Pascrell gets weepy over refugee bill but adds little to the debate

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Well, the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 4038 (by 287 to 147) on Thursday, Save Jerseyans, giving the “American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act” designed to stop the Obama Administration’s plan to continue resettling unvetted Syrian “refugees” in our county a veto-proof majority on the same day that DHS caught eight Syrians attempting to cross the Texas border (!).

Almost a third of the Democrat caucus – including New Jersey’s Donald Norcross (D, NJ-01) – joined Republicans in passing this common sense measure despite a presidential veto threat (now likely an empty threat), effectively neutering the Left’s “Republicans are afraid of brown people” attack. Bonnie Watson Coleman didn’t vote, once again proving that her priorities are bizarre.

“My top priority is the safety and security of the American people, and last week’s horrific attacks on Paris are a stark reminder that our enemies are willing to impersonate refugees and go to great lengths to commit acts of terror,” explained Rep. Scott Garrett (R, NJ-05) in a statement after the bill’s passage. “The Syrian people seeking refuge need the continued support of the international community, and we must continue to work on a balance between helping these people and our national security.”

Bill Pascrell (D, NJ-09) was one of the dissenters, but his arguments were 100% emotional:

“Yeah, you may smile over there, but I’m very serious about what I’m saying,” Pascrell chastised a colleague while appearing to choke up. “This is a very serious moment in our history. I want to protect America. I want to be strong. I don’t agree with all of the president’s Syria policies. But I think we’re doing harm to ourselves in sending the wrong message.”

What’s hard to understand about Pascrell’s weepy message?

His exact objection to the common sense SAFE Act.

Here are the details shared by the office of our friend Rep. Leonard Lance (R, NJ-07):

•Certification: Iraq and Syria refugees only admitted if Nation’s top security officials — Secretary of the Homeland Security, FBI Director and Director of National Intelligence — certifies to Congress that each refugee is not a security threat with monthly reporting to all 12 congressional committees.

•Background Investigation: FBI Director administers thorough background investigations. Refugee not admitted until Director certifies that individual received a background investigation that is sufficient to determine if refugee is not a security threat to the United States.

•IG Review Certification: DHS Inspector General shall conduct a risk based review of all certifications and provide an annual report detailing its findings to the appropriate committees.

What’s not to like???

Particularly with Syrian terrorists attacking Paris, trying to breach our border, and Obama’s FBI director admitting that the existing process CANNOT effectively vet the new entries????

“The threat of ISIS is not contained as the President has suggested. It is not going away. So until there is a certification process in place to prevent terrorist threats in America, the Syrian and Iraqi resettlement program should be paused,” added Lance.

Yup. So again, with all due respect to the Congressman: what does Rep. Pascrell find so objectionable?

It’s the kind of intellectual incoherence you’d expect from people who are ruled by emotion.

Welcome to the Left.

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