Democratic Rep. Becca Balint’s blunt talk at a Vermont town hall has sparked outrage.
At a Newport, Vermont, town hall late last month, Balint claimed that America’s survival hinges on migrant labor, warning that without legal pathways for workers, essential jobs will go unfilled. A crude remark about needing migrants to “wipe our asses” drew gasps from constituents, as the Daily Caller reports. This isn’t leadership -- it’s pandering to progressive dogma.
Balint argued that immigration isn’t just political but an “existential issue” for the nation. She suggested that President Donald Trump’s promised deportation policies would cripple industries reliant on low-wage workers. Sounds like fearmongering to dodge the real issue: unchecked borders.
During the Newport event, Balint fielded questions and touted her congressional work. Her focus, though, was her dire warning that America needs migrants to fill labor gaps. That’s a convenient excuse for open-border policies dressed up as pragmatism.
Trump, meanwhile, has doubled down on his pledge for mass deportations, targeting unauthorized migrants with criminal records. A Marquette Law School poll shows most voters back this approach. Balint’s out of touch if she thinks Americans want excuses over action.
Balint’s quip about having “not enough people to fill the jobs” -- implies that citizens can’t or won’t do the work. It’s a slap in the face to hardworking Americans who don’t need lectures on labor shortages. Her rhetoric reeks of elitism, not solutions.
Elsewhere, Democrat Newark Mayor Ras Baraka made headlines in early May when he was arrested outside an ICE facility. Baraka was trying to join a tour with the New Jersey Reps. Robert Menendez, Jr., LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman. Protesting ICE while crime surges? Bold move, but misguided.
In another stunt, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen took a taxpayer-funded trip to El Salvador to advocate for an unauthorized migrant, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia. Using public funds to champion lawbreakers is a tough sell when voters demand border security. Van Hollen’s priorities seem more performative than principled.
Liberal groups have also blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang. Shielding dangerous criminals under the guise of compassion isn’t progressive -- it’s reckless. Balint’s silence on this speaks volumes.
On June 2, the Supreme Court handed Trump a win, allowing his administration to strip deportation protections for certain Venezuelan nationals. This ruling aligns with public sentiment favoring tougher immigration enforcement. Balint’s doom-and-gloom narrative doesn’t hold up against these realities.
Balint’s claim that America faces an “existential” crisis without migrant labor ignores the bigger picture. Legal immigration pathways exist, but rewarding illegal entry undermines fairness. Her argument feels like a recycled talking point, not a policy solution.
Trump’s deportation plan, while controversial, targets those who’ve broken the law. Most Americans, per the Marquette poll, see this as common sense, not cruelty. Balint’s hand-wringing over labor shortages sidesteps the need for secure borders.
Balint’s “wipe our asses” comment wasn’t just crude -- it was revealing. It suggests a worldview in which Americans are too lazy or incapable to fill jobs, and migrants are mere tools to plug the gap. That’s not leadership; it’s condescension.
Her town hall performance was less about engaging Vermonters and more about preaching a progressive gospel. If Balint thinks vulgarity and scare tactics will sway voters, she’s misreading the room. Americans want results, not rhetoric.
The immigration debate deserves better than Balint’s crude oversimplifications. While she frets over labor shortages, voters are demanding accountability and secure borders. Time for Congress to prioritize citizens over soundbites.
