DNC Releases New Ad About "Radical Islam" Term, Misses Mark & Gives GOP Terror Opening

[ericson00]

Too many progressives, as I've pointed out, are quick to claim "racism" against those with legitimate concerns about the Syria refugees or Islamist radicalism. A Bloomberg poll on the issue shows that Democrats are divided on the issue, which is notable given that usually, Dems are diametrically opposed to whatever the GOP stance is. The GOPer gap between oppose and support is 57%, the Democrats gap only 10%. This has also been the case with the subject of Radical Islam. Today, the DNC released an ad attacking the concept of using the phrase.

I would think after even some progressives have started to acknowledge Islam-based extremism, the DNC would notice. Hell, whatever you think of the issue, Mother Jones has some good insight about not reflexively tarring those with a more skeptical viewpoint:

Mocking Republicans over this—as liberals spent much of [the other day] doing on my Twitter stream—seems absurdly out of touch to a lot of people. Not just wingnut tea partiers, either, but plenty of ordinary centrists too. It makes them wonder if Democrats seriously see no problem here. Do they care at all about national security? Are they really that detached from reality?

Additionally, a poll has interesting results:

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States is at war with radical Islamic terrorism. Just 24% share the president’s position and disagree. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided.

Even 56% of Democrats believe America is at war with radical Islamic terrorism, a view shared by 70% of Republicans and 54% of voters not affiliated with either major party.

A staggering 92% of all voters now regard radical Islamic terrorism as a serious threat to the United States. This includes 73% who say it is a Very Serious one, up 23 points from 50% in October of last year.

There's a part of me that thinks the GOP is trying to set a trap for Democrats on radical Islam by using the refugee issue, especially since still much of the left is starting to wake to the fact that radical Islamist ideology and acts are indeed real problem. If the GOP can’t own the national security issue, then all is lost for them, electorally, so they wanna throw some crazy shit (well certainly Trump and Carson's comments come to mind) that will never actually go thru, get a knee jerk reaction from the left, and use it to their advantage. They don’t want the fight against jihadism to cross ideological bounds. One of the reasons they beat up Obama and the Dems in red state America so badly is that they made Dems and him “others” on ‘Merica’s safety. “Middle America” is a little more concerned than blue stater and progressives about security, and was during the Cold War, even tho communism threatened all.

Let’s not take the bait. And the DNC cannot either. We must be able to talk about radical Islam at the very least so we don't get painted as "soft on terror" and out of touch, especially given the poll. I don't wanna see a 2004 replay. Or we could lose 2016, lose the 12 million hardworking undocs and their citizen children, lose ACA, get more conservative SCOTUS Justices, simply because too many wanna keep their head in the sand.

[uppityperson]

1. There is a huge difference between Syria refugees and Islamist radicalism.

Yes, unfortunately some people do confuse them. Extremist fundamentalism is the problem, whether Islamic or Good Old Trump style.

Educate people. Emotions rule, but educating people can change minds.

[ericson00]

2. there is some overlap, given how common certain views

are among people from that part of the world. Also, given the problems Muslim immigrants and their kids have had integrating in adopted societies, there is a lot of wisdom of being careful, especially yes given how hard getting info from Syria is about people.

[pampango]

5. Well said, uppityperson. In the last 4 years we have admitted 2,000+ Syrian refugees, 0 of them

have been arrested or deported for terrorism.

republicans love to stoke fear of anything and everything that they think will enhance their election chances.

Admittedly they are quite good at it. While we should respect their skill at fear-mongering, we should not join it or enable it, but learn to combat it with the truth. We should become good at that.

People here who would never give an inch to republican propaganda on 'trickle-down economics' or gay rights or more military spending and war seem quite willing to join with the GOP-inspired fear of Syrians of every type (and the polling results that those tactics temporarily produce) and abandon our liberal principles in the hopes that it will improve our chances in the next election. That kind of "policy based on polling data" is often, but apparently not always, derided (as it should be) around here.

[trumad]

6. Since 2001

Over 750K refugees with just 3 arrests. 2 of the 3 were trying to send weapons overseas---the 3rd---non-credible shit.

[ck4829]

3. No problem sending guns, tanks, planes, and bombs that way

Big problem when refugees come our way.

[Waiting For Everyman]

4. I don't see what the rush is about this.

This isn't at all the biggest thing I have against it, but I just have to wonder...

If the Syrians scheduled to come here have been in the vetting process for 18 to 24 months, then what is so almighty important about the rush to bring them here NOW? There is something VERY fishy about that.

And no, this is obviously not like any other immigrant group before.

The interest of a few thousand who are not citizens does not trump the interest of hundreds of millions who are. Nope. Sorry.

Dems who go out on a limb on this are going to ensure that we lose elections for the foreseeable future, if any terrorist act happens connected to those admitted after this. I think the odds are way against that working out well for Dems. And it's needless. That's what is SO stupid -- both in terms of safety, and in terms of electoral risk. I don't see a reason to take on that risk, that justifies it, so I have to wonder, what's going on behind the scenes that makes some SO anxious to do this? My bullshit radar is going off like crazy on this, and it has never been wrong yet.

[trumad]

7. Please I beg you concern whatevers to quit saying this shit.

Support the refugees means Republican domination for the foreseeable future.

Do you guys even hear yourselves?