Philippines – President Barack Obama lashed out Wednesday at Republicans who insist on barring Syrian refugees from entering the U.S., deeming their words offensive and insisting “it needs to stop.”
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“Apparently they’re scared of widows and orphans coming into the United States of America,” Obama said.
Mocking GOP leaders for thinking they’re tough, Obama said overblown rhetoric from Republicans could be a potent recruitment tool for the Islamic State group. He insisted the U.S. process for screening refugees for possible entry into the U.S. is rigorous and said the U.S. doesn’t make good decisions “based on hysteria” or exaggerated risk.
“We are not well served when in response to a terrorist attack we descend into fear and panic,” the president said.
Obama’s comments during a meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino marked his harshest condemnation yet of Republicans’ response to the Paris attacks blamed on IS that killed 129 people last week. Republicans in Congress and on the 2016 presidential trail have urged an immediate closure of America’s borders to Syrian refugees, but the Obama administration has shown no sign of backing off its plans to bring an additional 10,000 Syrians fleeing civil war into the U.S.
Obama took particular ire at a proposal by GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush to admit only Christian Syrians. Bush later clarified he wants to give preference to Christians but not exclude properly vetted Muslims. Still, Obama said the idea of only allowing Christians in amounted to “political posturing” that runs contrary to American values.
In Congress, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have urged at least a temporary halt in the resettlement of Syrians. Obama pointed out that he’s been waiting for a year and a half for Congress to take up a new war powers resolution to address the IS threat, questioning their newfound haste to solve the purported threat of innocents fleeing war.
Defending his administration’s screening program, Obama said it takes 18 to 24 months to clear a refugee for entry, following vetting by the U.S. intelligence community and other agencies as well as biometrics.
Although there are indications that one of the IS attackers carried a Syrian passport and may have arrived in France alongside refugees, Germany’s top security official has said the passport might have been a fake intended to stoke fears. Still, Obama acknowledged that the U.S. public was concerned about attacks on the homeland, noting that Paris “reminds us of home.
“I understand why Americans have been particularly affected,” he said.
What a classless, unprofessional embarrassment for a “commander in chief,” G-d help us. He humiliates and denigrates anyone who doesn’t agree with his highness, egomaniac that he is. No, we are not afraid of widows and orphans, but didn’t you hear, mr. President? A FEMALE suicide bomber blew herself up today! Was she a poor ‘widow too??? And haven’t you heard? Twelve and thirteen year old children are running around stabbing people in Israel! Are those the kind of innocent orphans you refer to? AND WHY WON’T YOU MAKE OUBLIC THE SI-CALLED CAREFUL SCREENING PROCESS YOU SAY IS IN PLACE TO VET THESE SYRIANS YOU INSIST SHOULD BE WELCIME TO THE US????? Shall we just take your word on that?! I don’t think so….not from the same person who said, “You can keep your own doctor…”
this drivel coming from someone who says we must treat all genders equal
Didn’t the President just say the other day that he wouldn’t take actions that would make America “look” tough or score political points? What is HE doing? Cannot reasonable people disagree over policy without descending into name calling? There is a reasonable assumption that “widows” can become suicide bombers too, as in France. Or does our President feel that women aren’t capable of carrying violent attacks because they are women?
The one good thing about Obama’s stubborn cling to this suicidal position is that it will help a republican get elected, assuming there is still a world left for another year and two months of this suicidal maniac
Look at this lowlife’s face…he looks so muslim, and his actions have been so pro-Muslim, anti-America, is there any doubt left?!
The idiocy level of this guy is amazing. How did someone of this challenged intellect ever get into elected office? How soon can we replace him? I can think of several Disney characters who could do far more on vacation than he can accomplish when at work.
What a lowlife , no class ,coward. Going overseas once again (remember his apology tour?) to dis America and Americans. He hasn’t got the guts to do it right here at home.
As for his faux outrage, handwringing, women and children comment, The terrorist savage that detonated a suicide belt this morning in Paris was a “woman”, and 11 year old “children” are running around stabbing people on the streets of Israel.
This coming on the heels of his “we’ve got ISIL contained ” comment , 9 hours prior to the latest ISIL savagery in Paris.
When will the American people wake up and throw this bum and his evil henchmen out?
He has lost it. Just look at the photos of those asylum seekers that have walked for hundreds of miles.I see the majority are young,strong males not children and widows
People said all these crazy things about us yidden during ww2. They said we brought the depression. We are a bunch of communists which was true at the time etc.. England said they are a bunch of fighters looking to join the irgun or lechi in israel to fight is.
Bottom line you can’t totally ignore compassion. Yes vet them. Yes its hould primarly focus on women & children. Yes women can commit acts of terror but its not as common thus its an extra precaution.
Another pointer, unlike in Europe, its not just people who walk over the border from syria to greece to France with no clue who and what these guys are about. Obama is talking about flying people in from refugee camps. Its very very differnet.
Oh and by the way guys we still takes students in on student visas and tourists in all from the middle east. This is despite the fact that the 9/11 hijackers were here on student and toursit visas. I would be much more concerned about that.
What happens when all of this is over? Will they go back? Will the UN call the remaining Syrian towns “occupied territories”?
This Obummer makes me sick to my stomach!
Another thing, as liar-in-chief, he distorts the truth. Take a look at all the pictures of these “refugees.” Most show young males of the age that fits the terrorist profiles. Of course there will be women and children, but…….
Also, Obama announced that he will veto screening of these “refugees.” So the question really should be, what is he afraid will be discovered?