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Why a Blacklist of Trump Administration Officials is the New McCarthyism

Dems embrace McCarthy-era tactics.

Immigration and civil rights groups have banded together to attack the Trump administration with a blacklist letter, calling on the CEOs of all Fortune 500 companies to refuse to employ anyone who worked – past or present – to implement the president’s immigration policies. Among those named on the list is Kirstjen Nielsen, the former secretary of Homeland Security, who recently resigned.

The letter was signed by 41 groups, including the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The message is clear: They equate the Trump administration with child kidnapping and family separation.

As Liberty Nation’s Jeff Charles wrote, SPLC “has come under increased scrutiny in response to their attempts to use their platform to smear conservatives and others with whom they disagree.” And this blacklist is doing just that to anyone associated with our president and immigration reform:

“We call on you to make it clear that you will not hire for employment, contract for consulting, or seat on your boards, anyone involved in the development or implementation of the Trump administration’s family separation immigration policy. Furthermore, you should make it clear to the lobbying shops and consulting firms you hire and the think tanks, political committees, and candidates you fund — that you will not work with or support them if they hire these individuals.”

The letter starts out sensationally bold: “Children were torn away from their parents and placed in cages. It was an image the Trump administration hoped would send a message to migrant families heading north for asylum: if you come here, this could happen to you.” It continues, indicating that because of the actions of those in charge, children were physically and sexually abused and even died. However, the photos of children being placed in cages that were circulated widely came from the Obama administration’s era:

On the list are 30 current and former officials, including Nielsen, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.

“Some of these individuals have left the administration in recent months. Regardless of when they leave, they should not be allowed to seek refuge in your boardrooms or corner offices. Allowing them to step off of the revolving door and into your welcoming arms should be a nonstarter.”

The letter was released on April 6, in time for the year anniversary of the zero-tolerance policy. The group in charge, Restore Public Trust, claimed to have placed an ad in the Sunday edition of The New York Times with the attention-grabbing headline: “Attention Corporate America: Don’t let hate into your boardroom.” The ad featured a photo of a boardroom table with a replica MAGA red hat dominating the foreground. However, instead of Make America Great Again, it reads “Put Kids In Cages.”

Karl Frisch, a spokesperson for Restore Public Trust, said the ad was a warning to “corporate America that bringing these people on, allowing them to seek refuge in their offices or at their boardroom tables is simply not going to fly with the American people.”

As typical with the left, the words, warnings, and barely veiled threats to the CEOs were harsh. The ending signature simply said, “We will be watching.”

Former and current officials on the blacklist:

  • Matthew Albence, Executive Associate Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
    ● Nathalie Asher, Acting Executive Associate Director, ICE Operations
    ● Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)
    ● Matthew Bassett, Assistant Secretary for Legislation, HHS
    ● Rachel Brand, former Associate Attorney General
    ● Joseph Edlow, Deputy Attorney General, DOJ
    ● Eric Hargan, Deputy Secretary, HHS
    ● Gene Hamilton, Counselor to Attorney General, Department of Justice (DOJ)
    ● Jonathan Hayes, Office of Refugee Resettlement, HHS
    ● Thomas Homan, Former Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    ● Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Press Secretary
    ● Sarah Isgur Flores, Former Spokesperson, DOJ
    ● Lynn A. Johnson, Assistant Secretary for Family Support, HHS
    ● John Kelly, Former White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Homeland Security
    ● Kathy Kraninger, Former Associate Director for Government Programs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
    ● Scott Lloyd, Former Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement
    ● Kevin McAleenan, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
    ● James McHenry, Director of Office of Immigration Review, DOJ
    ● Stephen Miller, Senior Adviser to the President
    ● Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Homeland Security
    ● Carla Provost, Chief of U.S. Border Patrol
    ● Jeff Sessions, Former U.S. Attorney General
    ● Judy Stecker, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, HHS
    ● Jallyn Sualog, Deputy Director of Office of Refugee Resettlement, HHS
    ● Ronald Vitiello, Acting Director of ICE
    ● Steven Wagner, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration for Children
    and Families, HHS
    ● Maggie Wynne, Counselor for Human Services Policy, HHS

The term McCarthyism has been tossed about by both sides of the aisles since the Red Scare drummed up by its namesake began. But to use it here is hardly hyperbole; if Restore Public Trust had accused the people in this list of being Communist spies rather than conservatives, old Joe would have been proud.

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