Current Events > Anonymous House Dem says they're 'taking the bait for a hairdresser'

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/16/democrats-el-salvador-trump-deportation-cecot

The sentiment within the party about rallying behind deportees is not universal.

The second House Democrat who spoke anonymously, a centrist, called the deportation issue a "soup du jour," arguing Trump is "setting a trap for the Democrats, and like usual we're falling for it."
"Rather than talking about the tariff policy and the economy ... the thing where his numbers are tanking, we're going to go take the bait for one hairdresser," they said, likely referring to a deported makeup artist.
Only if Trump tries to deport U.S. citizens, the lawmaker argued, will Democrats need to draw a "line in the sand" and "shut down the House."

An insanely stupid coward!

Chuck Schumer strikes again

His numbers are tanking on everything, anonymous Democrat.

Some of them don't seem to be any less racist or isolationist than Mad King Donald and his court of MAGA fascists.

"Oh my god, you guys are STILL caught up on the value of human life?"

See you in hell, idiot.

This fucker needs to be named, outed, and primaried.

Proving once again that their seat at the table matters more to them than anything else. We're talking about literal fascism come to America. Even if this asshole didn't care about the "hairdresser", if they'd pick up a fucking history book they'd learn that it never ends with hairdressers.

The "just a hairdresser" thing here is an attempt at homophobic dogwhistling imo

I hope this coward who speaks from the shadows gets deported himself.

I can understand that. The people who voted for Trump are happy he is doing all the deporting stuff he promised to do. That is a field the dems ain't gonna sway and win by attacking. The tarriffs and economy are what is hurting his supporters directly. That is the front to focus on.

You can't win every battle in this war; focus needs to be on what can actually pull voters and support away from the repub side of things. This just gives Trump side an easy target of continuing their on going "Dems care more about illegals than they do hardworking Americans!"

So like it or not, what this unnamed Dem said is spot on and accurate. As much as it sucks, fighting every front isn't going to help at all in the long run. Focus needs to be on whats hurting the red voters. Not letting them forget who's fault it is. If they just see dems constantly fighting the deportation issue, and nothing that obviously helps them, there is nothing to speak to their selfish core.

Jerry_Hellyeah posted...

The "just a hairdresser" thing here is an attempt at homophobic dogwhistling imo

When you're right, you're right

Senta posted...

The people who voted for Trump are happy he is doing all the deporting stuff he promised to do. That is a field the dems ain't gonna sway and win by attacking

They did during his first term and already are during his second term.
https://bsky.app/profile/murshedz.bsky.social/post/3lmsqfw6i2k2j

Senta posted...

I can understand that. The people who voted for Trump are happy he is doing all the deporting stuff he promised to do. That is a field the dems ain't gonna sway and win by attacking. The tarriffs and economy are what is hurting his supporters directly. That is the front to focus on.

You can't win every battle in this war; focus needs to be on what can actually pull voters and support away from the repub side of things. This just gives Trump side an easy target of continuing their on going "Dems care more about illegals than they do hardworking Americans!"

So like it or not, what this unnamed Dem said is spot on and accurate. As much as it sucks, fighting every front isn't going to help at all in the long run. Focus needs to be on whats hurting the red voters. Not letting them forget who's fault it is. If they just see dems constantly fighting the deportation issue, and nothing that obviously helps them, there is nothing to speak to their selfish core.

except they are on record now saying they want to deport American citizens and this is where that fight happens

Senta posted...

I can understand that. The people who voted for Trump are happy he is doing all the deporting stuff

Deporting of illegals. Not people with legal asylum status like the hair stylist.

Senta posted...

The history books have a word for people who make these sort of coldly calculating decisions about which groups to throw to the wolves of fascism.

This attitude will get you remembered as a collaborator.

WingsOfGood posted...

Chuck Schumer strikes again

Chuck Schumer is not a House Democrat.

Probably Golden.

You fight this battle because Trump is interested in doing citizens next. Eventually there'll be no one left to disappear.

At risk of being called out on this... they are probably "right" in their assessment. The electorate has shown us time and time again they are perfectly fine with overt racism and authoritarianism and are very selfish in a "How does this make ME better while making others worse" way. I'm sure it moves the needle a bit, but I just imagine way to many people having the same sort of opinion on it of "Why are democrats focusing on an illegal immigrant who was here illegally they don't get rights, what about my eggs and Social Security!"

