It was straight outta Dem Playbook 101: when trying to make the case for–or against–a law or regulation, don’t argue the broad principle. Instead, highlight the most sympathetic individual case to play on the public’s heartstrings and put pressure on Republicans.

On CNN This Morning, that ploy worked — almost. But then MRC alum Rob Bluey, the president and executive director of the Daily Signal, intervened to dump some serious rain on the liberal parade.

In a discussion of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s appearance before the House Homeland Security committee yesterday, CNN focused on the case of Army veteran Sae Joon Park, who had earned a Purple Heart and had supposedly “been deported.”

Outrageous, no?

Except . . . the case began to unravel when it was revealed that Park had self-deported! As Park explained in a clip, he knew he was likely to be deported and didn’t want to put his family through the disruption of his detention while awaiting deportation.

But CNN didn’t disclose why Park knew that he was likely to be deported.

That’s when Bluey, in his tactful way, dropped the hammer:

“I think that there are some facts in this case where there was a criminal charge, if I’m not mistaken.”

Rob was not mistaken. And it wasn’t just a charge. Park was convicted of drug possession and bail jumping and served three years of prison time. That made him ineligible for citizenship or entitled to remain in the country. So, as Ann Coulter would say, Adios, America!

Good on Rob for speaking truth to CNN power!
Is this really the best “victim” the Dems and CNN can find in the heart-wrenching department?

Note: A clip was played from the hearing in which grandstanding Democrat Congressman Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island confronted Noem:

“Earlier this year, you deported [Park] to Korea, a country he hasn’t lived in since he was seven years old. And can you please tell Mr. Park why you deported him?”

The answer, as we’ve seen, is that Noem didn’t deport Park—he deported himself! And he did so because he knew that, given his criminal record, he was not entitled to remain in the country or become a citizen. In accusing Noem of deporting Park, Magaziner had either been poorly prepared by his staff or, more likely, was being intentionally dishonest to score points.

Group Chat member Noel King, a former NPR anchor, mocked Noem:

“I was surprised that she was so surprised to hear about the veteran who’d been deported. Had she read a newspaper, she would have seen that story months ago.”

Actually, if King had carefully read a newspaper, she would have known that, as stated, Park had not “been deported.” He deported himself–for good reason!

Here’s the transcript.

CNN This Morning
12/12/25
6:01 am ET

AUDIE CORNISH: Secretary Kristi Noem’s combative hearing on Capitol Hill. The Homeland Security Secretary faced calls to resign and was accused by Democrats of lying and violating the law as she leads the Trump administration’s mass deportations. The hearing got off to a rough start.

KRISTI NOEM: I am very privileged and honored today to have my family with me. I’d like to introduce them to you. 

PROTESTER: Stop ICE raids! End deportations!

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Disruptions of congressional business are a violation of laws, a criminal offense under federal law. 

CORNISH: So, once the heckling stopped, Democrats pounced. There was an exchange between the Secretary and Democratic Congressman Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island. They demanded to know why US Army veterans have been deported by DHS. And when Noem denied that has ever happened, she was confronted with a Purple Heart recipient who was shot twice while serving in the U.S. Army in Panama back in 1989. 

SETH MAGAZINER: Earlier this year, you deported him to Korea, a country he hasn’t lived in since he was seven years old. Will you join me in thanking Mr. Park for his service to our country? 

NOEM: Sir, I’m grateful for every single person that has served our country and follows our laws — 

MAGAZINER: And can you please tell Mr. Park why you deported him? 

NOEM: — every one of them needs to be enforced. 

CORNISH: Noem eventually promised to look into this case. 

. . . 

NOEL KING: I was surprised that she was so surprised to hear about the veteran who’d been deported. Had she read a newspaper, she would have seen that story months ago. 

CORNISH: Yeah, let me give an example. We actually spoke to him here at CNN, and I want to play for you, because this person did a self-deportation, but when you hear his thinking given the last couple of months, it’s interesting. 

SAE JOON PARK: I didn’t want to put my family through everything, and I knew that if I got detained, I wouldn’t know how long I’d be staying detained for. And my chance are, if I got detained, I was pretty sure that they were going to deport me. So I did talk with my lawyer and everything. And I thought, we thought, the safest way for myself was to remove myself before I got detained. 

CORNISH: Rob, I want to ask you about this because she wasn’t confronted with picture of this person or a quote about this person. He was on Zoom looking at her. And what did you think of that moment? 

ROB BLUEY: Yeah, often these personal stories heart-touching. I think that there are some facts in this case where there was a criminal charge, if I’m not mistaken, with this particular individual. So I think it’s important to look at them on a case-by-case basis.