Lewis: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
Republicans had the Democrats exactly where they wanted them — cornered. Over three years, the Biden administration had failed to address the escalating immigration problem, leading even the most liberal big-city mayors to demand action.
Adopting a no-compromise stance, Republicans pressured Biden and the Democratic Congress to yield, threatening to let Putin overrun Ukraine if their demands were not met. Surprisingly, it worked, as the Democrats found themselves surrounded and compelled to capitulate.
However, in a baffling turn of events, once the Republicans secured what they sought, courtesy of legislation crafted under the direction of some of their most conservative members, they chose to squander their triumph. The directive? Straight from Donald Trump himself. This episode underscores the dominance of Trump within the Republican party, revealing a disturbing trend of subservience to their leader, eroding the party’s identity and principles.
Immigration, touted as their most urgent “crisis,” presented Republicans with an opportunity for a historic victory. In my opinion, they would have gotten most of the credit for getting the bill passed. Yet, they inexplicably prioritized Trump’s personal demands over addressing a critical national issue, leaving observers astonished at the party’s lack of direction.
The repercussions for Trump and the Republicans are hard to fathom. By yielding to Trump’s influence, they now bear the blame for inaction on immigration, one of the most pressing issues in America. Biden, who sought an agreement and eventually conceded on the matter, emerges unscathed. The Republican surrender, rather than a triumph, hands Democrats an unexpected victory, shifting public blame and thwarting the need for a restrictive immigration bill.
Support Local Journalism
This move also exposes Trump’s singular priority — himself. By directing Republicans not to pass immigration legislation, he aims to use the issue against Democrats in the upcoming elections. However, the strategic miscalculation is evident, as he personally ensured that Congress did not address the crisis, rendering his approach indefensible.
Beyond the implications for Ukraine funding, this debacle marks an unexpected triumph for the Biden team. Democrats are free to propose a less-restrictive immigration bill, while redirecting public blame for the lack of action on immigration onto the Republicans. This could prove to be a turning point in the upcoming election, especially with the economy improving and immigration no longer a strong Republican argument.
Even if the bill was a compromise, it still would have been far better than doing nothing which seems to be the mantra within Congress right now. Republicans should have taken the “win” and then pushed for more action in the future when feasible. Trump’s rationale that, if Republicans do nothing on immigration, Americans will blame Biden is fundamentally flawed. This is especially true given that Trump made his wishes known publicly.
Want the news to come to you? Get the top stories in your inbox every morning. Sign up here: VailDaily.com/newsletter
I have never witnessed a more blatant case of someone putting their vanity over what is best for the country. It is just another proof point that Donald Trump has one and one priority — Donald Trump. In this case, though, I believe he made a strategic error; one that effectively will give Biden the upper hand. There is only one reason that the immigration bill did not pass and that is Donald Trump.
What seemed like an imminent victory for Republicans turned into a self-inflicted defeat. The party’s unquestioning loyalty to Trump and its failure to capitalize on a crucial issue will likely have far-reaching consequences, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the upcoming election.
Mark Lewis, a Colorado native, had a long career in technology, including serving as the CEO of several tech companies. He’s now retired and writes thriller novels. Mark and his wife, Lisa, and their two Australian Shepherds — Kismet and Cowboy, reside in Edwards.
