U.S. Senate hopefuls split on Syrian refugees

By Donald H. Harrison

Donald H. Harrison
Donald H. Harrison
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SAN DIEGO – Five candidates for U.S. Senate dramatically split on the issue of admitting Syrian refugees to the United States, with two Democrats pleading for compassion, two Republicans citing security concerns, and one Republican saying he has no problem with refugees but the total number of immigrants to this country should be cut.

The debate, held at San Diego State University and carried by KPBS and Univision  and affiliates on Tuesday evening, May 10,  heard a former state GOP chairmen, Tom Del Baccaro, take the position that until FBI Director James Comey can “insure that the people coming from Syria are safe to bring here, then I am going to side with him because it should be ‘safety first,’ as some mothers have said.”

Agreeing with him, Duf Sundheim, another former GOP state chairman, went on to say: “That means we do have to be actively engaged with our European and Middle East partners and provide the resources to make sure that they (refugees) are able to survive in an extremely difficult situation.  I am reminded so much of the Jews around World War II; we have a responsibility as human beings to look after these people, but we can let them into the country, especially when you have so many people saying they are targeting us.”

California Attorney General Kamala Harris, a Democrat, said “the rhetoric against allowing them and welcoming them into our country is purely anti-Muslim rhetoric, and we can’t afford to have that kind of voice, if we are to be leaders.  If we are to be leaders on the stage, let’s deal with that head on. We have to embrace our Muslim brothers and sisters wherever they are and not assume that because of the God they pray to and believe in, that they are terrorists; that they are going to harm us when they come here.”

U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-California, said that coming from Orange County, which has a large concentration of refugees from Vietnam, she knows that it is very difficult for refugees to go through the screening that now exists.  “It is an arduous process,” she said. “if you can’t account for four weeks background of where you’ve been, we are not letting you in.”  She added:  “There are other visas I’m worried about – the 90 day visa for example.”  But concerning refugees, “we have to be a beacon to… help those people.  The humanitarian crisis is unbelievable.”

The first to answer the question was Ron Unz, who describes himself as a Republican independent.  He said “The problem is the numbers. In other words, the numbers of immigrants are too high and are putting too much stress on us.  If we are talking about allocating those numbers among refugees and among other legal immigrant groups, I don’t have any problem with saying refugees should get some of the slots…. I am sure most of those people are just as decent and hard working as all the other immigrants coming here.”

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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com.  Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)

 

1 thought on “U.S. Senate hopefuls split on Syrian refugees”

  1. If anything, this debate was yet another demonstration of the disconnect between reality and the la-la universe in which Democrats live. Granted, it is their right to do so, but the problems start when, in pursuit of their dream society, they put everyone at risk. Compassion is a wonderful thing as long as, among the people who insist we should show compassion to, you don’t have team of trained killers with a history of atrocities already committed in Syria. What will Kamala Harris say when the first terrorist attacks here, like the one in Paris, kills and maims hundreds of people? “Oops, sorry”? This woman is dangerous. These times demand people with heads on their shoulders, ready to face a harsh reality, not out of touch dreamers putting everyone at risk.
    –J.J. Surbeck, San Diego

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