Senta posted...

I can understand that. The people who voted for Trump are happy he is doing all the deporting stuff he promised to do. That is a field the dems ain't gonna sway and win by attacking. The tarriffs and economy are what is hurting his supporters directly. That is the front to focus on.

You can't win every battle in this war; focus needs to be on what can actually pull voters and support away from the repub side of things. This just gives Trump side an easy target of continuing their on going "Dems care more about illegals than they do hardworking Americans!"

So like it or not, what this unnamed Dem said is spot on and accurate. As much as it sucks, fighting every front isn't going to help at all in the long run. Focus needs to be on whats hurting the red voters. Not letting them forget who's fault it is. If they just see dems constantly fighting the deportation issue, and nothing that obviously helps them, there is nothing to speak to their selfish core.

No.

You fight fascism tooth and nail every inch of the way, because that is the correct thing to do. You highlight the cruelty and disrespect for the law. Hardcore MAGA won't care, but some will.

It's their fucking job, not something to maybe find time for between book tours and lunches with corporate donors. There are enough of them to do this and more.

I have to agree with Senta. If the goal is to hurt Trumps numbers among his base then
focusing on the fact that he's costing them money is going to have a lot more effect than the deportations because his base wants these people deported anyway.

The deportations matter to people who were never going to vote for Trump anyway.

what goes around comes around, don't be surprised when they come for you next

Your average voter doesn't want to consider multiple issues at once.

Would anyone apply the same 'you won't win MAGA over' logic to an issue like trans rights, or is it just for immigration?

And why can't we talk about two things? Why is it that we have to choose either tariffs or illegally deporting someone and ignoring a supreme court order to get him back to America?

I'm sorry, but "Focu on tariffs as opposed to the fact the government is unaccountably disappearing people to a gulag in another country" is "FUCK THAT'

Imagine actually agreeing with "just ignore that they violated a litany of laws and due process to deport someone that won a court case for protected status"

Like you're throwing everyone to the wolves and you're too fucking stupid to see what that means.

ai123 posted...

Would anyone apply the same 'you won't win MAGA over' logic to an issue like trans rights, or is it just for immigration?

Apparently everyone collectively decided to ignore the trans genocide in full swing right now. So uh it ain't looking good.

Unknown5uspect posted...

Apparently everyone collectively decided to ignore the trans genocide in full swing right now. So uh it ain't looking good.

While that's true, I'm talking about people here, specifically.

"Appeal to centrists!" - Idiots

ai123 posted...

Would anyone apply the same 'you won't win MAGA over' logic to an issue like trans rights, or is it just for immigration?

This. Should be throw others under the bus as well because they're "unpopular" to a segment of America?

The US has been throwing minorities under the bus to appease the racists since the drafting of the constitution. How many centuries is it going to take for the white moderate to realize that's never going to be enough?

A_Good_Boy posted...

The US has been throwing minorities under the bus to appease the racists since the drafting of the constitution. How many centuries is it going to take for the white moderate to realize that's never going to be enough?

I think the idea here is they need to take the office back from Trump before anything even begins to get done on that. While a Repub is in office its not gonna matter how hard they fight this.

ArchNemo posted...

I have to agree with Senta. If the goal is to hurt Trumps numbers among his base then
focusing on the fact that he's costing them money is going to have a lot more effect than the deportations because his base wants these people deported anyway.

The deportations matter to people who were never going to vote for Trump anyway.

Yeah, God forbid doing what is actually correct, let's just make decisions based on what helps us politically and nothing more.

You will never convince hardcore MAGA to turn on Trump. You can however convince people who are not cultists, and taking a multi pronged approach where you talk about this and tariffs, it isn't some binary one thing or the other, more than one issue can be addressed at once. And we shouldn't be tossing people under the bus just to appease people who would never be on our side. If someone is the type to support this garbage, they probably aren't the sort you want on your team anyway.

This is also a bigger issue than 'some hairdresser '.

Even if someone can be apathetic about illegal immigrants or even legal permanent residents, they have already bluntly stated that they will do the same to citizens. It's in the open. We're not at the top of the slippery slope, were halfway down the bitch moving at Mach 5, and by letting them get away with this we are emboldening them to go further. We're are fast approaching the point this can happen to anyone, not just non citizens, and the time to stop it is now, before it escalates even further.

