Massachusetts Governor's office in denial about refugees?

[cos]

This morning I called Governor Charlie Baker's office to express my dismay at his anti-refugee comments, which seem designed to pander to xenophobes. Spoke with an aide at his office who immediately got argumentative and defensive. She seemed in denial, which is a bad sign if that's the prevailing way of thinking at that office.

Oh no, she said, he only meant that since the Syrian government can't provide us with good data for background checks, we need to wait until they fix that. Really? What she's saying is that anytime there's a major civil war somewhere, we need to wait until that war is over and the country can put its civil service and census system back on track, before we accept any refugees fleeing that war? It's a clearly insane position, that she wouldn't even think about what it meant.

When I mentioned, several times, that Massachusetts doesn't even have a way to prevent refugees from coming here if the Federal government lets them into the country, she repeatedly ignored that and pretended I didn't say it. When I said, several times, that it's clear the only reason Baker would speak up about this in the way he did is to pander to xenophobes, she interrupted every time. She doesn't want to see it, doesn't want to acknowledge anything about it. It's like the governor's office is trapped in a self-righteous bubble of willful denial about what he's doing and saying.

If you wanna try your luck, 617-725-4005. Be calm. Be prepared for them not to listen. Maybe a large enough number of people saying what they really don't want to hear will get some of them to start thinking about what their governor is really doing, even if they'd rather not think about it because it's so disgusting and uncomfortable.

If you call, please comment here and tell us how it went?

Comments

[theloriest.livejournal.com]

I called and got an aide who was super nice, and very understanding. She said that the governor's office has been receiving nearly nonstop calls from people who have been expressing similar dismay and disgust. I told her that I hope even more people call. And that the governor steps forward and publicly reverses course.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

Thank you for making that call, and thank you for posting about it here.

[howlin-wolf-66.livejournal.com]

Yeah; if they have time to put in good background checks, it's not an emergency!

So, they'll only help in an emergency if it's NOT actually an emergency?

Well, uh ... Thanks for that, guys. Stellar. :-(

I hope the plan to get people calling works (I'm outside the U.S) but I'm not holding my breath...

[drwex]

Called, got answering machine, left message. May try again when I'm less furious.

[miraclaire.livejournal.com]

I called (on Tuesday -- just getting caught up on LJ now...). I got an aide on the phone who seemed completely disinterested -- just said "Ok, I'll make a note." and signed off. So I figure there's a decent chance she DIDN'T make a note, but I figure maybe I should give her the benefit of the doubt? I'm less inclined to do that after reading about your experience.