Janet Napolitano Does Not Understand Her Role As Homeland Security Secretary

Last month, the Senate Homeland Security Committee co-chaired by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) informed Janet Napolitano that an additional $380 million had been requested on the agency´s behalf to boost our efforts in protecting this nation from the Mexican drug violence now spilling-over into the U.S…Napolitano said ´No Thanks!´

Even longtime amnesty advocates Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) strongly disagreed with Napolitano´s refusal of more funding.

Graham said: "It´s quite frankly, not appropriate in my opinion to say that we´ve got budget problems when it comes to this. I would encourage you not only to think about it but come back to us and say, ´Help me fund it.´

Graham went on: "When it comes to the idea of how to use the military, if you think there´s a need for it, let´s get all in."

McCain told Napolitano that he was worried that other areas of enforcement would be depleted if she did not accept the money.

The threat from Mexico was clearly stated by Sen. Lieberman who told Napolitano: "I think you´re going to need more resources to get the job done. I mean this is a kind of war."

Despite the Senators´ pleas, Napolitano refused to take anymore money, though our border with Mexico remains largely unprotected.

Then we have the matter of the Homeland Security Department´s recent report in which those of us who hold conservative political beliefs and have a deep respect for the Constitution, were named as a potential threat to this nation.

The report entitled:"Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," did not name any specific nor immediate plans of terrorist acts being devised by the political right, it does name the many of the causes we champion. The report claims that "rightwing extremists" distressed over abortion, illegal immigration, expansion of federal power, and coming restriction on firearms as possibly being responsible for future acts of violence.

The DHS even named returning veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as potential enemies of the state.

The report states: "The willingness of a small percentage of military personnel to join extremist groups during the 1990s because they were disgruntled, disillusioned or suffering from the psychological effects of war is being replicated today."

Really?

Napolitano has tried to sidestep the issue and the incredible insult to our veterans. She was grilled over the report on Fox News' "Fox and Friends," but ever the consummate politician, managed to never give a direct answer, and only a half-hearted and rather confusing apology for the accusation.

Apparently, Napolitano was so rattled by the interview and the fact perhaps by the fact that host Steve Doocy had obviously read the report, she later agreed to give MSNBC an interview only on the condition that the would ask no more than one question about the much talked-about report.

Recently, Napolitano has ordered a review of the very effective program known as 287(g), which trains and gives authority to local law enforcement to enforce our immigration laws. The federal program which provides a link between Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and local police departments was designed to identify and eliminate criminal aliens, as they come into the system. Unfortunately, we see far too many instances of illegal aliens repeatedly committing crimes such as drunk driving and child molestation, before they are taken of the streets.

Currently, 67 local police departments participate in the fairly new 287(g) program, which has already resulted in the deportation of more than 90,000 deportations. In fact, many believe that the program is seen as a little too effective for Napolitano, who as Governor of Arizona, was often criticized for her lack of enforcement when it came to illegal immigration.

In her short time as head of the Homeland Security Department, she has seen fit to refuse much-needed funds for her department, leveled unfounded accusations at veterans, and is now tampering with a strong program to deal with this country´s enormous illegal alien population.

In addition to those dubious acts, during another visit to Capitol Hill, Napolitano downplayed the incredible threat from Mexico. She was there in part, to explain why she had denied Texas Governor Rick Perry´s request for 1,000 federal troops to help protect his state´s long and dangerous border with Mexico.

Napolitano claimed that the violence posed by the drug cartels has yet to affect this country. She took this stance, despite the FBI´s recent claim that Mexican drug cartels are now operating in 230 U.S. cities.

In fact, within days of her sugar-coated testimony. Attorney General Eric Holder announced: "International drug trafficking organizations pose a sustained, serious threat to the safety and security of our communities. We can provide our communities the safety and the security that they deserve only by confronting these dangerous cartels head-on without reservation."

Holder´s statement was made during a press conference following a February 2009 nationwide raid, which netted 750 drug cartel operatives.

Regardless of her political beliefs and her apparent sympathy for those who lack respect for our laws and enter this country illegally, Janet Napolitano now has the responsibility of securing our borders and removing criminal aliens from our communities, criminal aliens who kill our neighbors in horrific drunk driving accidents; who poison our fellow citizens with drugs such as methamphetamine (80-90 percent now coming from Mexico); and who molest our children.

It is not however, the job of the Homeland Security Secretary to identify certain types of political speech as dangerous, simply because she disagrees with them.

This country now faces grave threats to its security, primarily from radical Islam and the Mexican drug cartels. It is more than absurd that at such a time, the woman charged with protecting this nation is instead concerned with citizens who wish that the rule of law be upheld, as well as with returning veterans who have sacrificed more for their country than any professional politician could ever imagine.

Janet Napolitano has reached a point in her brief time as Homeland Security Secretary, where she must decide to either put aside her own polarizing political opinions, and enforce this country´s laws without hesitation, or step down from her post.

We cannot afford, nor should we tolerate a Homeland Security chief who does not understand their function and tremendous responsibility to the American people.