Apparently Chronicle letter writers Chris Granger and Gregory Riplinger believe MAGA world is moderate.
In Mr. Granger's letter arguing that Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (MGP) is not a "moderate," he cites House measures that MGP voted against that were sponsored by MAGA House members and simplifies her reasons for opposing those bills. Mr. Riplinger merely seconds Mr. Granger's contentions. In neither instance is there a wider discussion of the facts.
MAGA world is not "moderate." I would not expect MGP to endorse MAGA positions.
For example, after Donald Trump expressed his outrage that resolving the immigration crisis at the southern border would deprive him of a potent campaign issue in 2024, MAGA world killed the recent immigration bill negotiated by the extremely conservative Republican senator from Oklahoma, James Lankford. Though conservative, Sen. Lankford always acts in good faith.
Because President Biden agreed to attach the southern border issue to vital aid for Ukraine and Israel and our allies in the Pacific region who face China's aggressive territorial claims, the president made concessions on the immigration bill that no Democrat has ever agreed to. In short, MAGA got what they wanted.
The Border Patrol Union pleaded with Congress to pass the bill, but with puckered lips firmly attached to Trump's backside, MAGA killed the bill they had sponsored. Troy Nehls, MAGA-Texas, said the quiet part out loud. "Why would I give Biden a win in an election year?"
MAGA killed the immigration bill they wanted for Trump's political purposes. It means chaos will reign at the border for the foreseeable future. The last immigration bill the far-right killed was in 2013-2014.
Now, the gaslighting begins. Now, the MAGA world story is that the bill was full of "loopholes." That President Biden does not need the bill to bring the border under control. But the bill provided vast new resources for more border agents, more holding facilities, stringent new rules for asylum and gave the president new powers to shut down the border if needed.
The Border Patrol Union understood all of that and emphatically supported the bill. The very conservative Sen. Lankford vigorously defended the bill as everything the right-wing could hope for. Now, he says a far right-wing commentator has threatened to "do whatever I can to destroy you."
I expect the gaslighting will continue, but voters can see through what MAGA world did. In the election to fill disgraced and dismissed New York Rep. George Santos' seat, Democrat Tom Souzzi campaigned supporting the immigration bill and his MAGA opponent opposed it. Souzzi won by eight percentage points.
MAGA world letter writers to The Chronicle live in their own echo chamber within which they consider themselves "moderate." The majority of Americans say they are not.
Marty Ansley
Cinebar
