CLEVELAND, Ohio — As President Donald Trump’s ‘Deportation Force’ picks up and pushes out illegals around the nation, Trump has picked the first Latino for his cabinet, nominating Alexander Acosta to be labor secretary.
Acosta, who is the son of Cuban-American immigrants, is the confirmable replacement for Andrew Puzder, who withdrew from consideration amidst growing controversy and dwindling support from Republican Senators.
Wednesday, it was reported that up to 12 Republican Senators were leaning towards voting against Puzder. As a result, the Senate reportedly would send a message to the Trump administration requesting it withdraw Puzder’s name. According to two Senior Senate aides, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did in fact inform the White House that Puzder would not be confirmed if there was a vote. Soon after, Puzder withdrew.
There was plenty about Puzder that both Democrats and Republican Senators objected to. For Republicans, the main issue appeared to be Puzder’s past employment of an undocumented housekeeper.
Also, unseemly details of Puzder’s messy divorce, with accusations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife, reemerged. Before she had recanted the allegation, Puzder’s former wife appeared, in disguise, on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” to discuss the alleged abuse. Several Republican and Democrat Senators watched a video of the old segment.
Compounding the domestic abuse allegation, Puzder was accused of sexism. Senators didn’t like his opposition to minimum wage increases and his advocacy of replacing workers with robots. Puzder was CEO of CKE restaurants, operator of Hardees and Carl Jr’s fast-food chains. It was pointed out that CKE was often in violation of many Labor Department rules that Puzder would now be entrusted to enforce.
The only thing about Puzder’s nomination to be labor secretary that made any sense, was his withdrawal of that nomination.
Acosta is currently the dean of the Florida International University law school. He is a former assistant U.S. attorney general for civil rights. President George W. Bush appointed him to the National Labor Relations Board. Acosta clerked for Justice Samuel Alito when he was on the US Court of Appeals. Working for the DOJ, Acosta prosecuted corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
The best news for Trump, is that Acosta has been confirmed several times before for his former government posts.
The only confirmation question I would have is why wasn’t the confirmable Acosta nominated in the first place, instead of Puzder?
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