The Racist Fence

Last week the President went down to El Paso to talk about Immigration Reform...the Democrat form of Immigration Reform. Pushing the DREAM Act (i.e. amnesty) and whatnot. But he also bragged on a bunch of accomplishments, one of which being the allegedly formidable border fence.

According to the official, placed on the internet, transcript, the President said: "The fence is now basically complete."

Despite the fact that this is patently untrue, the most interesting item is the audience reaction. Lets take a wider look at the transcript....

"Then they wanted a fence. Well, the fence is --

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: The fence is now basically complete.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Tear it down!

THE PRESIDENT: Then we’ve gone further...."

Interesting....the President wants to brag on the fence, but the crowd at his campaign rally speech wants to get rid of it... It makes you wonder if the White House doesn't know its audience, or the comments were intended for other ears, particularly though a stand-alone sound bite on the news.

It also makes you wonder why the White House would leave the audience comments in the transcript. Might they reflect what the White House really feels?

And while we are on the subject of curious transcript inclusions, check out this exchange...

So, here’s the point. I want everybody to listen carefully to this. We have gone above and beyond what was requested by the very Republicans who said they supported broader reform as long as we got serious about enforcement. All the stuff they asked for, we’ve done. But even though we’ve answered these concerns, I’ve got to say I suspect there are still going to be some who are trying to move the goal posts on us one more time.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: They’re racist!

THE PRESIDENT: You know, they said we needed to triple the Border Patrol. Or now they’re going to say we need to quadruple the Border Patrol. Or they’ll want a higher fence. Maybe they’ll need a moat. (Laughter.) Maybe they want alligators in the moat. (Laughter.) They’ll never be satisfied. And I understand that. That’s politics.

The first salient point (outside of the alligator demagoguery) is the fact that the President didn't object to the characterization that Republicans are racist. I mean, if it was clear enough and important enough to make the official transcript, I am sure the President must have heard it. But he didn't object... And if it was clear enough and important enough to make the official transcript, that tells me that it was an intentional inclusion by the White House communications staff.

Second, this was a speech where the President said "And that’s where you come in. I’m going to do my part to lead a constructive and civil debate on these issues...So I’m asking you to add your voices to this debate...."

Well, his Democratic audience did add their voice to the debate....but it was anything but constructive and civil...