Don’t Let the Media Make Up Your Mind on State of the Union.
Following President Trump’s first State of the Union I was left shaking my head at some journalist’s analysis of what was said. Especially troublesome from my crime and justice perch were reporter’s conclusions tying Trump’s mention of deadly MS-13 gang activity to all undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
The Huffington Post’s coverage of the issue was tagged with the label “Hate Speech” and included this line about the President’s comments: “His comparison between MS-13 and the millions of undocumented immigrants in America ― including hundreds of thousands of young people known as “Dreamers” ― prompted swift rebuke from Democrats.” HuffPo added a supporting quote from the junior Senator from California, democrat Kamala Harris.
“MS-13 is an example of some of the worst of criminal gang behavior,” she said. “To equate that with Dreamers and DACA was completely irresponsible, and it was scapegoating, and it was fearmongering, and it was wrong.”
Fact check: Not once did the president equate all Dreamers with gang members. Don’t let the media put untrue thoughts in your head. The closest Trump came was when he said, “Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes in our laws to enter the country as unaccompanied alien minors.” In other words, some MS-13 members gamed our system to gain entry in the U.S..
In all the breathlessly critical immigration-centric coverage there was no mention of something President Trump did say about his immigration proposals and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
“The first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents at a young age,” Trump said. “That covers almost three times more people than the previous administration.”
Ignoring that, one reporter zeroed in on the president’s apparent audacity in daring to even mention the Salvadoran led MS-13 gang.
“One of the things he said … is that he wants to have the country set aside differences,” ABC’s Chief White House correspondent Cecelia Vega said in solemn tones. “And (then he) went on to talk about undocumented immigrants as MS-13 gang members, demonizing them.”
Gee, if you can’t demonize a murderous gang what can you safely demonize? By ABC’s line of thinking one is not allowed to criticize an immigrant who commits violent crimes against Americans, even MS-13 members, for fear of being labeled a racist against all Hispanics.
But Senator Marco Rubio, a one-time Trump presidential challenger, said that to refrain from targeting MS-13 would be, “like saying that you can’t criticize the mafia because they’re Italian-American.” This isn’t racist. It is a fact.
MSNBC host Chris Matthews seemed to chide the president for having invited the parents of MS-13 victims to the speech. “The idea of being a parent, losing a kid, a child, and then having to go sit there before the American people in agony, I don’t know,” Matthews said shaking his head in disapproval. “Maybe there was some educational purpose in it but I think it could have been done differently.”
Matthews failed to mention that the parents of slain New York teenagers Nisa Mickens, 15, and Kayla Cuevas, 16, were not forced to attend. Rather, these parents volunteered to come to help the nation put a face to the pain caused by MS-13.
This type of media cove’rage and other reports focusing on the origins of MS-13 or those suggesting that America’s support for the Salvadoran civil war in the 80’s somehow created the gang and caused it to flourish here completely missed the larger point. MS-13 is currently operating in at least 40 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. It is one of the most brutal, blood-thirsty gangs to ever roam American soil and it recruits new members – both male and female – in U.S. schools with predominately immigrant populations
The gang’s core motto, according to the Department of Justice, is “Mata, viola, controla,” translated as, “Kill, rape, control.” As DOJ official Robert Hur put it, “They seek to live up to this motto through truly shocking acts of violence designed to instill fear: vicious machete attacks, execution-style gunshots, gang rape and human trafficking.” The FBI reports that MS-13 has also left its mark via home invasions, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery.
Yet to speak of MS-13 is racist? To mention these marauding criminals while discussing America’s safety is to paint all young immigrants with the gang brush? I am offended by this line of thinking. And you should be too.
As Senator Rubio also said after the State of the Union speech, “MS-13 does not go into Beverly Hills. MS-13 is in communities where other immigrants are living and that is who they prey on and that is who they harm.”
Why the self-proclaimed protectors of raciall integrity can’t see that restricting conversation about gangs and their victims is counter-productive, I’ll never understand. If we can’t talk about it we can’t fix it. Partisan parsing of words seems so senseless when people are being victimized and murdered in their own communities. When does concern over that, and finding ways to stop it, trump political posturing?
