Ad calls out Republicans trying to score cheap political points on vulnerable children
Today, ahead of President Joe Biden’s first congressional address, immigrant advocacy groups America’s Voice and Care In Action are up with a new television ad campaign slamming Republican politicians for their hypocrisy on immigration.
Republican leaders continue to cynically feign concern about children after defending Trump’s cruel and ineffective immigration policies for years like family separation and binary choice. In fact, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he is holding a press conference on the border today. This is a perfect example of the GOP shamelessly politicizing the issue rather than sincerely trying to solve it.
The seven-figure ad buy blasts Republicans like Paxton, Governor Greg Abbott, and Senator Ted Cruz for playing politics with the lives of children instead of working with President Biden on real solutions to address the challenges at the border and on regional migration policy to address root causes.
The buy includes 30-second and 60-second spots airing on digital channels and broadcast nationally, and in Arizona, California, and Texas.
“They keep spreading lies about what’s happening at the border—and they don’t have any solutions.” the narrator says in one of the ads. “There will be challenges, but we as a nation will rise to meet them, with the dignity and safety of every child in mind. Because that’s what this is really about—how America treats children in need.”
The ad concludes with pictures from Sen. Cruz’s border publicity stunts with the voice-over: “So while Republicans are fighting for attention, Joe Biden will keep fighting to get things done.”
According to Jess Morales Rocketto, Executive Director of Care in Action:
Let’s not forget we’re talking about kids and families seeking safety. Republicans have turned their back on these children, enabled Trump’s family separation policy and terrorized thousands of children. We’re sending a message that makes it clear that using children and vulnerable families to score political points is unacceptable and politically costly.
According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice:
The American people want our leaders to solve problems, not engage in endless political gamesmanship. During Trump’s relentless and cruel war on immigrants, migrant children and families suffered abuse or died in custody. Republicans stayed silent. Now that the Biden administration is working to build back better to create a safe, orderly and humane immigration system, GOP lawmakers won’t shut up. They don’t care about the children at the border unless they can use them as political props and partisan wedges. America’s border issues and immigration system cry out for solutions, not publicity stunts.
A transcript for the 30-second spot is included below:
Narrator: Republicans were silent when children were abused and died in immigration custody under the Trump administration…
Clip of Chris Wallace: “We couldn’t find one instance of you complaining and calling that out when President Trump was president.”
Narrator: Instead of working on solutions, they’re joy riding on boats.
Narrator: Republicans don’t care about children at the border—they never have, and they never will.
Narrator: President Biden has a plan to fix the mess Republicans left at the border. So while Republicans are fighting for attention, Joe Biden will keep fighting to get things done.
A transcript for the 60-second spot is included below:
Narrator: Republicans were silent when children were abused and died in immigration custody under the Trump administration…
Clip of Chris Wallace: “We couldn’t find one instance of you complaining and calling that out when President Trump was president.”
Narrator: They keep spreading lies about what’s happening at the border—and they don’t have any solutions.
Clip of Donald Trump: “The Biden Plan will turn Michigan into a refugee camp.”
Narrator: Instead of working on solutions, they’re joy riding on boats while using kids as props to score political points. After four years of agreeing with Trump, Republicans don’t care about children at the border—they never have, and they never will.
Narrator: But today is a new day. President Biden has a plan to address the border. There will be challenges, but as a nation we will rise to meet them with the dignity and safety of every child in mind. Because that’s what this is really about—how America treats children in need.
Narrator: So while Republicans are fighting for attention, Joe Biden will keep fighting to get things done.
