President Obama just laid out a compelling vision for supporting refugees fleeing for their lives from Syria. The contrast couldn’t be greater with the Republican Party’s backwards and xenophobic rhetoric that quickly devolved into who could offend Muslims quicker.
Trump was by far the loudest, but other Republican presidential candidates and senators running for reelection were quick to latch onto Trump’s egregious proposals. It’s clear why: 59 percent of Republicans agreed with Trump’s ban on Muslims entering the U.S.
- When asked about closing mosques, Marco Rubio said we should close down “any place where radicals are being inspired.”
- Ted Cruz proposed legislation that would ban Syrian Muslims from entering the country and voted against rejecting Donald Trump’s ban on Muslims.
- Jeb Bush has said we should only allow Syrian Christians into the United States, proposing a religious test refugees would have to pass before entering.
- Ben Carson has said he doesn’t think a Muslim should be president and compared Syrian refugees to “rabid dogs.”
- Chris Christie said, “I don’t believe Donald Trump is hateful… I don’t believe he’s a bigot,” after he called for a ban on Muslims.
- When asked about Trump’s Muslim ban, Rand Paul said, “I think it’s a mistake to base immigration or moratoriums based on religion. But you know, I’ve called for something similar… And I have actually introduced legislation and got a vote on it.”
- Carly Fiorina participated in a campaign event held by Center for Security Policy, the same organization that Trump sourced in his research for the Muslim ban.
- John Kasich called for a government agency that would push Judeo-Christian propaganda in the Middle East.
Published: Jan 12, 2016