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Reader H.A. writes:
Excellent article. Being a Guatemalan citizen I know what it is to live in constant awareness (suppressed fear) of the ruthless and despicable crimes that can and are committed every day by gangs such as the MS 13 (Salvatruchas, Mara 18, etc).
People are executed, often by pre-teen killers undergoing initiation rites, simply for not paying ransom or ‘’protection’’ money. Businesses that cannot afford 24 hour armed guards often have to close. Government officials go around with armed entourages that shield them from the common danger and do not feel an immediate threat. I suppose they think that they will always be protected by their money or connections. Some simply move to other countries.
‘’Progressive’’ groups in the USA that defend these kind of people are simply naive, and have never felt really threatened themselves or had to fear for their loved ones. It takes a palpable realistic threat to change a person’s attitude toward existing laws and regulations.
Unfortunately because of the current conflicting values the USA is incapable of deciding for a practical common sense policy on how to screen would be immigrants.
And bad or seriously misguided people cannot positively contribute to an existing culture.
Sincerely,
H. A.
ABQ Journal reader Angus Jordan writes:
Ms Diane,
I’m not a regular subscriber of the Albuquerque Journal, only Sunday’s edition, but I was delivered the paper today as a gift, and I read your piece in the paper. I just want to tell you how inspiring the message was and such a well written article. Compared to what the Journal usually puts out such as Eugene Robinson in today’s paper you are a breath of sunshine and much more. Please keep up the good work.
I have read your editorials before, but I believe today’s was the best I’ve read from anyone. Again my dear Lady, Thanks again.
Angus Jordan
Reader Kevin McD Keown writes:
Diane:
Having once been quite a lefty liberal, I completely see through the joke that is the Democratic party. Statements by lefties you cited are directed towards those who ONLY watch CNN, or listen to Air America. Low, or no information types. These folks try to turn everything the president does on it’s head.. Quite honestly, I’m happy with Trump.
I go to a local leftist Special Interest Group. They told me once that, since I am a white man, I HAVE TO BE a racist! You have white skin, by golly.
Now, my mother graduated from Catholic University. of America. Nursing. Here were our family friends growing up: Mercedes Esposito, Cuban refugee, 1960, Rosie Rodriguez, from Puerto Rico, and Black, Dr. LaRue, Dominican Rep., Dr. Phillip (forgot last name), Dom. Rep.
And Mrs. Wu, Taiwan. These wonderful folks were our close family friends. “Merce” was our baby sitter. A kind woman. I often wonder what became of her.
So you are going to sit there and call me a racist to my face? Well, you stinking, reeking liberals, progressives, and Dems, these are ugly fighten’ words, and you are spoiling for a fight. And I’m gonna give it to ya.
Kevin McD Keown
Reader Tim Taylor writes:
Ms. Dimond,
I read your column this AM with interest. Let me get right to the point.
In the eighth paragraph you quote Cecelia Vega as follows: “And (then he) went on to talk about undocumented immigrants as MS-13 gang members, demonizing them.”
Then, in my opinion, misinterpreting the quote (intentionally? I think so maybe.), you use the rest of your space suggesting that if we can’t criticize MS-13, who can we criticize?
Ms. Dimond, look, you are a wordsmith. You make your living at a keyboard. Surely you have a higher-than-average ability to parse a sentence?
The end of Cecelia’s quote, the word “them.” Surely you can see that if “them” refers back to the full population of undocumented immigrants, Mr. Trump is demonizing (conflating) the whole group, not just the MS-13 criminals. That is his (documented) style.
Context is everything, is it not? Mr. Trump has a long, well-documented track record of racist commentary. Why would anyone see this comment differently? Given his penchant for half-truths and outright lies, why would we suddenly give him a pass for simply reading someone else’s words off a teleprompter.
Yet, you have my sympathy Ms. Dimond. It has to be tough duty to be one of Mr. Trump’s apologists. I further do not envy those innocent folks held up for display for Mr. Trump’s benefit – you really think he cares one twit for them?
