I know it's hard for some in the media to understand that when you're the president of the United States, you typically don't sound like a Rush Limbaugh caller when discussing most issues including foreign affairs. Republicans have been attacking President Obama over every little thing he does, says or does not say, so the idea that he never frames terrorism in the same terms that they do means nothing, except to them and the beltway media.
ABC's George Stephanopoulos asked Hillary Clinton why she refuses to use the phrase "radical Islam," when describing those who perpetrate terrorist attacks. I wonder why beltway pundits believe Democrats should be forced to use Republican framing for any issue, ever, including describing terrorists?
STEPHANOPOULOS: You put -- you've also been reluctant to say we're fighting radical Islam. And I wonder why not.
Isn't it a mistake not to say it plain, that the violence is being pushed by radical elements in that faith?
CLINTON: Well, that's a different thing. Radical elements who use a dangerous and distorted view of Islam to promote their jihadist ambitions, I'm fine with that. I say it all the time and I go after Islamic, too.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So what's the problem with radical Islam?
CLINTON: Well, the problem is that that sounds like we are declaring war against a religion. And that, to me, is, number one, wrong but...
STEPHANOPOULOS: Even though the qualifier radical is there?
CLINTON: No, because, look, that -- you know enough about religion, you've studied it. And there are radicals, people who believe all kinds of things in every religion in the world.
I don't want to do that because, number one, it doesn't do justice to the vast numbers of Muslims in our own country and around the world who are peaceful people.
Number two, it helps to create this clash of civilizations that is actually a recruiting tool for ISIS and other radical jihadists who use this as a way of saying we're in a war against the West. You must join us. If you are a Muslim, you must join us.
No. If you're a law-abiding, peace-loving Muslim, you need to be with us against those who are distorting Islam.
Hillary explains this stupidity at length and believe me when I say it's a ridiculous topic to be forced to discuss. When a person kills another person, do the police work harder to solve the case if they call it a homicide or a murder? It's the act that they are investigating.
Talking like John Wayne on meth and steroids is all the Republicans have going for themselves at this point and the media should never try to force Democrats to sound like a bunch of lunatics.
