Stephen Miller vs. Jim Acosta: No Holds Barred

 

Despite CNN’s protests, there might be a reason White House staffers don’t call on Jim Acosta more often. On Wednesday, the aggrieved correspondent had an intense six-minute back-and-forth with Trump aide Stephen Miller on the administration’s immigration reform plan. It got … testy.

Throughout the exchange, Acosta seemed less a reporter than a Democratic candidate. Who do you think got the better of the debate: Miller or Acosta?

Published in Immigration, Politics
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  1. Kim K. Inactive
    Kim K.
    @KimK

    Couldn’t help thinking about this scene. Bravo to Miller for sticking it to Jimmy, Jim, Jim, Jimmy, Jim, Jim…

    • #31
  2. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Acosta’s Racism is just really bugging me. Here are all the countries that have more English speakers than Australia, plus Australia for comparison:

    Country Total English speakers As first language As an additional language
    United States 251,388,301 225,505,953 42,938,196
    India 125,344,736 226,449 125,118,287
    Philippines 89,800,800 36,935 89,000,000
    Nigeria 79,000,000 79,000,000
    United Kingdom 59,600,000 54,400,000 5,128,000
    Germany 46,272,504 272,504 46,000,000
    Bangladesh 30,108,031 709,873 29,398,158
    Canada 28,360,240 18,858,980 9,501,260
    Egypt 28,101,325 28,101,325
    France 23,000,000 23,000,000
    Ghana 18,000,000 18,000,000
    Australia 17,357,833 15,013,965 2,343,868

    Why is Acosta bigoted against Indians, Filipinos, Nigerians, Germans, Bangladeshis, Egyptians, French, and Ghanaians?

     

    • #32
  3. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):
    Miller is effective because he is calm, factual, and argues using the inconsistencies that progressives have in their immigration argument. He’s actually driving wedges between parts of the left coalition. Mickey Kaus, where are you?

    This is how you do it. Too often we’ve had discussions here that are artificially binary – either you are with the GOP leadership, who are reluctant to get aggressive, and mostly inept when they do, or with Trump’s random ramblings because he’s a fighter, no matter how counterproductive much of it has been. I like those who fight effectively.

    If the GOP had any brains it would make sure this is how they start any argument over the proposal (I know, I live in a dreamworld). Repetition and clearness in messaging is all. Trump’s most effective messaging by far has been Fake News. He took something started by Democrats, adapted for his own use, and turned it around on them. It works because he uses it all the time (branding) and the Dems and media cannot resist playing into it by their constant deployment of fake news which reaffirms his point every single day.

    There you put your finger on the primary reason I don’t get as put out with Trump as I normally would.  I’ve lived through decades of so-called conservative Republicans who buy in to the Left’s assumptions and either mumble-mumble their way to a change of subject, or try to explain why the Republican proposal is really more left-wing than the Democrats’ (which no one buys).

    I remember a discussion with a friend leading up to the 2012 primary season.  He was cheering on Gingrich, and I pointed out that I didn’t think Newt could win the general election.  He conceded that I might be right, but he was just hyped at the thought of Gingrich debating Obama.  At some point, you just want someone to stand up for your (supposedly, their) side.  That’s long been Gingrich’s main draw.

    The Trump push-back is refreshing, in spite of his multitude of flaws.

    • #33
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    iWe (View Comment):
    pass the AP US History test

    Most American’s can’t even do that.

    Exactly, Jamie. We can breed our own ignorant masses. We don’t have to take in the rest of the world’s ignorant masses.

