Proof of Life was a Good Movie. The Democratic version is already a Flop.

Simply put, Abrego Garcia is no Russell Crowe, his wife no Megan Ryan.

By Greg Rabidoux

And El Salvador is no Tecala.

Back, way back, in 2000, the issue of Kidnapping for Ransom or KFR was just starting to break into the mainstream media's stream of consciousness. Wealthy businessmen, tourists, even celebrities, were being targeted as hostages for profit. Once exotic and alluring places like Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo, Acapulco, or Buenos Aires became hunting grounds for kidnappers.

There was even a film, (isn't there always?) Proof of Life, with, at that time (2000) big Hollywood stars like Megan Ryan and Russell Crowe as the wife of a victim of kidnapping and the man who would go on to be "The Gladiator" as the rescuer. Sure, it cost them $650,000 in ransom money and if I recall there was a rebel uprising to contend with in the fictional Latin nation of "Tecala" (isn't there always?) but they saved Meg's husband, though she of course, not so secretly lusted after Russell. In the end, everyone lived happily ever after. End of story.

But as WH press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made clear yesterday at her press briefing, this notion, this crazy fever dream of Democrats that they will somehow demand "Proof of Life" from the El Salvadorian "Hostage Holders" and extricate Abrego, aka, "A Maryland Man" in some daring Tom Cruise-style rescue from the clutches of that evil right-winger President Bukele is just that-lunacy. Okay, her exact words were much more lucid and to the point but that's why she's the WH Press secretary and no one else.

So, apparently, the Democrat party, a party with no leader, a party with no solutions, a party with no coherent message, and a party who never met an MS 13 or Tren de Aragua gangbanger they didn't instantly fall in love with, now wants a Russell Crowe-style "Proof of Life" for poor Abrego. This (Abrego) is a man who, not once but twice was acknowledged by a court to indeed be an MS 13 Gang member. Do the Democrats know what real gang members do to fill their days and nights? Hint-Writing "MS 13" on your knuckles doesn't take all day, plenty of time left over to rape, kill, maim, sell drugs and engage in under-age pedophilia and human trafficking. Do they really need more proof of that chosen life? I guess they could just read his wife's police complaint about how he, Abrego Garcia, repeatedly beat her. Does that sound like a guy you want to sip Margaritas with? Yeah, me neither. Mr. Van Hollen, at least make Garcia buy the second round of drinks on your next date.

El Salvador understandably denied these "4 Democratic Amigos" (US House of Representatives Frost, Ansari, Dexter, and Garcia) their coveted "Proof of Life" demand because well, unlike in the movie of the same name, 1) Abrego wasn't kidnapped, 2) El Salvador isn't demanding a $650,000 ransom, and 3) Abrego is not an innocent American businessman being held as a hostage, he is a criminal not a Hollywood hero.

As Karoline Leavitt said "Him (Abrego Garcia) coming back safe and sound to live with his family in Maryland is simply not how this story will ever end."

Nor should it.

Greg Rabidoux is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and screenwriter.