Donald Trump doesn't want to take any chances potentially importing terror into the safe confines of the United States and has taken the rational, reasoned and measured step of calling for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" -- including visitors, Muslim Americans currently abroad and refugees.
Forgive the facetious take but we've reached the logical next step in The Donald's fact-free campaign against American Muslims and Muslims more broadly after weeks of the GOP presidential frontrunner insisting that, lacking a bit of corroborating evidence, he witnessed "thousand and thousands" of Muslims in Northern New Jersey publicly celebrating the attacks of 9/11. Let's not forget his modest proposals to register all American Muslims and spy on mosques. Now, Trump's jumped to completely banning all Muslims.
Trump's new statement cited a recent Pew poll chartered by the infamous Islamophobe Frank Gaffney to argue that "there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population":
According to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population. Most recently, a poll from the Center for Security Policy released data showing "25% of those polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a part of the global jihad" and 51% of those polled, "agreed that Muslims in America should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah."
"Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension," Trump said. "Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until recently we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life."
Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, told the Associated Press that Trump's proposed ban would apply to "everybody," including Muslims seeking immigration visas as well as tourists.
According to Politico, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was quick to condemn Trump's statement, calling it “a ridiculous view” on the Michael Medved radio show Monday afternoon.
“This is the kind of things that people say when they have no experience and don’t know what they’re talking about,” Christie said. “We need to cooperate with peaceful Muslim Americans who want to give us intelligence.”
Long shot candidate Lindsey Graham also called out Trump's extreme rhetoric, demanding that his fellow Republican rivals join him in condemning Trump's remarks:
Jeb Bush has also joined in on the Trump pile-on:
Other candidates were barely as bold. According to the Washington Post, Ohio Governor John Kasich called Trump's comments "just more of the outrageous divisiveness that characterizes his every breath." And here is Texas Senator Ted Cruz's lacking response:
The White House swiftly condemned Trump's statement on Monday, calling Trump's proposal "contrary to our values as Americans," according to The Daily Beast. In an interview with CNN, White House deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes expounded, explaining that "we have in our Bill of Rights respect for the freedom of religion. Muslim Americans have made extraordinary contributions to our country, but it's also contrary to our security."
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