Thank you for your work. It happens that a fair number of your columns are worth reading and analyzing, unlike some of the hard core like Cal Thomas. I would put you up there nearly with George Will, whose columns I always study carefully.
Tim N. Taylor
DD replies:
lease see my response to the reader below who brought up the same issue.
~ DD
Reader Dorothy Thompson writes:
Imprecise use of pronouns gets communicators in a lot of trouble. Cecelia Vega was guilty of not heeding the fact that an unattached pronoun refers to the noun immediately preceding.
So “demonizing them” did technically refer, as you noted, to ”MS-13 gang members.” But the logic of her whole argument shows that she clearly meant “them” to refer to “undocumented immigrants.” She, too, would, no doubt, approve of demonizing gang members.
So you erred by not accepting her intended meaning. I enjoy your column—I’m a fan—but your criticism here was not worthy of you.
This kind of pronoun mistake is very easy to make in oral arguments. Even writers need to be careful.
Dorothy D. Thompson
DD replies:
I watched Ms. Vega’s comments live on network television following the State of the Union. I don’t think I mis-interpreted what she said. I’m betting if you’d watched it you would agree.
Thanks for taking the time to write. ~ DD
ABQ Journal Reader Jim Mason writes:
Are you really so naive as to believe Trump was not trying to spur fear of illegal immigrants with his words about about MS-13? You’re either a fool or complicit in supporting his Make America White Again agenda.
Jim Mason
Albuquerque
DD replies:
My mother always warned me not to call other people “a fool.”
But to answer your question: Yes. I think one can talk about the vicious MS-13 gang of murderers, kidnappers and human traffickers without condemning the entire Hispanic race. I think conflating the two groups shows a propensity to think the worst about someone you clearly can’t stand.
That said, resist the temptation to dismiss me as a “republican” or a “Trump supporter.” I am neither. I’ve been a registered independent voter my entire adult life. What I am is a critical thinker. And no matter what some politician says I define ideas in my own head.
Thanks for taking the time to write. ~ DD
Twitter pal Dave Imbriaco writes:
But it is racist to use them as a justification for breaking up families and trying to make people afraid of immigrants in general. Not saying gangs aren’t a problem, but they’re undeniable used as a red herring/whataboutist point.
DD replies;
Critical thinkers can keep the two issues seperate no matter what an odious politican says – or what you think the politician meant when he/she said it. Its a Hispanic gang, doesn’t make one racist to say they should be eliminated.
Dave replies:
Fine, but like what someone else here said, I’m not hearing about gang members getting deported: only teachers, students, doctors and others who contribute to society. Also, to only deport gang members without addressing the whole reason why they join in the first place /// …is to treat a symptom without addressing an underlying cause. How are hispanic immigrants/MS13 any different from my Italian ancestors/the mafia? Both are criminal organizations that recruit in part because of how people in those groups are rejected by American society
DD replies:
You are just waaay off topic. the issue is MS-13 is here killing, raping, drug dealing, terrorizing. We need to eradicate them. FOCUS David.
Twitter pal Cynthia Reynolds@CindyReynolds writes:
The only problem with that is I haven’t read anything about MS13 members being kicked out, just doctors & teachers. /// I wasn’t being snarky – I really haven’t seen anything about MS-13. Do you know of an article I can read about them being rounded up?
DD replies:
Didn’t think you were snarky!You can google MS-13 arrests and/or put in a specific state … or google MS-13 deported and get a whole different set of stories. One was deported and came back to murder again!!!! Crazy!
Facebook Friend Luis Hernandez writes:
What does one have to do with the other?
Diane Dimond replies:
Many members of media (quoted in the linked column) say President Trump, in talking about eradicating the hispanic gang MS-13 lumped in ALL hispanics, including Dreamers, as being criminals. I take it fromm your name you are Hispanic. Did you intrepret the president’s State of the Union message that way? ~DD
Facebook Friend Pat Kelley Wittorf replies:
I’m NOT Hispanic, but that isn’t what I heard.
