Citing a discredited poll that found lots of Muslims don't like America much, Donald Trump called today for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until country's representatives can figure out what's going on." The statement from the Trump campaign ended with Trump pledging to "make America great again." NYT:
Experts on immigration law and policy expressed shock at the proposal Monday afternoon. “This is just so antithetical to the history of the United States,” said Nancy Morawetz, a professor of clinical law at New York University School of Law, who specializes in immigration. “It’s unbelievable to have a religious test for admission into the country.” She added: “I cannot recall any historical precedent for denying immigration based on religion.”
The Trump campaign made this move—a bigoted, inflammatory move that doubtless has the thugs and murderers at ISIS HQ giving each other high-fives—the same day that Ted Cruz moved into the lead in Iowa. Probably not a coincidence. Twitter is blowing up...
Who knew a U.S. Presidential candidate and Republican frontrunner could build a campaign around making ISIS even stronger?
— Hemant Mehta (@hemantmehta) December 7, 2015Rhetorical Question: Do you think @realDonaldTrump will drop in the polls after saying he wants to ban all Muslims from America?
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) December 7, 2015Even if Trump loses, his campaign has normalized the discourse of vicious demagoguery. Could have repercussions for decades.
— Sean J. (@kavs86) December 7, 2015"NOW do you believe Donald Trump is a bigoted asshole?" — Latinos
— ¡Gabe! Ortíz (@TUSK81) December 7, 2015The rest of the GOP field is going to have to back Trump or get attacked as weak by Trump. Shit was already ugly but it's getting uglier.