    • #34
  5. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Acosta’s Racism is just really bugging me. Here are all the countries that have more English speakers than Australia, plus Australia for comparison:

    Country Total English speakers As first language As an additional language
    United States 251,388,301 225,505,953 42,938,196
    India 125,344,736 226,449 125,118,287
    Philippines 89,800,800 36,935 89,000,000
    Nigeria 79,000,000 79,000,000
    United Kingdom 59,600,000 54,400,000 5,128,000
    Germany 46,272,504 272,504 46,000,000
    Bangladesh 30,108,031 709,873 29,398,158
    Canada 28,360,240 18,858,980 9,501,260
    Egypt 28,101,325 28,101,325
    France 23,000,000 23,000,000
    Ghana 18,000,000 18,000,000
    Australia 17,357,833 15,013,965 2,343,868

    Why is Acosta bigoted against Indians, Filipinos, Nigerians, Germans, Bangladeshis, Egyptians, French, and Ghanaians?

    Some of those numbers don’t add up.

    • #35
  6. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):
    Miller is effective because he is calm, factual, and argues using the inconsistencies that progressives have in their immigration argument. He’s actually driving wedges between parts of the left coalition. Mickey Kaus, where are you?

     

    Remember how hard the Left worked trying to discredit and get rid of Miller early. I really admire his ability to deal with his subject.

    • #36
  7. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    Percival (View Comment):
    The companies currently bringing in H-1B visa holders would squawk because their market for indentured servants new talent would shrink.

    H1B visas should be purchased with closed bids. And they should not be automatically renewed.

    As Daniel Dravot said, Let’s see how Mark Zuckerberg likes it when he’s earning cows for someone else.

    • #37
  8. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    iWe (View Comment):
    pass the AP US History test

    Most American’s can’t even do that.

    Exactly, Jamie. We can breed our own ignorant masses. We don’t have to take in the rest of the world’s ignorant masses.

    Oh sigh.

    • #38
  9. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    Percival (View Comment):
    I remember Jim Acosta from when he was a reporter in Chicago, but only barely.

    I have no problem with the bill, as long as those admitted get a green card from the get-go so they would be free to compete on the open market. The companies currently bringing in H-1B visa holders would squawk because their market for indentured servants new talent would shrink.

    ha ha ha. I saw part of your comment in the site activity, and when I read the part I could see, I immediately thought, wait, that makes H-1B visas sound like selling folks on the market. I got to go see that comment.

    Didn’t we abolish selling imported humans on the open market, a few years ago, when Sherman (War is Hell) mercilessly ripped a path through Georgia?

    I kind of remember learning that in 8th grade…

    • #39
  10. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):
    At the end of the clip (when Miller was talking to someone else) you can hear Acosta muttering “You called me ignorant on national television!”

    Well, Jim, we can turn the cameras back off if you like. But then you wouldn’t get to grandstand on national television.

    I’d have called him stupid on national television. Ignorance is addressable. Stupid is not.

    • #40
  11. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    blood thirsty neocon (View Comment):
    walls don’t prevent people from applying for green cards.

    That is a slogan I can get behind.

     

    • #41
  12. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):
    Some of those numbers don’t add up.

    I know. There was a footnote in my source. Still, they aren’t that far off.

    • #42
  13. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    iWe (View Comment):
    pass the AP US History test

    Most American’s can’t even do that.

    Exactly, Jamie. We can breed our own ignorant masses. We don’t have to take in the rest of the world’s ignorant masses.

    Oh sigh.

    As if Jim Acosta were not a blazing example of this. We may need more immigrant reporters.

    • #43
  14. ZStone Inactive
    ZStone
    @ZStone

    blood thirsty neocon (View Comment):
    I liked the part when Acosta mumbled something about a wall, and Miller pointed out that walls don’t prevent people from applying for green cards. It just goes to show you that you really don’t need to know very much to be an MSM reporter.

    He, like many progressives/journalists, deals in notions instead of arguments. The notion is “immigrants = good”, the argument is that “legal” is an important distinction. His apparent confusion belies any deep understanding of the issue, he can’t comprehend why he’s being rebutted. He, like so many others, just hasn’t thought deeply about the issue. It’s not that you need a PhD to understand immigration policy, it’s that you can’t substitute emotion and moralization for many hours of thinking.

    • #44
  15. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Steve C. (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):
    The companies currently bringing in H-1B visa holders would squawk because their market for indentured servants new talent would shrink.

