The Obama Administration sent its “Resident Expert” on refugee screening to answer questions before Congress, Dept. of Homeland Security Deputy Assistant Secretary for Screening Coordination, Kelli Ann Burriesci. You kind of expect a “Resident Expert” to know their job well enough to answer basic questions about it. Like, if you were a delivery driver for FedEx and somebody asked how many deliveries you made every day or how many miles you drove, you would be able to answer that. And if you couldn’t, people might think you’re an idiot. Especially if you knew in advance you were going to be asked questions about your job.
Anyway, here’s how the Obama Administration’s “Resident Expert on Refugee Screening” answered some questions about her area of expertise. (Hat Tip: Patterico)
How many Syrian refugees have entered the U.S. in the last year” Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) asked Burriesci.
“Sorry, I didn’t bring any of the refugee numbers with me,” she responded.
Jordon then asked: “Do you know how many Americans have traveled to Syria in the last year?”
“I don’t have that number on me either,” the official responded.
“So you wouldn’t know how many Americans have traveled there and returned?” Jordan pressed.
“I don’t have that number on me,” Burriesci stated.
When asked by Jordan, “How many visa waiver program overstays are there currently in the U.S.,” Burriesci again responded that she does not “have information” on that subject.
The lack of answers led to frustration.
“We’re talking about the refugee issue and the Visa Waiver Program issue and you can’t give us numbers on either program?” Jordan asked.
Sadly, this level of incompetence is par for the course in the Obama Administration.
She also had “no answer” when Rep. Trey Gowdy asked about the lack of due process for the No-Fly List.
And the White House Press Secretary looked flustered at a news conference when he had to admit that Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik were never on any anti-terrorism watch list (including the No-Fly List), and that Obama’s No-Fly proposal would not have prevented the San Bernardino massacre.
Of course, this is the same administration that says we can’t afford a Social Security COLA increase for American citizens (elderly people who retired after working hard for many years), but we can somehow afford to take in and resettle an unlimited number of immigrants.
Last time I saw program cost numbers waved around, it came to something like half a million dollars PER immigrant.
A lot of Americans won’t make that much TOTAL, working their entire lives.
This was done on purpose…. The WH doesn’t want the numbers known. If she brought bogus numbers, she could be caught in a lie. Better to be told to take one for the team and appear stupid than let the WH look bad.
– “We’ll have top men on it.”
– “Who?!”
– “Top. Men.”
#3 You hit the nail on the head. She didn’t have the numbers deliberately. If they gave the real ones, they look like they have not making us secure. If they lie, they get called on the lie, when the real number come out. Better to claim ignorance and be thought stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
If only congress had a mole in that department that could give them the numbers before the hearing, you could NAIL them to the wall. You ask the question, and when they say they don’t know, you ask why not? Did you have inadequate time to prepare? Because I have the answers right here, and it didn’t take me two days to get it. You had a week.
How about a contempt citation for failing to provide information asked for by Congress? Until the Roll-Over Party holds someone in this Administration accountable nothing will change.