This has been a big few weeks for extremists in the United States using the threat of ISIL to further their own political or policy goals. Here are a few of the highlights:
While speaking at CPAC Wisconsin Governor (and hopeful Republican Presidential candidate), Scott Walker intoned that he was ready to lead the fight against ISIL because of his vast experience combatting peaceful union protestors in Wisconsin. His actual quote: “If I can take on 100,000 protestors, I can do the same across the world.”
Pretty gross to compare American workers fighting for fair wages to terrorists, but I guess anything for applause at CPAC?
NumbersUSA Director of Government Relations Rosemary Jenks called the U.S. refugee program a vehicle for ISIL (among other offensive things she said about refugees). Her actual quote: “We know that they are placing terrorists into the refugee camps and we don’t have the means to vet them.”
Oh, do we now? I must have missed that memo.
Ann Coulter told Americans they should stop worrying about ISIL because the real threat are “illegal immigrants.” Her actual quote: “Meanwhile in America. If you don’t want to be killed, raped or maimed by illegal immigrants in your own country, I have no tips for you. There’s nothing you can do. You’re on your own. Good luck.”
I have a tip for you, just live your life, because this is not actually a thing.
Ted Cruz yelled at President Obama for refusing to call ISIL what he believes they really are, Islamic apparently? “We need a commander-in-chief who will actually stand up and defend the U.S…We cannot defeat radical Islamic terrorists with a president who is unwilling to utter the words radical Islamic terrorists.”
Ted Cruz, my go to guy for complex foreign policy decision-making.
Fox News host Andrea Tantaros worried about the President’s lack of support for Israel, and suggested that perhaps it’s because the President is anti-Semitic. Her actual quote: “I think it is time that we ask the question, I’m dead serious about this. Is this White House anti-Semitic?”
I have a dead serious question too, you’re a journalist?