    H1B visas should be purchased with closed bids. And they should not be automatically renewed.

    As Daniel Dravot said, Let’s see how Mark Zuckerberg likes it when he’s earning cows for someone else.

    They shouldn’t need to be renewed. The visa is good for three years. It takes 5+ for a green card. The sponsorship of the visa is non-transferable — if you’re going for a green card, you have to get renewed, and it has to be with the sponsorship of your original employer.

    It would be possible to concoct a system more amenable to abuse, I suppose, but as it is it stinks on ice. Make the visa for a longer period of time (and transferable) or make the time for getting a green card shorter. Preferably both.

    Some people who came over here on H-1B visas are friends of mine. I get invited over for Diwali sometimes, particularly if I bring the fireworks.

    • #45
  16. blood thirsty neocon Inactive
    blood thirsty neocon
    @bloodthirstyneocon

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Acosta’s Racism is just really bugging me. Here are all the countries that have more English speakers than Australia, plus Australia for comparison:

    Country Total English speakers As first language As an additional language
    United States 251,388,301 225,505,953 42,938,196
    India 125,344,736 226,449 125,118,287
    Philippines 89,800,800 36,935 89,000,000
    Nigeria 79,000,000 79,000,000
    United Kingdom 59,600,000 54,400,000 5,128,000
    Germany 46,272,504 272,504 46,000,000
    Bangladesh 30,108,031 709,873 29,398,158
    Canada 28,360,240 18,858,980 9,501,260
    Egypt 28,101,325 28,101,325
    France 23,000,000 23,000,000
    Ghana 18,000,000 18,000,000
    Australia 17,357,833 15,013,965 2,343,868

    Why is Acosta bigoted against Indians, Filipinos, Nigerians, Germans, Bangladeshis, Egyptians, French, and Ghanaians?

    Where is China? Lots of Chinese people speak English.

    • #46
  17. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    blood thirsty neocon (View Comment):
    Where is China? Lots of Chinese people speak English.

    Only about ten million according to this. They come in 27th.

    • #47
  18. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Here’s the thing: Acosta should be warned that he won’t be allowed into the press pool if he interrupts the press guy. Instead, Miller evidently has no power in that situation that he can exercise. He just has to take it and repeat “Jim, Jim, Jim.” Empower the press guys to stand against the unprofessional hacks. Hacks should not be allowed in to begin with but once it’s clear they are hacks then prevent them from heckling like this. Get control of the presser!

    • #48
  19. Robert McReynolds Member
    Robert McReynolds
    @

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    iWe (View Comment):
    pass the AP US History test

    Most American’s can’t even do that.

    Exactly, Jamie. We can breed our own ignorant masses. We don’t have to take in the rest of the world’s ignorant masses.

    Oh sigh.

    As if Jim Acosta were not a blazing example of this. We may need more immigrant reporters.

    No we just need more people subscribing to Liberty Classroom at learntruehistory.com.

    • #49
  20. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Robert McReynolds (View Comment):
    No we just need more people subscribing to Liberty Classroom at learntruehistory.com.

    Not going to argue for against more education in history, especially where history is actually taught.

    Edit: I don’t think that originally meant what I wanted it to mean.

    • #50
  21. The Scarecrow Thatcher
    The Scarecrow
    @TheScarecrow

    Mike LaRoche (View Comment):
    “Bad poetry on a old French statue is not an immigration policy.” — Kathy Shaidle

    “”Send me your tires, your cars, your metal chassis turning to debris,

    and I’ll bill you later.”

    These words, spray painted on the immortal Lady With the Torch, remain eternal, because no citizen, in a free country, has the right to remove them.”

    (A little Firesign Theater for you in the night.)

    • #51
  22. The Scarecrow Thatcher
    The Scarecrow
    @TheScarecrow

    Steve C. (View Comment):
    As Daniel Dravot said, Let’s see how Mark Zuckerberg likes it when he’s earning cows for someone else.

