New York Times columnist and taxi conversationalist Thomas Friedman had what should be a historic moment on his paper’s op-ed page.
In his column published Tuesday night, Friedman said elected Democrats should figure out what their party believes in on immigration. And, he added, it cannot simply be the position that open borders are necessary and all immigration enforcement is racism, which is what they’ve been mostly preaching since late 2015.
“I don’t think the Democratic Party is just for open borders,” he wrote. But he noted also that Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., had earlier this month compared U.S. immigration enforcement to the KKK. “Alas, though, I’m also not sure what exactly is the party’s standard on immigration — and questions like Harris’s leave it open to demonization.”
Friedman bitterly accused Republicans and President Trump of using immigration as “a wedge issue” (a common media term for “effective policy position”), but he acknowledged that Democrats are out of their depth on the subject.
“Regarding the border, the right place for Democrats to be is for a high wall with a big gate. Democrats won’t do as well as they can nationally without assuring Americans that they’re committed to securing our borders; people can’t just walk in.”
As usual, Friedman went on to talk about the countries he’s been visiting lately — “am in Peru now” — and how hot and crowded the earth is. But the parts about immigration made the whole thing worth it. Democrats might want to read this one.
