President Obama is out of the country, but he had a lot to say about the fear-mongering coming from so many Republican politicians about allowing Syrian refugees into this country. Of course, he said, “we have to be vigilant,” stressing the 18 to 24 months it currently takes to clear a refugee to come into the United States. But there’s vigilance and then there’s hateful paranoia being used for political ends:
When candidates say, we wouldn't admit three-year-old orphans -- that’s political posturing. When individuals say that we should have a religious test and that only Christians—proven Christians—should be admitted—that’s offensive and contrary to American values.
I cannot think of a more potent recruitment tool for ISIL than some of the rhetoric that’s been coming out of here during the course of this debate. ISIL seeks to exploit the idea that there is a war between Islam and the West. And when you start seeing individuals in positions of responsibility, suggesting that 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.
And I would add, by the way, these are the same folks oftentimes who suggest that they’re so tough that just talking to Putin or staring down ISIL, or using some additional rhetoric somehow is going to solve the problems out there. But apparently, they’re scared of widows and orphans coming into the United States of America as part of our tradition of compassion. First, they were worried about the press being too tough on them during debates. Now they’re worried about three-year-old orphans. That doesn’t sound very tough to me.
Preach! Seriously, all these self-identified tough guys are now selling pure fear.
Obama said that if any of the politicians insisting that they’re just trying to ensure the safety of the American people have concrete suggestions for making the process to screen refugees better and stronger, his administration will listen. But he made it abundantly clear that he has no patience for all this posturing.
Sign and send the petition to the White House: I support admitting Syrian refugees into the United States.