    Go Daniel and Peachy!

    • #52
  23. blood thirsty neocon Inactive
    blood thirsty neocon
    @bloodthirstyneocon

    Can we say that this policy proposal was rolled out well, or were there any t‘s not crossed or i‘s not dotted? I’d like a ruling from an anti-Trumper. Maybe Stephen Miller wasn’t lovable enough when he tookJim Acosta apart at the joints?

    • #53
  24. NYLibertarianGuy Inactive
    NYLibertarianGuy
    @PaulKingsbery

    blood thirsty neocon (View Comment):
    Can we say that this policy proposal was rolled out well, or were there any t‘s not crossed or i‘s not dotted? I’d like a ruling from an anti-Trumper. Maybe Stephen Miller wasn’t lovable enough when he took apart Jim Acosta at the joints?

    It’s not that Miller wasn’t “loveable” enough.  It’s that he was weak for the early part of the exchange.  He acted like he owed something to Acosta or that Acosta had a right to talk over him.  Miller should have plowed right through him.

    • #54
  25. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    NYLibertarianGuy (View Comment):

    blood thirsty neocon (View Comment):
    Can we say that this policy proposal was rolled out well, or were there any t‘s not crossed or i‘s not dotted? I’d like a ruling from an anti-Trumper. Maybe Stephen Miller wasn’t lovable enough when he took apart Jim Acosta at the joints?

    It’s not that Miller wasn’t “loveable” enough. It’s that he was weak for the early part of the exchange. He acted like he owed something to Acosta or that Acosta had a right to talk over him. Miller should have plowed right through him.

    Maybe Miller just wanted to make sure that it would be really difficult for anyone to say he treated Acosta unfairly.

    • #55
  26. DrewInWisconsin Member
    DrewInWisconsin
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Good grief. Twits on Twitter have decided that the Narrative here is “Stephen Miller hates the Statue of Liberty.”

    • #56
  27. Could Be Anyone Inactive
    Could Be Anyone
    @CouldBeAnyone

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    iWe (View Comment):
    pass the AP US History test

    Most American’s can’t even do that.

    Exactly, Jamie. We can breed our own ignorant masses. We don’t have to take in the rest of the world’s ignorant masses.

    Who says immigration is bringing in the ignorant masses? Pretty sure those legally immigrating have to pass some basic civics courses and other tests in order to get a green card. They contribute to a better knowledgeable to ignorant ratio. Also ignorance isn’t bred so much as taught.

    As to the video Miller should be promoted to communications director, he seems quite competent, even if he is not entirely correct (immigration only really fell by any significant margin after immigration was greatly restricted from 1920-1970, not natural) in history, and in his case it seems he does a good job of letting his opponent talk himself into defeat. Acosta’s repeated lack of a manners by talking over Miller when he was answering his question betrayed his desire to silence him rather than to get an answer.

    • #57
  28. Gumby Mark Coolidge
    Gumby Mark
    @GumbyMark

    The Scarecrow (View Comment):

    “”Send me your tires, your cars, your metal chassis turning to debris,

    and I’ll bill you later.”

    These words, spray painted on the immortal Lady With the Torch, remain eternal, because no citizen, in a free country, has the right to remove them.”

    (A little Firesign Theater for you in the night.)

    They also opposed illegal immigration – “May I see your passport, please

    • #58
  29. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Could Be Anyone (View Comment):
    Who says immigration is bringing in the ignorant masses?

    Try to follow along with the earlier conversation, CBA. The Arahant and @jamielockett show is a very subtle dance. :D

     

    • #59
  30. Could Be Anyone Inactive
    Could Be Anyone
    @CouldBeAnyone

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Could Be Anyone (View Comment):
    Who says immigration is bringing in the ignorant masses?

    Try to follow along with the earlier conversation, CBA. The Arahant and @jamielockett show is a very subtle dance. ?

    I don’t have time to watch you and Jamie dance. Especially if it’s subtle.

    • #60
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