Yesterday, AZ Senator Jon Kyl’s shocking claim that in a private meeting, Obama told him: “If we secure the border, then you all won’t have any reason to support comprehensive immigration reform”, was widely reported.
Today, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer reinforced the claim, while simultaneously denying it:
“The President didn’t say that and Senator Kyl knows it. There are more resources dedicated toward border security today than ever before, but as the President has made clear, truly securing the border will require a comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system.”
In other words, no border security without our “comprehensive solution”.
And excuse me?: “There are more resources dedicated toward border security today than ever before”?
What’s that supposed to mean? There’s more need for border security than ever before, and the Obama administration is engaging in kabuki theater, while cutting resources:
New Border Patrol report garners little attention from Obama, lawmakers:
The Obama Administration is considering a decrease in the number of Border Patrol agents deployed at the US-Mexican in the upcoming months, according to law enforcement sources in Washington, DC.
President cuts border security budget
While telling the American people that national security is a priority in his administration, President Barack Obama submitted a 2011 budget proposal that includes cuts to U.S. border security.
The proposed budget cuts include a reduction in Border Patrol agents and a cut in the amount of money allocated for the so-called “virtual fence” on the U.S.-Mexico border, which critics claim is a pipe dream in lieu of a real border fence
The Department of Homeland security, which houses the Border Patrol, last year signed a deal with Interior — the administrator of America’s parklands — to cough up $50 million for environmental “mitigation” needed in the wake of the construction of a border fence. That was after DHS had already spent or committed millions more for expected environmental damage caused by the Border Patrol over the years.
Jill Strait, spokeswoman for ranking Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee Rep. Doc Hastings, said it’s in the Interior Department’s best interest to ease those fees.
“This is taking valuable money away from Border Patrol that is supposed to be used to safeguard our nation,” she said. “Border Patrol is helping to protect against environmental damage, so that should be considered appropriate mitigation in itself.”
Media Matters huffed: Right-wing media push Kyl’s flatly denied claim that Obama said he won’t “secure the border” (no link for those scumbags), as if a denial from this White House has any credibility at all, after its Sestak and Romanoff Job offer denials.
Good one.
Linked by Michelle Malkin in Buzzworthy, thanks!
UPDATE:
Megyn Kelly covered this story on her show, earlier today:
Senator Kyl stands by his account.