DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released a scathing statement on Sunday after four Republican presidential candidates were asked on different Sunday shows about the importance of a presidential candidate’s religious beliefs.
“It’s hard to understand what’s so difficult about supporting an American citizen’s right to run for president, but unsurprisingly, this left Republicans scratching their heads,” Wasserman Schultz said. “Of course a Muslim, or any other American citizen, can run for president, end of story.”
She singled out Ben Carson and Donald Trump in particular. The former said on Meet the Press that he would not be comfortable with a Muslim in the Oval Office, while the latter, when asked if he would back a Muslim for president, said, “Some people have said it already happened, frankly.”
Here’s the full statement:
“In interviews today, not one, not two, not three, but four GOP candidates for president failed to clearly support the concept that a person’s religious beliefs should not disqualify him or her from being president. It’s hard to understand what’s so difficult about supporting an American citizen’s right to run for president, but unsurprisingly, this left Republicans scratching their heads. Of course a Muslim, or any other American citizen, can run for president, end of story. To think otherwise is not only harmful to our political process, but it elevates and validates discrimination in this country. John Kasich, Ben Carson, Rand Paul and Donald Trump should apologize and state clearly where they stand.”
UPDATE — 3:30 p.m. ET: Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), a Muslim member of Congress, released the following statement in direct response to Carson and Trump.
Every American should be disturbed. My statement on recent comments made by @RealBenCarson & @realDonaldTrump: pic.twitter.com/7HAVw3JeZK
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) September 20, 2015
[Image via screengrab]
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