Wednesday, November 18, 2015

First Read: Obama Unloads on GOP Candidates Over Refugee Refusal

First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.
 
Obama unloads on GOP candidates opposing Syrian refugees

As the world remains transfixed on this morning's police raid in Paris, maybe the best political story played out last night in the Philippines, where President Obama blasted the politicians -- mostly Republicans -- who want to bar Syrian refugees from the United States. And some of the context here: Some Democrats (including Sens. Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin) were talking yesterday about a pause on accepting Syrian refugees. "When candidates say we should not admit 3-year-old orphans, that's political posturing," Obama said at a news conference, referring to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. "When individuals say we should have religious tests, and only Christians, proven Christians, should be allowed, that's offensive and contrary to American values," he added, referring to Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz. Obama went on to say, "I cannot think of a more potent recruitment tool for ISIL than some of the rhetoric coming out of here in the course of this debate. ISIL seeks to exploit the idea that there's war between Islam and the West, and when you start seeing individuals in position of responsibility suggesting Christians are more worthy of protection than Muslims are in a war-torn land that feeds the ISIL narrative. It's counterproductive. And it needs to stop." He concluded with this: "These are the same folks who suggested they're so tough that just talk to Putin or staring down ISIL [will work] … but they're scared of widows and orphans… First they were worried the press was too tough on them in the debates, now they're worried about 3-year old orphans. That doesn't sound very tough to me." Ouch. 

Click here for the full article and video.

No comments: