Donald Trump, on the verge of accepting the GOP nomination for president at next week’s convention in Cleveland, kicked off his political career with remarks about illegal immigrants that sent liberal heads spinning, and he kept the momentum going with talk of halting all Muslim immigration even as European countries were inviting in unlimited numbers of Syrian “widows and orphans” (and, in the case of Germany and others, later regretting that decision).
Newt Gingrich, who at the moment seems to have lost the VP sweepstakes to Gov. Mike Pence, took Trump talk to another level Thursday night following a horrific terror attack in France, proposing a test for “every person here who is of a Muslim background.”
.@newtgingrich: "We should…test every person here who is of a Muslim background, & if they believe in shariah they should be deported."
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 15, 2016
Islamic extremism certainly needs to be addressed (especially considering the president’s tantrum over people using the phrase), but just what sort of “test” is Gingrich suggesting? Getting Mexico to pay for a border wall might be a stretch, but constructing such a thing is at least within the realm of possibility.
Newt is so distraught at being passed over for VP by Trump that he's saying kooky stuff even Trump doesn't say. https://t.co/6drR1v7T5a
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) July 15, 2016
Bill Kristol’s been more active than anyone in trying to find an alternative to Trump, but plenty agree that proposing some unspecified test is a bad idea, politically and constitutionally. At least this will give the media something for their politics sections Friday, now that Trump has delayed his VP announcement.
Recommended
Come on. This is nuts.
We should "test" every person in the US who has a "Muslim background"?
Really? https://t.co/zvU633gVjp
— Thomas Joscelyn (@thomasjoscelyn) July 15, 2016
Newt has lost his mind. https://t.co/soDa8b9adk
— Ken Gardner (@KenGardner11) July 15, 2016
There couldn't be a sillier suggestion. How would you be able to identify these people in the first place?
— Evin (@UygEv2015) July 15, 2016
.@FoxNews So, like a background check for guns but for a religion? I almost forgot @newtgingrich is a deep thinker.
— Anthony Bialy (@AnthonyBialy) July 15, 2016
Is there a blood test? A oral quiz? Written test? Have them bring a Number 2 pencil? #religiousliberty
— Hunter S. Thompson (@fear_loathing16) July 15, 2016
And how would you implement these "tests"? Torture everyone? Are you fucking serious? Tests????
— Scott Groves (@ScottGrovesCO) July 15, 2016
should we use Survey Monkey?
— michael silverstein (@stimy9) July 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/753782281551147008
.@FoxNews @newtgingrich Yeah, b/c anyone plotting violence would answer sharia questions honestly, or we could use the sharia dna test! ?
— JustAnotherSnakeCult (@raindogtweets) July 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/753780444848590848
@FoxNews @newtgingrich so is this like for American citizens who are Muslim as well?
— Beth (@CatholicMumma) July 15, 2016
… would that include citizens? You dipstick?
— Patterico (@Patterico) July 15, 2016
Literally calling for thoughtcrimes. https://t.co/Sf1Y3Iboeb
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) July 15, 2016
I thought you believed in the Constitution! This is unAmerican!
— (((Nancy B Parent))) (@Nanbp) July 15, 2016
And as constitutionalists you support this? Reduce human rights based on religion and race? In our country?
— Michael Sullivan (@sullim01) July 15, 2016
That is against the Establishment Clause, professor
— John's 180 Character Haikus (@dogstar7tweets) July 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/TexasVC/status/753785481867866112
is not familiar with the America's ways nor our Constitution. He's unfit and the worst sort of reactionary pirate.
— Madame Blueberry (@shekissesfrogs) July 15, 2016
Maybe we test how well people know the First Amendment prohibits impeding the free exercise of religion? https://t.co/FGDiu8WwmE
— Anthony DeRosa? (@Anthony) July 15, 2016
Shame on you @newtgingrich. Liberty or death? You're choosing vast expansion of police and military powers instead. Coward!
— L̶̙̕i̸̠̐n̴̗͑ė̶̮š̸̹ ̸͝ŏ̴̫f̴̨̌ ̴̼̌S̵̼̀p̶̣̈́i̵̦̚t̶e (@DividuatedFlux) July 15, 2016
Trump VP test. Can you sound more crazy than me?
— Tracie L. Washington (@NolaTracie) July 15, 2016
Awkward:
That moment where @newtgingrich wants to test & deport Muslims who believe in Shariah but he complimented ur hijab. pic.twitter.com/t6j0OlX0FQ
— NOOR (@NTagouri) July 15, 2016
Join the conversation as a VIP Member