Facebook Friend Steve Hughes writes:
The illegal immigrants in the United States DO have something in common with MS-13. They’re ILLEGAL.
Diane Dimond replies:
No, that’s not necessarily true. Be careful not to paint them all with the same brush! ~DD
Facebook Friend Dawn Box Givens writes:
live in a heavily Hispanic populated state and I have never seen people who look like this. I just feel like this is just more fear mongering to keep people afraid.
Joya Colucci Lord replies:
Come to Northern Virginia and Maryland. We see them all over the place./// Dawn, You’re lucky that you were in one of the “good” neighborhoods, then. Gang violence in NoVa is on the rise in Fairfax County, of which MS-13 is responsible for approximately 70% of incidents.
Diane Dimond replies:
You don’t live in a predominently low-income hispanic neighborhood, I’m betting, Dawn. THOSE are the real vics here and I think they need protection from the gangs intent on recruiting their sons (and daughters!) into the gang life. Feel lucky that you’ve never run across a MS-13 member.
Dawn Box Givens replies:
Funny. My sister lived in Northern VA and I was there quite a bit. Never saw them. /// We deal with Crips and Bloods here, but even then, they are fighting amongst each other for the most part.
Diane Dimond replies:
But the problem is that innocent citizens get trapped in the middle of those fights, Dawn. Usually minorities who live in the gang’s hoods. They deserve protection, wouldn’t you say? And don’t you think its law enforcement’s duty to supply that protection — against ALL gangs, not just MS-13. Bloods and Crips too.
Facebook Friend Kathy Deaton replies:
Tell that to the people that have had their children killed
Twitter Pal Steve McPartlin@thesaloonguy writes:
You’re right! But it is racist to equate M13 to DACA kids as he did in the SOTU! (State of the Union speech)
DD replies:
You REALLY heard it that way, Steve? I’m no Trump fan … but I didn’t interpret POTUS comments that way. ~DD
Facebook Friend Debbie Cabrera writes:
Hispanic or not, it’s sad that there are people in this world that think it’s ok to use violence for their own crazy thinking. Sad what this world has always had, it’s just more visible now.
Facebook Friend Janelle Fiorito writes:
Nobody disputes the fact that this gang needs to be destroyed. Like other violent, criminal gangs. The problem is lumping these guys in with the whole immigration issue. This is fear mongering not constructive immigration movement. A propaganda tactic.
Facebook Friend Bill Lord writes:
When MS-13 uses holes in our immigration policies to populate and recruit in targeted communities, it is part of the immigration issue and not fear-mongering at all.
Facebook Friend Evan Rofheart replies to Bill Lord:
Exactly. To pretend otherwise does a disservice to the immigrant groups that are preyed upon.
Kyla Thompson replies:
What Janelle said.
Kyla Thompson replies:
What Janelle said.
Aj Benza replies:
You’d think people would know that!
Facebook Friend Daniel Simone writes:
Unfortunately, Ms. Dimond, we live in strange times, where just about any notion, idea, concept, or proposition is construed as either racist, prejudice, or anti this, and anti that. These misunderstandings stem form the irrefutable fact that the current generation is ill-informed and ill-advised. The liberal-oriented media outlets are furthering stoking the misguided. And I group the vast majority of the press corps as the most misguided.
DD replies:
Diane Dimond I don’t disagree with a thing you said! Thanks for saying it so well. ~DD
Facebook Friend Rose O’connor writes:
I work in criminal court and, believe me, they are real.
Facebook FriendEd Connors@econnors22 writes:
Dog whistles, Diane. DJT conflates MS13 specific with immigration general. Did it in his campaign and continues doing it. Creates tacit justification for harsh laws and ICE actions.
Facebook Friend Daniel Simone writes:
If I may add, unlike countless public figures who are afraid to call matters as they are, I don’t fear any negative responses or repercussions. In fact, if people of influence did speak out candidly and put forth suggestions on issues that require reform, perhaps the president could be more effective for the nation.
