President Barack Obama has been ridiculed his entire presidency for his cautious tact towards terrorism. His biggest critic being Donald Trump.
During CNN’s presidential town hall on Wednesday with Jake Tapper, Obama was probed as to why he refuses to use “Islamic” terrorism when referencing terrorism.
Audience member Tina Houchins lost her son in the United States Armed Forces. She asked Obama:
“Do you still believe that the acts of terrorism are done for the self-proclaimed Islamic religious motive? And if you do, why do you still refuse to use the term … Islamic terrorist?”
Obama admits he is careful when discussing these issues.
“But what I have been careful about when I describe these issues is to make sure that we do not lump these murderers into the billion Muslims that exist around the world, including in this country, who are peaceful, who are responsible, who, in this country, are fellow troops and police officers and fire fighters and teachers and neighbors and friends.”
In essence, it’s not fair to the Muslims who claim Islam as their religion to be classified as terrorists because the real terrorists like al Qaeda and ISIS use Islam as a shield.
“When you start calling these organizations ‘Islamic terrorists’ the way it’s heard, the way it’s received, by our friends and allies around the world is that someone Islam is terrors-tic, and that then makes them feel as if they’re under attack. In some cases it makes it harder for us to get their cooperation in fighting terrorism.”
Obama said he refuses to validate what terrorists do…killing innocent people. And he doesn’t want to taint the Islamic religion and what it actually stands for.
He compares Islam to Christianity as a sort-of, ‘put yourself in their shoes’ type-of spin.
“If you had an organization that was going around killing and blowing people up and said, ‘We’re on the vanguard of Christianity.’ As a Christian, I’m not going to let them claim my religion and say, ‘you’re killing for Christ.’ I would say, that’s ridiculous.”
According to CNN, during the town hall, Obama said that the danger of using the term is when “a president or people aspiring to become president get loose with this language.”
Tapper assumed Obama was hinting towards Republican nominee Donald Trump. But Obama set things straight.
“No, I wasn’t. It’s not unique to the Republican nominee. Look, I’m trying to be careful, we’re on a military base, I don’t insert partisan politics into this. I think that there have been a number of public figures where you start hearing commentary that is dangerous. Because what it starts doing is it starts dividing us up as Americans.”
Trump uses the term “radical Islamic terrorism” very freely. He’s called out Obama and Hillary Clinton for not radicalizing the term.
Clinton has proven she isn’t scared to say the words, but Obama refuses to be bullied into speaking them. But Obama has said it’s not a “huge deal” if others use “Islamic terrorism.” But lets lead by example and not validate their actions.
Let’s reiterate this again … this isn’t a war on religion. This is a war on terrorism.
.@POTUS explains why he won't say "radical Islamic terrorism" https://t.co/UYpqI3w42L #ObamaTownHall https://t.co/12IV6sPYB3
— CNN (@CNN) September 29, 2016
Featured Image Via CNN Twitter Screenshot.