So you and anyone who wants to just waive it aside can pipe the fuck down. If you want to be silent collaboraters and appeasers, well history will judge you accordingly for it.

Southernfatman posted...

This. Should be throw others under the bus as well because they're "unpopular" to a segment of America?

People always recommend that

Lord_of_BeefDip posted...

Yeah, God forbid doing what is actually correct, let's just make decisions based on what helps us politically and nothing more.

You will never convince hardcore MAGA to turn on Trump. You can however convince people who are not cultists, and taking a multi pronged approach where you talk about this and tariffs, it isn't some binary one thing or the other, more than one issue can be addressed at once. And we shouldn't be tossing people under the bus just to appease people who would never be on our side. If someone is the type to support this garbage, they probably aren't the sort you want on your team anyway.

This is also a bigger issue than 'some hairdresser '.

Even if someone can be apathetic about illegal immigrants or even legal permanent residents, they have already bluntly stated that they will do the same to citizens. It's in the open. We're not at the top of the slippery slope, were halfway down the bitch moving at Mach 5, and by letting them get away with this we are emboldening them to go further. We're are fast approaching the point this can happen to anyone, not just non citizens, and the time to stop it is now, before it escalates even further.

So you and anyone who wants to just waive it aside can pipe the fuck down. If you want to be silent collaboraters and appeasers, well history will judge you accordingly for it.

That's a lot of granstanding but do you actually have a solution for "stopping" them when the dems have little power in government right now? You kinds need that, especially if the SC isn't even gonna help.

That starts with winning back seats and power, and THAT starts with attacking the Rs on their failings. If moderate Rs don't see the deportation as a failing then that won't change

I don't understand why they can't just do both. Seems pretty straightforward.

Lord_of_BeefDip posted...

Yeah, God forbid doing what is actually correct, let's just make decisions based on what helps us politically and nothing more.

You will never convince hardcore MAGA to turn on Trump. You can however convince people who are not cultists, and taking a multi pronged approach where you talk about this and tariffs, it isn't some binary one thing or the other, more than one issue can be addressed at once. And we shouldn't be tossing people under the bus just to appease people who would never be on our side. If someone is the type to support this garbage, they probably aren't the sort you want on your team anyway.

This is also a bigger issue than 'some hairdresser '.

Even if someone can be apathetic about illegal immigrants or even legal permanent residents, they have already bluntly stated that they will do the same to citizens. It's in the open. We're not at the top of the slippery slope, were halfway down the bitch moving at Mach 5, and by letting them get away with this we are emboldening them to go further. We're are fast approaching the point this can happen to anyone, not just non citizens, and the time to stop it is now, before it escalates even further.

So you and anyone who wants to just waive it aside can pipe the fuck down. If you want to be silent collaboraters and appeasers, well history will judge you accordingly for it.

You mean doing something politically that is more likely to lead to the Dems actually regaining power and an ability to fix these things? Because assuming he keeps power, it's been proven time and again he's going to keep doing these things.

Personally, I'd rather see these people actually be helped than talk about how they should be helped but what can anyone do?

Having said that, I never claimed both shouldn't be talked about or that the dude isn't a callous asshole for saying it. However, as a political strategy, which is what this dem is specifically talking about, he's not wrong.

Literally the ONLY complaints or regrets I've seen so far from right wingers have been in relation to the tariffs. They don't care if citizens are deported as long as they're the right citizens.

"Why doesn't anyone like us when we do everything in our power to make it clear that we stand for nothing and just want people to like us?"

Toonstrack posted...

That's a lot of granstanding but do you actually have a solution for "stopping" them when the dems have little power in government right now? You kinds need that, especially if the SC isn't even gonna help.

Not the issue. Just because you cannot stop something, does not mean you should just sit back and concede the point.

That starts with winning back seats and power, and THAT starts with attacking the Rs on their failings. If moderate Rs don't see the deportation as a failing then that won't change

Again, not a reason not to oppose illegal and cruel policies.

Truth and process matter

Accolon posted...

I don't understand why they can't just do both. Seems pretty straightforward.