Pat LaLama replies to Daniel Simone:
Amen! For people to call this racist is absurd. Let’s get rid of them!!!! ///The real dreamers have an honest reason for staying here
Facebook Friend Leslie Davis writes:
I live in Central Texas. Very high Hispanic population. It is a giant concern here with the Hispanic population- and a primary reason many here voted for Trump. The porous border.
Pat LaLama replies to Leslie Davis::
Great coment. Documented or not- decent human beings want them the hell out of here.
I don’t have a single Latino friend or colleague who thinks it’s racist to want them gone. That’s a political strategy to make conservatives look like monsters
Leslie Davis replies:
That’s how it appears to me as it’s my Hispanic co workers and clients that fear them the most. And to them- the fear is very real.
Facebook Friend Tina Yamashiro writes:
People wake up… MS 13 Salvadorian’s gang originated in US many years ago….there are many other gangs just as evil.. KKK comes to mind of evil …
Leslie Davis replies:
It doesn’t matter where they originated. They are now a dominant gang in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and huge in Northern Mexico. Recruiting young illegal border crossers and young illegal men in large cities is a huge problem. They are easily one of the most dangerous Gangs in North America. As despicable as the KKK are- their numbers are pittance against the growth of this gang. Not to mention the violence. The scourge of the KKK is ours to bear. Much of the M 13 issue can be helped at the border.
Leslie Davis replies:
It doesn’t matter where they originated. They are now a dominant gang in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and huge in Northern Mexico. Recruiting young illegal border crossers and young illegal men in large cities is a huge problem. They are easily one of the most dangerous Gangs in North America. As despicable as the KKK are- their numbers are pittance against the growth of this gang. Not to mention the violence. The scourge of the KKK is ours to bear. Much of the M 13 issue can be helped at the border.
Facebook Friend Patricia Ramsey Neumann writes:
The MS 13 gang stabbed a man 100 times, cut out his heart and decapitated him. This was last November 2017 in Maryland. They are vicious with no care for human life.
Facebook Friend Elisa Porcu writes:
They are Animals who does that for a thrill
Facebook Friend Andrew Richter writes:
If you think the President isn’t playing on xenophobia by repeatedly mentioning MS-13 and never discussing violent white supremacist groups, you’re being intentionally naive.
Diane Dimond replies:
I think your dislike for this president may be clouding your understanding of the obvious threat this uber-violent gang presents in several American cities.
Elisa Porcu replies:
Anyone who doesn’t understand should read the story of the two young girls on Long Island what the gangsters did to them may they RIP the had a painful death so sad .They have to destroy the gangs
Facebook Friend Barbara Jean writes:
This gang is in a town near me and its not good at all!
Facebook Friend Denise Conroy writes:
This isn’t about Trump! They’re pure evil and need to be removed from this planet!!!
Facebook Friend Savannah Silver writes:
Hi Diane, I live on Long Island and MS-13 has been a presence there for over 40 years, They would come into our upper middle class neighborhoods and sell drugs to our kids, graffiti fences and sides of houses, but the oddest thing was, you never saw them, you knew they were there but never saw them, as well Long Island is a hotbed for neo-Nazi’s especially in the area of Riverhead in suffolk county, I am in the three village area and we have found flyers on our laws for rally’s being held over the years,
The President is not going to ever clean up these messes as they have been deeply deeply a presence in the area of Nassau and Suffolk County’s for decades, You can talk a good game as President but he has no idea how to stop it … the MS-13 Gang lives in our neighborhoods, along side of us, the kingpins are upstanding citizens ( clearing my throat ) But if you would like the facts about MS-13 on Long Island NY where they are I would be happy to speak with you about it.
There is not an area that does not have a reach of their web . Did I ever feel threatened by them, NO because I am not feeding their income. Stop the Drug Issue, Dry up the reason they are there, and watch them hot have money to live on long island. there is a Great Documentary on Cable, Title, “The Seven Five (75th) within this great story one person states, Go into (any)the Ghetto and you will find more money then in Beverly Hills. bold Statement , it is so worth the watch. Quite the education, may not be MS-13 but … really it is all the same.
