Democratic Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, who is seeking the Senate seat now held by Republican John McCain, explained her vote against a bill halting a program allowing Syrian refugees relocation within the United States:

I will vote against this legislation because it presents a false choice and it betrays the core values of the United States of America.

The United States, a country of immigrants, has a long history of welcoming the persecuted and oppressed. Our beloved Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, affirms America’s core values of welcoming these ‘huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.’ And yet today, some politicians are demanding we close America’s door to Syrian refugees as they flee the brutality of ISIS and the Assad regime. These are families reeling from mass murder, teenage girls escaping sexual slavery, toddlers sleeping in dirty, dangerous encampments. The political discourse – and now legislation – targeting these refugees in the wake of the Paris attacks is truly beneath us.

Our nation must fight terrorism and global threats with every resource we have, and with all the might we can muster. We have the greatest military and intelligence operations in the world, and we must do much more to destroy ISIS. Here at home, our top priority is the safety of the American people, and our refugee vetting process must continue to reflect that. The current process involves rigorous screenings by multiple agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security and Defense, to apprehend anyone who poses a danger and attempts to hide among the refugee population.

America must always hold its lamp high as a beacon of hope and opportunity. We must not succumb to fear or paranoia. And we must welcome these ‘huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.’ This is who we are.

This article appears in Nov 19-25, 2015.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

21 replies on “Rep. Kirkpatrick Votes Against Refugee Legislation: “The Political Discourse—and Now Legislation—Targeting These Refugees … Is Truly Beneath Us””

  1. Who is going to take responsibility for their actions if and when they decide to do another Paris attack here in a US city?

  2. Our Constitution defines the elected officials responsibility to it’s citzens. It has no laundry list for core values.

    Ms Kirkpatrick, when ISIS is defeated who will run a stable government in Syria? Putin has said he is not non negotiable on Assad being removed…so will you send back all Syrian refugees?

    Move them to the Turkish border. I would have helped pay for that.

    But not this.

  4. In a 289-137 vote, the House on Thursday easily approved legislation that requires new screening requirements on refugees from Syria and Iraq before they can enter the United States.

    Forty-seven Democrats defied President Obama’s veto threat and backed the bill — enough to override a presidential veto given the six Democrats and two Republicans who missed the vote. -The Hill 3:52 ET

  5. This is why we cannot support Kirkpatrick for any office. She is an Obama/Clinton troll! Not for Senate, not for Congress. Keep the open borders closed until they are secure, there is a rational way to truly vet the intake of these failed Obama/Clinton/Kerry Policy resultant exports designed to re-engineer the US, assure more of the US is populated with ISIS Jihadis, and create more dependent Democrat voters who use our tax dollars without ever them telling us how much it is costing AZ or Tucson for them, where they are or following them once here.

    If they are forced on us, I recommend that they be housed in Pelosi’s Vineyard in Napa and Kirkpatrick’s rancho grande!

  6. She does not care what her constituents want all she cares about is what our Socialist President wants. She is horrible. She is 1% substance and 99% air, open the windows. It will probably be Bush’s fault when ISIS does attack. Get her out of here.

  9. At last, an elected official who takes a position that is not based on irrational fear. That did not come from Fox New’s incessant beating of the fear drum. Ann Kirkpatrick knows our history of providing safe haven for many including the Vietnamese after the war, the Hungarians after the 1956 uprising and she does not want to repeat the mistakes of WWII when we denied entry to European Jews and rounded up the US citizens of Japanese descent.
    Thank You Congresswoman Kirkpatrick, yours was a brave stand in this era of Congressional Xenophobia.

  10. Read this all : http://www.vox.com/explainers/2015/11/16/9…

    We already have the most intensive screening process of all countries admitting Syrians. It takes 2 years to screen them and admit them. We have admitted only about 2000 at this time as a result. If you really care about truth and not stoking fear, you will see how much is in place and the Republicans are trying, yes consciously working on creating fear and hysteria. Historically, when war is promised to protect because fear has been created, Republicans get elected. We do not need to be continually at war to be safe. Read your history.

  11. Mr Obama, claims that the majority of Syrian refuges, are either widows, children, or grand parents. If this is true, would he be willing to allow them into the White House, without having the Secret Service agents, pat them down and search them for any type weapons or explosives ? Some may argue that as president,. he must take every necessary precaution, in order to protect him, and members of his immediate family, from the possibility of an assailant posing as an innocent refuge.

    There’s no doubt, that the president loves his family. Well Mr. president, as common folk, we love our families just as much as you do. We don’t have the luxury of having someone close by, ready to die, if need be, for our sake. Mr. President, set the example, if you’re willing to risk the lives of you’re loved ones without taking any precautions, then we the people are willing to follow in you’re footsteps..

  13. Fox News incessant beating of the war drum?

    Two days ago Fox warned viewers to try to keep the risk of being killed by terrorists in “the proper perspective.” They said there is more of a chance of being killed by lightening.

    Friday the 13th 132 were shot and killed in Paris. There has not been a lightening related death in France this year.

  14. You have absolutely nothing to fear.

    According to a report based on an internal investigation, “red teams” with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General were able to get banned items through the screening process in 67 out of 70 tests it conducted across the nation.

    “Today, all air travelers are subject to a robust security system that employs multiple layers of protection, both seen and unseen, including: intelligence gathering and analysis, cross-checking passenger manifests against watchlists, screening at checkpoints, random canine team screening at airports, reinforced cockpit doors, Federal Air Marshals, armed pilots and a vigilant public,” the spokesperson said.

    http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/01/politics/tsa-failed-undercover-airport-screening-tests/

    We can all see how pitifully inept our security is?

    A lot of this is being pushed on us by George Soros and his Open Borders Initiative.

    http://dailycaller.com/2015/04/23/the-white-house-and-soros-backed-open-borders-group-strategize-about-bribing-immigrants-to-naturalize-before-2016/

  15. Jeesh, Americans are the biggest fraidy cats on the planet, despite living in La-La land.

    Try living in the Middle East, where any number of armed actors are shooting up the place and blowing things up every day, while drones and warplanes from by far the most powerful military force on the planet (you know–ours) are bombing your neighborhoods and killing your kids on a regular basis. Then you might know real fear.

    In the meantime, get a grip and quit whining when some of these desperate people in the crosshairs finally decide to shoot back. WTF do you expect????

  16. ENEMY AT THE GATES. Watch the viral video that Snopes could not debunk and showed that they actually have an agenda.

    America for Americans. Take your Pathological Altruism to Sweden or Canada, and stay for the raping.

  17. There may have been one, ONE, refuge involved in the Paris attacks. To date there have been zero, ZERO, mass murders or acts of terrorism by refugees in the U.S. We leave that to good ol’ American white men.

  18. Thank you. The hysteria in this Country reminds me of going to war in Iraq. We are sheepel, no courage, just fear. Well, the big bad wolf is fear. Political sheepel.

  19. Dave D, the president is more likely in danger from a racist, white, teabagger, xtian gun-nut that any Syrian refugee.

  20. kali, are you racist ? Oh! i’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I simply forgot the rules. If you’re white, it’s alright to use what ever offensive words are in the vocabulary in order to humiliate them, heck ! they got it coming. Right !

  21. Kali, Pam and Debbie, doing their best to put the interests of non-white “refugees” above their fellow citizens.

    What made you this way? To hate a man based on his race?

    Why is it OK to spout this hate speech and condone racism on this message board?

    Break the conditioning, stand with your neighbors and fellow Americans.

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