Centrists only have the attention span to focus on one thing, and that one thing is whatever is most expedient to placate fascists.

ArchNemo posted...

I have to agree with Senta. If the goal is to hurt Trumps numbers among his base then
focusing on the fact that he's costing them money is going to have a lot more effect than the deportations because his base wants these people deported anyway.

The deportations matter to people who were never going to vote for Trump anyway.

The goal is not to hurt his numbers among his base. All that matters is swing voters. Swing voters do not necessarily hate foreigners and minorities, and may have legitimately only wanted actual illegal illegals deported.

Starks posted...

Your average voter doesn't want to consider multiple issues at once.

Because as we've seen, it's too much for the average person to think about multiple things at once, especially if it's not relevant to what they do day-to-day.
Until it's "that one thing" that severely does affect them (like how we saw with the lot of Federal workers that lost their jobs, some gave not one care about what the Evil Orange was doing until their job got cut, and only then they are now anti-Orange regime).

ai123 posted...

Not the issue. Just because you cannot stop something, does not mean you should just sit back and concede the point.

Again, not a reason not to oppose illegal and cruel policies.

If you have limited resources in money, time, ad space, voter memories, etc, does it not make sense to use more of those resources to exploit the very visible hole in the fascists armor than on something that will make you feel good but ultimately have no effect?

Nobody is saying to ignore it. They're saying, use the majority of your limited resources to do something that will actuallygive you the ability to effect change and help people rather than something that isn't.

Because actually helping people is better than sounding nice.

SecretBase posted...

The goal is not to hurt his numbers among his base. All that matters is swing voters. Swing voters do not necessarily hate foreigners and minorities, and may have legitimately only wanted actual illegal illegals deported.

That's a fair point, but I wouldn't say it's all that matters. But that's why I'm not saying one should be completely ignored over another. But if it's easily provable that the tariffs are doing more damage to his numbers, which seems to be the case both statistically and anecdotally, it only makes sense to attack that point with the majority of your energy.

Senta posted...

I can understand that. The people who voted for Trump are happy he is doing all the deporting stuff he promised to do. That is a field the dems ain't gonna sway and win by attacking. The tarriffs and economy are what is hurting his supporters directly. That is the front to focus on.

You can't win every battle in this war; focus needs to be on what can actually pull voters and support away from the repub side of things. This just gives Trump side an easy target of continuing their on going "Dems care more about illegals than they do hardworking Americans!"

So like it or not, what this unnamed Dem said is spot on and accurate. As much as it sucks, fighting every front isn't going to help at all in the long run. Focus needs to be on whats hurting the red voters. Not letting them forget who's fault it is. If they just see dems constantly fighting the deportation issue, and nothing that obviously helps them, there is nothing to speak to their selfish core.

Pretty much.

Trump lovers will say, "Lookit the Dems, they love furriners more than 'Murkans!"

And the press will spin it exactly that way, too.

The idiot middle will then say, "Why are the Dems helping me!?! I might lose my job because of the tariffs... if they aren't stopped!!!"

And shit-tier anti-Democrat leftists will say, "Why haven't you stopped Trump! You're useless, fuck you! The Democratic Party needs to DIE!!!"

Silence is violence. You're asking people to look away.

Accolon posted...

I don't understand why they can't just do both. Seems pretty straightforward.

They can.

The press, and thus public outrage, can't.

There's typically only ONE hot-button issue in the public consciousness at any one time.

Oh, I'm sorry, am I under the understanding that they were actually doing something that this is distracting them from? Also, he seems to think that people can't focus on two things at once?

Besides, if I had to choose which to focus on, protecting our prices, or our citizens, it's an easy choice to protect the people.

ArchNemo posted...

If you have limited resources in money, time, ad space, voter memories, etc, does it not make sense to use more of those resources to exploit the very visible hole in the fascists armor than on something that will make you feel good but ultimately have no effect?

Nobody is saying to ignore it. They're saying, use the majority of your limited resources to do something that will actuallygive you the ability to effect change and help people rather than something that isn't.

Because actually helping people is better than sounding nice.

Opposing fascism should mean more than 'making yourself feel good'.

No one is asking Dems to devote every last resource to fighting deportation.

But a start may be not giving under the table press briefings about not giving a shit about 'hairdressers'.