Every informed person knows that the centerpiece of Donald Trump’s campaign is his no-nonsense approach to immigration. For his blunt talk on the topic, he has been criticized by both liberals and conservatives. Of course, such criticism from liberals is nothing new, but what explains the flak from conservatives? Some of the best-known conservative intellectuals have not merely criticized but excoriated Trump for his tough talk on illegal immigration.
Therefore, it is time that conservatives with immigrant experience defended Trump. As a conservative and naturalized American, I have such experience firsthand, having taken the trouble to legally immigrate here. Tolerating illegal immigration is a slap in the face to every immigrant who patiently went through the system. Therefore, I am delighted that finally there is someone running for president who has the guts to say in public what many Americans, native or naturalized, have been saying in our living rooms for years.
I believe Trump’s conservative critics have failed to understand the angst on main-street America. Put simply, the trouble is many of them are Washington insiders and have become unwittingly inured to meek, politically correct speech; thus they are repulsed by blunt talk such as Trump’s. Yet that is exactly what America needs. Trump has single-handedly done more to crush PC nonsense than a hundred conservative radio shows could. Granted, some of his remarks are crude, but in a way they endear him to the average guy.
The fact that Trump has become a national force is evidence that the soft, offend-nobody approach to immigration — or any other issue — does not impress people. Americans have had enough with illegal immigration. They realize that only tough enforcement will prevent illegal immigration.
In fact, the conservatives who condemn Trump’s immigration stance have not only failed to understand the angst on main street, they have also failed to understand a bigger point. That is, since immigration is a thorny issue, anyone who is willing to get his hands pricked by such thorns is obviously capable of confronting the other tough issues of our time.
Conversely, why would Americans think someone who cannot even bring himself to talk tough on immigration could enact tough policies against illegal immigration? In other words, the easy part is talking; the hard part is actually enacting what you promised. But if you cannot even do the easy part, why would anyone think you could do the hard part?
Of course, there are plenty of politicians who do the easy part — talking — very well and utterly fail at the hard part. But this is where Trump is incomparably different. Americans know he is a very successful businessman. And in business, talking is not enough — you have to actually bring results. Consequently, Trump has a certain automatic credibility in the minds of many Americans. You don’t have to ask a lion to prove his hunting skills; you just know he can do it.
The Republicans who want Trump to pull his punches would have also advised Ronald Reagan to refrain from demanding “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” They would have thought that would be too provocative, coarse and unpresidential. Of course, this is not to suggest Trump is our next Reagan. Reagan was one of a kind in greatness.
As a multibillionaire, Donald Trump probably enjoys more luxury in a day than a middle-class American such as I could even imagine during a lifetime. Yet, as a self-made American whose journey began in the Third World, I know firsthand how self-reliance and hard work can transform your life in America. But America today is led by politicians who mislead the people into thinking that there is something fundamentally wrong with the values that made America great in the first place. This is why Trump’s patriotic message of “make America great again” resonates with so many Americans, even among those who would otherwise begrudge his sybaritic flamboyance.
In fact, there is a unique self-reliant aspect of Trump’s campaign that enhances his credibility. While other candidates are pleading for contributions from wealthy donors, Trump is running essentially a self-funded campaign. If we want a candidate not beholden to favors for the powerful elites, then who better than a man who needs no money from powerful contributors?
One final thought. For decades, conservative intellectuals have upbraided their liberal counterparts for the latter’s presumption that average people are basically stupid (and thus need government programs to guide them through life). Ironically, it is now conservative intellectuals who seem to think that average conservatives who support Trump must be basically stupid. What it shows is that intellectuals of both parties are hopelessly out of touch with reality.
Ian de Silva is an engineer with side interests in history and politics.Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
