The problem is that there are two lefts and,

neither of them are actually stating what they want.

They are just trying to manipulate language to get what they want. So, to the conservative / thinking types, this makes no sense.

The leftists want "open". Closed means people are shut out from things, like them being shut out from going into the bestest nightclub without standing in line. Its painful to be closed. We must be open.

The leftist bureaucrats want more voters to continue their leftist ways. They need more people to make the economy grow. If they don't do this, their entire way of life implodes. They will do whatever they can and say whatever they must to maintain.