Clinton says Trump gives 'aid, comfort' to IS recruiters
Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump of giving "aid and comfort" to Islamic terrorists
Monday, declaring his anti-Muslim rhetoric helps the Islamic State group and other
militants such as ISIS recruit new fighters.
Monday, declaring his anti-Muslim rhetoric helps the Islamic State group and other
militants such as ISIS recruit new fighters.
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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton boards her campaign plane at Westchester
County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Matt Rourke AP Photo
County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Matt Rourke AP Photo
ESTERO, FLA.
Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump of giving "aid
and comfort" to Islamic terrorists Monday, declaring his anti-Muslim
rhetoric helps the Islamic State group and other militants such as
ISIS recruit new fighters.
and comfort" to Islamic terrorists Monday, declaring his anti-Muslim
rhetoric helps the Islamic State group and other militants such as
ISIS recruit new fighters.
But Trump hit back, saying his Democratic rival and the Obama
administration hadn't done enough to quell the group's rise.
administration hadn't done enough to quell the group's rise.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks with members of the media at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Matt Rourke AP Photo
"Her attacks on me are all meant to deflect from her record of unleashing this monster of evil on us and on the world," said Trump at a packed Florida rally, referring to Clinton's tenure as secretary of state.
He also insisted the U.S. should "use whatever lawful methods are available" to get information from the Afghan immigrant arrested in this weekend's bombings.
As several Trump supporters shouted "Hang him!" the Republican presidential candidate bemoaned the fact that Ahmad Khan Rahami, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen originally from Afghanistan, would receive quality medical care and legal representation.
"We must deliver a just and very harsh punishment to these people,"
he said. "These are enemies, these are combatants and we have to be
tough, we have to be strong."
he said. "These are enemies, these are combatants and we have to be
tough, we have to be strong."
Both candidates moved swiftly to capitalize on investigations into a
weekend of violent attacks — bombings in New York and New Jersey
and stabbings at a Minnesota mall — casting themselves as most
qualified to combat terrorism at home and abroad.
weekend of violent attacks — bombings in New York and New Jersey
and stabbings at a Minnesota mall — casting themselves as most
qualified to combat terrorism at home and abroad.
Clinton touted her national security credentials at a hastily arranged
news conference outside her campaign plane, accusing Trump of using
the incidents to make "some kind of demagogic point."
news conference outside her campaign plane, accusing Trump of using
the incidents to make "some kind of demagogic point."
"I'm the only candidate in this race who's been part of the hard decisions
to take terrorists off the battlefield," Clinton, a former secretary of state,
told reporters. "I know how to do this."
to take terrorists off the battlefield," Clinton, a former secretary of state,
told reporters. "I know how to do this."
The possibility of a home-grown terrorist plot cast a new shadow over
the presidential race, diverting both candidates' attention from the daily
controversies of the campaign and giving them a high-profile opportunity
to make their case to undecided voters.
the presidential race, diverting both candidates' attention from the daily
controversies of the campaign and giving them a high-profile opportunity
to make their case to undecided voters.
Clinton and her team see her experience and what they say is her steady
judgment as key selling points for her candidacy. On the campaign trail,
she frequently invokes her role in the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin
Laden, describing to voters the tense atmosphere in the White House
alongside President Barack Obama at that moment.
judgment as key selling points for her candidacy. On the campaign trail,
she frequently invokes her role in the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin
Laden, describing to voters the tense atmosphere in the White House
alongside President Barack Obama at that moment.
But while much of the foreign policy establishment has rallied around
Clinton, Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric, promises to close U.S. borders
and vows to aggressively profile potential terrorists have fueled his
presidential bid.
Clinton, Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric, promises to close U.S. borders
and vows to aggressively profile potential terrorists have fueled his
presidential bid.
On Monday, he called for tougher policing, including profiling foreigners
who look like they could have connections to terrorism or certain Middle
Eastern nations.
who look like they could have connections to terrorism or certain Middle
Eastern nations.
"This isn't just a matter of terrorism, this is also really a question of
quality of life," he said. "We want to make sure we're only admitting people
into our country who love our country."
quality of life," he said. "We want to make sure we're only admitting people
into our country who love our country."
Trump has called for a new "extreme vetting" system that would apply an
ideological screening test to potential immigrants, asking whether they
support concepts like women's and gay rights.
ideological screening test to potential immigrants, asking whether they
support concepts like women's and gay rights.
Pointing to her Monday morning comment that Trump's words give
"aid and comfort" to Islamic extremists, his campaign said Clinton was
accusing him of treason, going beyond the bounds of acceptable
campaigning and trying to change the subject from her own failures.
"aid and comfort" to Islamic extremists, his campaign said Clinton was
accusing him of treason, going beyond the bounds of acceptable
campaigning and trying to change the subject from her own failures.
She insinuated that Islamic militants, particularly those affiliated with ISIS,
are rooting for Trump to win the White House. She said, "We're going after
the bad guys and we're going to get them, but we're not going to go after
an entire religion."
are rooting for Trump to win the White House. She said, "We're going after
the bad guys and we're going to get them, but we're not going to go after
an entire religion."
Trump agreed terrorists have a preference: They "want her so badly t
o be our president."
o be our president."
Clinton briefly turned her focus from national security on Monday,
wooing younger voters at a midday rally in Philadelphia. At Temple
University, she acknowledged she needs to do more to get millennials
on board.
wooing younger voters at a midday rally in Philadelphia. At Temple
University, she acknowledged she needs to do more to get millennials
on board.
"Even if you are totally opposed to Donald Trump, you may still have
some questions about me. I get that. And I want to do my best to
answer those questions," she told several hundred students gathered
in an ornate, wood-paneled lecture hall.
some questions about me. I get that. And I want to do my best to
answer those questions," she told several hundred students gathered
in an ornate, wood-paneled lecture hall.
This election marks the first presidential campaign where millennials
make up the single largest generation among U.S. adults, having
surpassed baby boomers during the past four years. The group helped
anchor Obama's support, but Clinton has failed to attract them in the
same numbers.
make up the single largest generation among U.S. adults, having
surpassed baby boomers during the past four years. The group helped
anchor Obama's support, but Clinton has failed to attract them in the
same numbers.
Both Trump and Clinton ended their days in New York City, where they
met with leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly.
met with leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly.
Both met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, while Clinton
also met with the leaders of Ukraine and Japan.
also met with the leaders of Ukraine and Japan.
New York officials said Monday the bombings in a Manhattan
neighborhood and a New Jersey shore town were looking increasingly
like acts of terrorism with a foreign connection. Authorities were also
investigating the stabbings of nine people at a Minnesota mall as a
possible act of terrorism.
neighborhood and a New Jersey shore town were looking increasingly
like acts of terrorism with a foreign connection. Authorities were also
investigating the stabbings of nine people at a Minnesota mall as a
possible act of terrorism.
---
Colvin reported from Fort Myers, Florida. Associated Press writers
Lisa Lerer in Washington and Bill Barrow in Indianapolis contributed
to this report.
Lisa Lerer in Washington and Bill Barrow in Indianapolis contributed
to this report.
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