Footnote, when my two now 29 and 27 year old sons were 3-5 where were in a local Pizza Place in Miller Place NY for lunch, local for us, two lovely police officers seeing them dressed in Pink Ralph Lauren Polos and matching Blue shorts, bowl cut haircuts beaming with life, He stated ….as they get older they will be targets of Drug Dealers as they seemingly have money … thankfully they never were in any trouble with drugs, but one of their Highschool friends Died two Christmas’s ago from a over does of Heroin, That would be the area of East Setauket, NY.
We will never rid ourselves of them, because there is always someone willing to buy. Suffolk County has one of the highest of not highest paid police departments in the country, along with in our area the highest paid teachers in the country as well. We are not Beverly Hills, but the drug dealers do not need Beverly Hills, all they need is White Upper Middle s Neighborhoods to keep them in business. I could talk to you for hours on this, Check out Smithtown High School (there are two, find out if they still have police dogs in there, Upper middle class School, Ward Melville HS is known by the kids as the Pharmacy. My Children went to HS there and although never were into that, it was easily gotten if you wanted it.
My Children have graduated College and are now established , do not think it is over. MS-13 has to much at stake to ever leave or stop all over Long Island. The two girls murdered I do not think were from our area and our type neighborhoods, they do not kill the kids with the money. More to the story of those two girls. I assure you. Just speaking from absolute Knowledge … The things I could tell you.
Lori Johns Lafferty replies:
Everybody should watch ‘The Seven-Five’.
Facebook Friend Evan Rofheart writes:
I have seen some of these folks up close, MS-13 does not deal with ghettos, they are not creating a violent “Club” like old style gangs, they are a very criminal enterprise. I used to live in Suffolk County NY, and MS-13 now controls most of the maids and employees of estates in the Hamptons and other wealthy areas of Long Island. It is about money, the immigrant (legal or not) are forced to pay a percentage of their salary to MS-13.
Facebook Friend Jill Brooke writes:
I agree that there are some policies that are worth applauding –
Facebook Friend Nancy Spieker Robel writes:
You hit the nail on the head, Diane and we need to get a handle on this problem. Every problem the President outlined needs a multi pronged solution and if the Democrats don’t stop sitting down on the job…well, they can forget any gun control reform.
Facebook Friend William King writes:
I had no idea all of this was going on. This is more than local Police can handle. There should be a highly trained and outfitted gang task force created to eliminate these monsters.
Facebook Friend Ted Brassfield writes:
Is MS13 bad? Yes, so can’t argue with that, so is sabotaging health care puts millions in jeopardy, cutting regulation on food, water and air puts millions in jeopardy too. Opiod abuse needs more than hollow talk; needs $. Also, no word on White Supremacists who are a major threat. So is MS13 bad, no brainer. It’s easy to put scary pics up and ues they are scary so are alot of other things !
Diane Dimond replies:
Sadly, you are off topic here, Ted. I write about crime and justice issues not health care or environmental regulations. and one more point: If we don’t see the gang member’s faces and we don’t talk about all the scary things they do – how will we ever figure out the best way to combat them? ~DD
Facebook Friend Wendy Kretch writes:
Well I hate the illegitimate President and I hate MS-13. I think you can do both.
Richard Hydell replies to Wendy Kretch:
Sad
Manage
Diane Dimond replies to Wendy Kretch:
This is not a column about the president. If you don’t like him – that’s okay with me. But I think Trump haters ignore big issues he brings up at their peril. No, the country’s peril. ~DD
Facebook Friend Amber Briscoe writes:
I do dislike the president. And mass shootings are entirely more relevant to my life and more pressing. But the difference is NRA money keeps this off the table. There’s no such financial incentive to keep this administration from targeting minorities. Yup gang violence is scary. But Sandy Hook is about 10 miles from me. And yet we hear crickets. Bump stock anyone?
Facebook Friend Kim Phillip writes:
Not sure why anyone would dismiss the violence! How many young people will be murdered or hooked on drugs for Americans to see, they don’t care, they are not pillars of society.