An over-30-point primary loss would ordinarily produce a degree of introspection and self-reflection in a politician. Indeed, even such a humiliating defeat can produce a sense of liberation in some members who finish their terms free of pandering to extreme groups or blindly touting the party lines. Those people, however, are not Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.).

Goldman was back this week in signature form, denying the obvious and the unavoidable. In an exchange on sanctuary cities barring cooperation with ICE, Goldman demanded that critics

“cite one case where there was a criminal conviction, the defendant served his time and was convicted of a removable offense under the [Immigration & Nationality Act of 1952] and he was not turned over by the city or the state to the Department of Homeland Security.”

It was vintage Dan Goldman. When other democrats were acknowledging mistakes or failures, Goldman was always willing to deny any inconvenient fact.

When attacks on ICE officers increased exponentially (including attacks shown on television), Goldman denied seeing examples of such increasing attacks.

When evidence of Biden influence peddling worth millions was confirmed, it was Goldman who denied the corruption, insisting that they were just honest businessmen making money.

When evidence mounted of the Biden Administration coordinating a massive censorship system, it was Goldman who dismissed such concerns.

When other Democrats objected to the Biden Administration’s seizure of members of Congress’ phone records, Goldman ran out to downplay the attack on the legislative branch.

When the Administration sought to investigate those burning Teslas and dealerships by protesters, Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.) denounced it as a “political weaponization” of the legal system.

The “deny everything” approach is designed to stop the conversation or interview and worry about the facts later. Those facts from the Department of Homeland Security reportedly include nearly 7,000 criminally-convicted illegal immigrants released in New York alone after the state barred cooperating with ICE detainers. The crimes include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 305 robberies, and 207 sexual predatory offenses.

Again, those are just facts.

Goldman has months before he has to find another position. Losing by over 30 points after a short time in Congress does not bode well for a new run. Goldman told voters that he would be leading the impeachment of Donald Trump. His constituents had other plans. He could try to return as a staff counsel in an impeachment, though it is not clear if Democrats will have the control or the interest in the House.

Instead, Goldman may be ready to move on to a gig on MS Now or CNN. Indeed, his “deny everything” approach is perfect for the four-in-a-box cable dogfight shows.

After all, he has proven his bona fides as someone ready for his own “fiery but mostly peaceful” on-air denials.

In the meantime, we need to have a serious discussion about these policies without the disinformation and denials. The opposition to immigration enforcement by Goldman and other Democrats is out of step with most Americans.

A Harvard-Harris poll found that 56% of Americans support mass deportations of people who are in the U.S. illegally. Other polls show above 70% support for deporting those who commit serious crimes. Yet, there are also shifting views on immigration enforcement that show growing opposition to some policies.

If we are going to get through this and other controversies, we need to be able to have substantive discussions rather than suggest that there is not a single case of a sanctuary city not cooperating on a removable offense.