It’s off to the races. Republican elected officials across the country spent the better part of Monday out-demagoguing each other on the issue of Syrian refugees in the face of Friday’s terror attack in Paris and President Obama’s defiant call to reject the “dark impulse” to turn our backs on the thousands of refugees fleeing war. But with hours still left to go, it’s safe to say that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wins the distinction of most callous GOP response of the day.
In an apparent reversal of his position from two months ago, Christie now says that the United States is not capable of accepting any Syrian refugees for fear of importing terrorism, not even “three year old orphans.”
Christie’s callous dismissal of the plight of war orphans stands in stark contrast to his own sentiments from weeks ago. “We saw the image of that 4-year-old little boy drowned in Syria,” Christie said back in September, referring to the harrowing image of a young child laying motionless on a beach shore. “We can’t have those kinds of things.”
But in an interview with conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt today, Christie gave these revised comments:
Because he lacks confidence in Administration's vetting ability, @ChrisChristie says no Syrian refugees now, not even "3 year old orphans"
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) November 16, 2015
Earlier in the day, President Obama chided Republicans who rushed to conflate Syrian refugees with Friday’s terror attack or ISIL.
“When I hear folks say maybe we should accept the Christians but not the Muslims. When I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which a person who is fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution, that’s shameful, that’s not American, that’s not who we are” Obama said.
Christie joins a growing list of Republican governors who have declared their states Syrian refugee free zones:
Ohio
.@JohnKasich: There is no way we can put any of our people at risk by bringing [refugees] in at this point.https://t.co/DlzzcW8P93
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) November 16, 2015
Louisiana
My letter to @POTUS: In light of Paris terrorist attacks, time to pause process of refugees coming to the US pic.twitter.com/v2K7wuigX0
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) November 14, 2015
Wisconsin
The Paris attacks are a wake up call as to the real threat from ISIS and the need for real border security.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) November 16, 2015
Kansas
Arizona
Read about our efforts to keep Arizona's homeland safe: https://t.co/hz5pfAvQCh
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) November 16, 2015
Indiana
In wake of Paris attacks, I'm directing all state agencies to suspend the resettlement of addl Syrian refugees in IN https://t.co/Gtg5ccjMsU
— Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) November 16, 2015
Arkansas
As Governor I will oppose Syrian refugees being relocated to Arkansas.
— Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) November 16, 2015
See my full statement on Syrian refugees below. pic.twitter.com/Y2m7ThqCCK
— Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) November 16, 2015
Alabama
I will not stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens of Alabama in harm’s way. We refuse Syrian refugees. https://t.co/HTpflJUiPc
— Governor Robert Bentley (@GovRBentley) November 16, 2015
Texas
BREAKING: Texas will not accept any Syrian refugees & I demand the U.S. act similarly. Security comes first.https://t.co/uE34eluXYd
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 16, 2015
Florida
Click here to see my letter to @SpeakerRyan and @SenateMajLdr on Syrian refugees in Florida. https://t.co/MgMDB8Bxvs
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) November 16, 2015
North Carolina
My 1st priority is to protect the people of NC. That is why I am requesting federal gov’t cease sending Syrian refugees to our state #ncpol
— Pat McCrory (@PatMcCroryNC) November 16, 2015
Michigan
Michigan's first priority is protecting the safety of our residents –> https://t.co/eq9FSqNOT0 pic.twitter.com/yDGa2WZWu4
— Rick Snyder (@onetoughnerd) November 16, 2015
Idaho
I’m telling President Obama to stop his refugee resettlement program until security issues are addressed. https://t.co/NYkThN2W43
— Idaho Governor (@ButchOtter) November 16, 2015
Georgia
I’ve issued an executive order directing state agency heads to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees in GA. https://t.co/4b41tsIYcm
— Former Gov. Nathan Deal (@GovernorDeal) November 16, 2015
Nebraska
(1/2) Today, I am requesting that all refugee resettlement agencies in our state decline to participate in potential Syrian
— Pete Ricketts (@PeteRicketts) November 16, 2015
(2/2) refugee resettlement efforts. Read my letter to the resettlement agencies here: pic.twitter.com/yJ1VpBnSxn
— Pete Ricketts (@PeteRicketts) November 16, 2015
Massachusetts
"I’m not interested in accepting refugees from Syria," Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said https://t.co/UmiASfwNCp pic.twitter.com/HU9rr81Weo
— WBZ | CBS News Boston (@wbz) November 16, 2015
Illinois
BREAKING: Gov. Rauner temporarily suspends accepting new Syrian refugees in Illinois>> https://t.co/Knxpovjfgo
— WICS ABC 20 (@wics_abc20) November 16, 2015
Oklahoma
#Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin asks @POTUS to stop accepting #SyrianRefugees into the U.S. pic.twitter.com/7K56x6rbxh
— Patrick Cornell (@PCornellCNN) November 16, 2015
Mississippi
Gov. Phil Bryant saying he'll "do everything humanly possible to stop any plans" to put Syrian refugees in MS. pic.twitter.com/6qa25UAzQW
— Courtney Ann Jackson (@courtneyannj) November 16, 2015
Tennessee
#Breaking: Governor Bill Haslam asks feds to suspend refugee placement in TN https://t.co/4Yl63Zx6Hk
— WREG News Channel 3 (@3onyourside) November 16, 2015
Maine
.@Governor_LePage speaks to NEWS CENTER about #SyrianRefugees more at https://t.co/v6aErLdayd pic.twitter.com/IfwMtnfxm6
— NEWS CENTER Maine (@newscentermaine) November 16, 2015
New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan is the only Democrat to have called for a halt of the Syrian refugee resettlement program so far.
Rand Paul announced he planned to introduce legislation barring all visas, including student and travel visas, from 30 so-called “high-risk nations.”
“I’m getting calls nonstop from my state saying we don’t think this a good idea to bring in refugees when we’re not certain they aren’t coming here to attack us,” Paul said explaining the move.
The United States has only extended a welcoming hand to an additional 10,000 refugees from the war torn nation over the next two years, but every Republican presidential candidate has either called for only allowing Christian Syrians to enter the country or halting resettlement all together. According to World Vision, 12 million refugees have fled Syria since the war began in 2011 and the organization estimates half of those fleeing refugees are children.