Everybody knows that a wall is a non-starter. Everybody knows the following, and that is, look, you don’t pay ransom for hostages. And if you believe in principle, and listen to Paul Ryan, he says, these are great young men and women who should be put in a safe place. Why does he then exchange that for some political equation? Either he, on principle, believes there should be a solution to the problem or he doesn’t. But tell you what, no wall, let’s have a vote. You want to take the economy down the road where there’s not a debt ceiling, vote that raises the debt ceiling, that’s on you. Eight hundred thousand young people in their lives are important to me. They’re important to the American people. I’ve got to say something. I believe this in earnest. This country is greater and better than the political leadership that exists here in Washington, DC, and certainly better than the president that we have elected.”
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