The “save the dreamers” gambit
Did somebody hack the Washington Post website?
That was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the title of this WaPo editorial. Shortly after Nancy Pelosi declared that President Trump’s offer of a deal yesterday was “a non-starter,” the newspaper’s editorial board led with the title, “ Make a Deal. Save the Dreamers.”
To be sure, the editorial goes to great lengths to include a barrage of insults to the President before getting to the meat of their argument. They ensure their liberal bona fides by declaring that he doesn’t deserve to be rewarded for “ taking the government hostage ” and building so much as one foot of new wall on the border would only reinforce his “ hateful, anti-immigrant rhetoric.” But after they get all that out of the way, they explain their conclusion and why saving the dreamers is worth the price of having to make a concession to the president they hate with a burning passion. (Emphasis added)
Mr. Trump’s offer should be welcomed but not accepted as the final word. There should be room to talk about the amount of money; how border security will be defined and enhanced; which categories of dreamers and TPS beneficiaries are covered; what their legal status will be, and for how long. But to refuse even to talk until the government reopens does no favors to sidelined federal workers and contractors.
Unquestionably a deal would contain galling elements for both sides; that’s the nature of compromise.
