Milbank: Those defending the indefensible trash own reputations

Leahy moved on to Trump’s wish for more Norwegian immigrants. “Norway is a predominantly white country, isn’t it?” he asked, rhetorically. “I actually do not know that, sir,” Nielsen replied. “But I imagine that is the case.”

Kirstjen Nielsen doesn’t know Norwegians are white?

Just as Nielsen “imagines” Norwegians are white, I imagine that she, in her denial of the obvious and defense of the indefensible, is the latest Trump sycophant to trash her reputation. She joins Republican senators David Perdue of Georgia and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who were in the room for the “shithole” moment and not only denied that it was said (Trump’s use of the word was widely confirmed, even by Fox News) but also disparaged the integrity of Durbin for being truthful.

It’s clear they, like Nielsen, do this so they don’t get crosswise with the volatile president — but in the process shred their own integrity.

Now the federal government is hurtling toward a shutdown, entirely because of the president’s whim. Democrats and Republicans presented him last week with exactly the bipartisan deal he said he would sign — protecting the immigrant “Dreamers” while also providing funding for his border security “wall” — but Trump unexpectedly exploded with his racist attack and vulgar word.

“This has turned into an s-show,” said Graham, who co-wrote the bipartisan compromise Trump rejected, at the Nielsen hearing.

Convenient memory loss

Nielsen surely would have preferred to be in the fjords of Norway, or just about anywhere, to where she was Tuesday: facing questions from both Durbin and Graham, whose integrity she had challenged.

“I hope you remember me,” Durbin began acidly. He asked how Trump had characterized African countries.

“In — I don’t — I don’t specifically remember a category — categorization of countries in Africa,” she said, explaining that “there were a lot of cross conversations.”

For reasons unknown — perhaps even to Trump — the president blew up everything. And Nielsen appeared to realize her defense of Trump was doing her no good. Finally, she announced that, “I have nothing further to say on a meeting that happened over a week ago. I’d like to move forward and discuss ways in which we can protect our country.”

But you don’t just “move forward” after the president describes African countries as “shitholes” and proposes more white immigration. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., “seething with anger,” pounced on Nielsen for her convenient memory loss under oath and her attempt to “dismiss” questions about the episode.

“It was Martin Luther King that said there’s ‘nothing in this world more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity,’ ” Booker said. “… We know what happens when people sit by and are bystanders and say nothing.”

Do Nielsen, Cotton and Perdue see that? Or are they too far gone?