Candidates Perform Contortions to Avoid Saying ‘Radical Islam’ at #DemDebate

The first 20 or so minutes of last night’s Democrat debate was devoted to national security with an emphasis on the terror attacks in Paris. It was a subject that made everyone on stage visibly uncomfortable.

Jenna Lifhits of the Washington Free Beacon:

Hillary Clinton refused to use the term “radical Islam” to describe groups like the Islamic State Saturday at the Democratic debate, despite having used the term “radical Islamic jihadist groups” four days prior.When moderator John Dickerson asked Clinton whether she agreed with Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R., Fla.) statement that the Paris attacks show “that we are at war with Radical Islam,” Clinton said she would use a term other than “Radical Islam.”“I don’t think we’re at war with Islam,” she said Saturday. “I don’t think we’re at war with all Muslims. I think we’re at war with jihadists.”“He didn’t say all Muslims,” Dickerson said. “He said, ‘Radical Islam.’ Is that a phrase you don’t [use]?”“I think you can talk about Islamists who clearly are also jihadists,” she said. “But I think it’s not particularly helpful.”

Here’s the video:

Bernie Sanders doubled down on his earlier claim that climate change is America’s greatest national security threat, even suggesting that climate change is causing terrorism.

Daniel Bassali, also of the Washington Free Beacon:

Bernie Sanders: Climate Change Is Directly Related To Growth Of TerrorismSen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) linked the increase in global terrorism to climate change during the Democratic debate Saturday night.“Climate change is directly related to the growth of terrorism,” Sanders said to CBS anchor John Dickerson. “If we do not get our act together and listen to what the scientists say, you’re going to see countries all over the world, and this is what the CIA says, they are going to be struggling over limited amounts of water, limited amounts of land to grow their crops, and you are going to see all sorts of international conflict.”The liberal senator stood by his stance that climate change is the greatest threat facing the U.S. today.“Climate change is the greatest threat facing the planet,” Sanders previously said, adding that the “debate is over” on the science behind climate change. Martin O’Malley has made similar claims about the Islamic State.

Watch the video:

Later on, the candidates were asked about an enemy they’re more comfortable attacking…

Featured image via YouTube.

Tags: 2016 Democratic Primary, Democrats, ISIS

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