“President Trump’s policy of ripping children away from their parents is a stain on our national conscience. But for Congressman Jeff Denham, it’s more about the PR ‘optics’ disaster than demanding Trump end this heartless policy. It’s shameful, and Central Valley voters deserve better from their elected officials” – DCCC spokesperson Drew Godinich
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
GOP congressman worried about ‘optics’ of taking kids from their parents
Republicans are scrambling for cover as the controversy widens.
https://shareblue.com/jeff-denham-worried-optics-trump-family-separation/
A vulnerable House Republican is openly fretting about how “horrible” the “optics” are surrounding Trump’s new abusive policy of ripping apart families.
“Not only is the current policy unacceptable, but the optics of pulling kids from their parents is horrible for any party,” Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) told CNN on Monday.
Even though Denham critiqued the policy itself, his focus on “optics” seems out of place given how cruel and damaging family separation is.
“Removing children from their mother, and keeping them apart for days or weeks or months, devastates the most basic human relationship we know — that of child and parent,” stressed the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Still, political realities do exist. The issue is shaping up to be an unintended albatross around many Republicans’ necks this year, especially Republicans like Denham who are running for re-election in districts Hillary Clinton won in 2016.
A GOP operative recently told NBC that the issue will “absolutely” factor into the midterm elections, and that “the images are devastating’ for the GOP.”
Added a second Republican strategist, “The media will broadcast these images of brutality and chaos and the public will associate them with the Republicans that run the House and the Senate — but most of all with President Trump.”
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