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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.
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