Appearing on Fox News’ “Lou Dobbs Tonight” with host David Asman on Wednesday, Florida Congressman Ron DeSantis, a renowned conservative who is running for the governorship of his state, slammed Democratic members of Congress who are refusing to consider supporting a spending bill to fund the government, saying, “They care more about illegal immigrants than they do about our American military.”
Asman began, “Let me talk about, Schumer was straight out. He said it was going to fall on Republican shoulders.” He quoted Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) saying. “If there is a shutdown, our fingerprints aren’t on it.” Asman continued, “This is like a criminal saying, ‘I’m just about to commit a crime but I’ve shaved off my fingerprints so you won’t be able to track me down.’”
DeSantis responded:
You’re exactly right. Here’s the thing. The House, we’ve already passed bills to fund the government for the whole year. We did that months ago. The Senate is just dysfunctional. They’re not able to really do the basic tasks of being in the Congress. So we are where we are. I think it would be absolutely hazardous for Democrats to block funding for our troops, for our military equipment simply because they’re demanding benefits for illegal immigrants. It just shows you that they care more about illegal immigrants than they do about our American military. So I think we should call their bluff. I think a lot will end up folding. But if they don’t and you have Chuck Schumer filibustering funding for the military because he’s worried about more benefits for illegal immigrants, I think that would end up blowing up in their face.
Asman surmised that because the Democrats care more about winning the House back in 2018 than any other item on their agenda, they will not come to any kind of agreement with President Trump, that they intend to isolate the president.
DeSantis replied:
I think you’re reading it right. I think Schumer and Pelosi decided, look, the energy in our base, the very far-Left, they don’t want Trump, they want us to resist Trump, and so that’s the easiest route for us, to try to gin up that base, to be able to retake the House.
I think it’s an interesting theory; I think ultimately it’s not going to work, because look what’s going on, David; you actually see results versus their rhetoric. Nancy Pelosi two months ago was saying that our tax bill was Armageddon, that the country was going to explode, it was the worst thing ever. And then, what’s happening” You have bonuses being shelled out; you have money coming back; you have companies moving here; you have Apple going to invest an ungodly sum of money into the United States.
And so, voters are going to be in a position where they are going to see that; the Democrats have said “No, no, no,” they said all these bad things were going to happen, and yet the economy’s strong; we’re much better internationally than we were when the president took office. So, I think that they’re going to do what they gotta do, but I don’t think it’s going to be effective.
