BREAK RANK

GOP Rep: Refugee Rhetoric ‘Xenophobic’

Voted for House bill anyway.

Republican Rep. Steve Russell delivered a speech on the House floor this week decrying his colleagues’ “xenophobic” push against Syrian refugees in the wake of last week’s Paris attacks. “While I have focused my comments on actions we should take to eliminate ISIS, one action we should not take is to become like them,” the Oklahoma-based lawmaker said. “America is a lamp that lights the horizon of civilized and free mankind. The Statue of Liberty cannot have a stiff arm. Her arm must continue to keep the torch burning brightly.” He added: “If we use our passions and our anger, fear, and we use that to snuff out her flame by xenophobic and knee-jerk policy, the enemy wins. We have played into their hands. Period.” One day later, however, Russell voted for a bill expanding the vetting process for refugees from Syria and Iraq, citing his own desire for a constructive discussion on refugee policy matters.