OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former President Barack Obama and other wealthy Democrats who have mansions on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard have said little publicly about the plight of illegal migrants sent there last week by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Notably, none of the island’s inhabitants, including the Obamas, have offered shelter and care for the migrants in their own homes, even as their community purports to be a safe haven for migrants and a “sanctuary.”
That lack of compassion did not escape the attention of critics, including novelist Jane Chittick, who suggested Obama doesn’t care about their dilemma.
“I don’t think people like the Obamas with huge estates who live here in the summer will care (about the migrants),” Chittick said. “I would love to see the Obamas open up their huge property and erect tents and look after all these people while they’re being processed.”
Martha’s Vineyard residents whining that there’s no housing for the arriving illegals, but the Obama mansion is RIGHT THERE
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) September 15, 2022
I've gone to the effort of helping authorities in Martha's Vineyard by locating some of the mansions where the illegal immigrants can stay.
First stop, Obama's $11.75 million estate. pic.twitter.com/McHUmeCrAB
— Ben Kew 🐶 (@ben_kew) September 15, 2022
This one belongs to Joe Biden's "climate czar." The question is, does it have a helicopter pad? pic.twitter.com/usQ7golZ86
— Ben Kew 🐶 (@ben_kew) September 15, 2022
That said, neither the Obamas nor other residents of the island had much of a chance to accommodate the migrants: Officials rounded them up and bussed them to a nearby military base on Cape Cod after the state activated 125 National Guard troops to deal with them instead, an action that drew calls of hypocrisy from critics.
Buses have arrived in Edgartown to transport migrants from St. Andrew’s Parish House.
There is one big bus and two shorter buses to transport folks off the island. People with bags are taking selfies and hugging volunteers goodbye pic.twitter.com/wuauiZM4Y3
— Samantha J. Gross (@samanthajgross) September 16, 2022
“It took less than 24 hours for the libs to kick these illegal immigrants out of Martha’s Vineyard, but Biden won’t lift a finger to deport the thousands of illegals pouring through the southern border daily out of the country,” Donald Trump Jr. observed.
Ross Douthat, a New York Times columnist, noted that DeSantis’ main point of sending the migrants to Martha’s Vineyard was to “provoke a huge mobilization” from the National Guard and to “imply a contrast with a liberal White House failing to help border communities dealing with a far larger influx.”
“DeSantis really exposed these hypocrites,” noted popular YouTuber Tim Pool, of “Timcast.”
“I thought Martha’s Vineyard was a ‘sanctuary city’?” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) ridiculed. “I thought they declared themselves a ‘haven’ for illegal immigrants?? Just 50 arrive, and the socialist billionaires send them away—to a military base, no less—in JUST 24 hours.”
“Something, something ‘In this house we believe…’ Something, something…Ukraine flag,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R), the GOP nominee for retiring Sen. Roy Blunt’s (R) seat, wrote.
“In the end, the Leftist liberal elite anthem is a word salad of virtue signaling defined by next level hypocrisy,” he added.
“Unfreakingbelievable,” attorney A.J. Delgado said on Twitter. “Are all the virtue-signaling posts, about how ‘we took them in, we stepped up and came together to help!’ going to be removed now?”
Unfreakingbelievable.
Are all the virtue-signaling posts, about how “we took them in, we stepped up and came together to help!” going to be removed now? https://t.co/fiE2bkzk1k
— A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) September 16, 2022
DeSantis’ office confirmed that he sent two planes carrying 50 illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard to highlight the record influx of illegal immigrants at America’s southern border.
“States like Massachusetts, New York, and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as ‘sanctuary states’ and support for the Biden administration’s open border policies,” DeSantis spokesperson Taryn Fenske said.
Fox News added:
Duke’s County, which comprises 11 islands off the coast of Massachusetts but is 99% represented by residents of Martha’s Vineyard, voted overwhelmingly for President Biden in the 2020 election by a margin of 77.7% to former President Trump’s 20.6%.
Biden carried every town on the island from Aquinnah on the western coast, where he won 87.6% to 9.6%, to the main hub of Edgartown on the eastern coast, where he won 70.6% to 27.5%.
Former President Obama carried Duke’s County by 48 points in 2012 and by 52 points in 2008.
