Washington, DC – Despite the clear connections to mass murders in Buffalo, El Paso, Pittsburgh and elsewhere, new polling from NPR/Ipsos asking Americans about “invasion” rhetoric reveals disturbing findings. Over 54% of Americans believe that it is either somewhat or completely true that we are experiencing an invasion at the southern border with 76% of Republicans believing this to be true.
While these findings are concerning, they are not surprising. This polling explicitly shows what we have been tracking: Republicans are making investments in these lies, their base is buying it and it is bleeding into the mainstream as Republicans have hoped. The polling is evidence that Democrats must urgently intervene in this debate and disrupt the current narrative to set the record straight, offer popular and achievable solutions, and counter white nationalist tropes before more people are gunned down.
From open borders to fentanyl to invasions, the GOP’s nativist narrative has no basis in fact. The borders are not open, nor do Democrats support such ideas. In fact, most of those coming to the border are quickly deported, while ports of entry still remain closed to asylum seekers. The one thing the complex issue of fentanyl problem is not is an immigration issue. And, the idea that there is a real “invasion” at the border doesn’t even come close to plausible, but clearly does suggest to some well-armed Americans that a violent response is somehow warranted.
Democrats have genuine, popular and achievable approaches to these problems, but Republicans keep voting against them in favor of pushing their own disinformation and distraction.
The following is a statement from Zachary Mueller, Political Director of America’s Voice:
“The NPR/Ipsos poll suggests the Republicans’ narrative, however false, is making gains in voters’ minds. Most Republicans believe the lies, even the white nationalist one about ‘invasion.’ We have already seen the deadly downstream consequences of this racist idea from Pittsburgh to El Paso to Buffalo. This should be a warning sign for the urgent need to disrupt the GOP’s dangerous political messaging. Going into the midterms, Democrats need to lean in with values-based solutions and call out Republican extremism and nativist lies.”
