Hillary Clinton’s former communications director, Jennifer Palmieri, thinks a move to ask people about their immigration status during the 2020 census is “very distressing” because she claims it will “chill the impact” of the national survey.

And others on the left, including CNN, are making the same argument, despite the fact that virtually the exact same question was asked during the 2000 census, carried out by Democratic President Bill Clinton’s administration.

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer asked Palmieri to weigh in on the Commerce Department’s announcement Monday that it plans to include the citizenship question on the 2020 census, and like many on the left, she prattled on about why it’s a travesty that must be stopped.

“It’s very distressing because the census is one of the most important tools the government has for not just ensuring … that people are appropriately represented for in Congress, but it’s also the manner in which things like welfare, food stamps … a lot of ways that services are distributed throughout the country,” Palmieri said.

“So, if you’re starting to tinker with it in this manner, which I think is to politicize it by asking if someone is a citizen, you’re going to chill the impact of the census because the census is meant to capture everyone that is living in America, whether they are citizens or not,” she said. “It’s the only way that you get an accurate count and it’s something I’ve been worried about …”

Palmieri isn’t the only one on the left with grave concerns.

Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez called the question “a craven attack on our democracy and a transparent attempt to intimidate immigrant communities,” while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi alleged the move is unconstitutional, according to NTK Network.

Ironically, those same folks offered no objections when President Clinton posed the question.

The news site points out that “the 2000 U.S. Census long-form questionnaire, which went out to ‘an average of one in six households,’ included the question.”

Actually, it included three questions:

Is this person a CITIZEN of the United States?

When did this person come to live in the United States?

Did this person live in this house or apartment 5 years ago (on April 1, 1995)?

A CNN Politics story published Monday likely reveals why Democrats are suddenly so worked up: Blue states are far more likely to lose money and power over Census citizenship question.

According to CNN:

Opponents of the move say the change will lead to an undercount of non-citizen residents here both legally and illegally who might fear answering the questions about their citizenship.

If there is an undercount, areas more favorable to Democrats will be the most adversely affected, with congressional apportionment and fund apportionment, which are Census-based, on the line.

Regardless, folks online were not impressed by Palmieri bloviating on CNN.

“Yes we will have an actual count how many are here illegally. The horror,” Marilyn, RN posted to Twitter.

“Can CNN name any country in the world that does not want to know how many citizens it has? Of course not,” ViewPoint added. “So, what’s the ‘hidden agenda’ of Democrats to hide the number of citizens? As a citizen, don’t you deserve to know?”

“Crooked low ratings CNN found another negative person,” Janet added. “Then they wonder why they have low ratings.”

“Distressing? For the truth to be told?” Didi hopes posted. “Maybe lying is why you lost, Jen.”