Keller @ Large: Pols On Brussels Terror Attacks
BOSTON (CBS) - "We must be together regardless of nationality or race or faith in fighting against the scourge of terrorism," said President Barack Obama Tuesday in response to the slaughter in Brussels.
A seemingly innocuous remark by the president, but it was enough to divide the presidential field.
Related: Obama Praises Boston's Response To Bombing
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump reiterated his call for a temporary ban on Muslim immigration to the US: "I would be extremely careful about people from the Middle East coming into our country."
And GOP candidate Ted Cruz went even further, calling for heightened scrutiny of Muslim-Americans already here: "We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized," a statement Trump said he agreed with.
Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton emphasized the role Muslim-Americans play in pre-empting domestic terrorism: "We don't need them to feel that if they hear something or see something that they can't report it, we want them to report it, we want them to be part of protecting the United States."
And Republican John Kasich called for outreach to Muslims worldwide: "I would also include our friends in the Arab community who know that radical Islam is intent on destroying and threatening them."
Even a privacy-rights stalwart like Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders was shaken by the horror in Brussels, calling for "effective monitoring of social media to stop the recruiting efforts of young people."
For those looking for it, this was a day of insight into how these candidates react to a difficult, deadly situation.
