Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday criticized Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s proposal to bar Muslims from entering the U.S., saying such views are “not what this party stands for and more importantly it’s not what this country stands for.”
Speaking to reporters after a closed-door GOP caucus meeting, Ryan addressed Trump’s remarks without mentioning him by name. The speaker said he doesn’t normally comment on the presidential race but was making an exception.
“Freedom of religion is a fundamental constitutional principle,” Ryan said. “This is not conservatism. What was proposed yesterday is not what this party stands for. And more importantly, it’s not what this country stands for.”
The Wisconsin Republican said many Muslims serve the country in the military and work in Congress, “the vast, vast, vast majority of whom are peaceful, who believe in pluralism, freedom, democracy, individual rights.”
Trump on Monday called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” in the wake of attacks at home and abroad. Trump’s proposed ban would apply to immigrants and visitors alike.
(AP)
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2 Responses
It is nice to see some achdus these days, and to see Republicans stand up with the president to convey the message of this is ‘Not Who We Are’.
A freilechin chanukkah!
I’m sick and tired of politicians telling me “that’s not who we are.” That’s all we hear from oblabla whenever he wants to give us his idea of mussar.