How to break from the Trump shadow

The refugee catastrophe currently enveloping Europe, as depicted by the heartbreaking image of a lifeless Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler lying face down on a Turkish beach, presents an unusual opportunity for one of the Republican presidential contenders trying to escape the shadow of Donald Trump. 

As odd as it sounds, this crisis could be the 2015 version of Dwight Eisenhower’s “I will go to Korea” announcement during the 1952 campaign.
Immigration reform in the U.S. is a hot-button issue in today’s Republican primary race for the White House.  Trump’s plan to deport 11 million illegal immigrants has dominated the headlines for weeks.  Forget the fact conservative columnists Charles Krauthammer and George Will have publicly challenged The Donald on the time it will take or how much the deportations will cost.  Trump’s proposal still drowns out what his opponents in the race have said so far.

By going to Hungary, where hundreds of thousands of refugees recently have fled to on their way to Germany, the GOP candidate who gets there first will score a humanitarian coup — and a much-needed way around the Trump juggernaut.  Make no mistake about it, flying to Europe to see this problem first-hand has its challenges and potential pitfalls. 

But, it also has a huge upside.  It could end up becoming the platform for a modern-day version of John Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech or Ronald Reagan’s “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” moment.  Both presidents saw their popularity skyrocket afterwards.  The same could be true for one gutsy GOP candidate.

No matter who wins the Republican primary, or general election for that matter, Hungary’s refugee problem is going to be on the next president’s plate from day one.  Having witnessed the problem up close and personal will help the next commander-in-chief make informed decisions about what steps the United States can take to help solve the crisis. 

That, and the image of young Aylan lying dead on the beach.  I hope the next president never forgets either one.

Freidenrich writes from Laguna Beach, California.  He served as a congressional staff assistant on Capitol Hill in 1972.