Reacting to the terrorist attacks on Friday in Paris, a number of Republican presidential candidates are criticizing President Barack Obama for not adequately executing a strategy to take on ISIS.
“It’s time for a president who will act to protect Americans, not just talk and protect the image of Islam,” former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Saturday.
Huckabee referenced Obama’s comments earlier Friday, before the ISIS attacks in France, where he claimed ISIS had been “contained.” (RELATED: FLASHBACK: Obama Said ‘ISIS Is Contained’ Friday Morning)
“Yet a week ago, ISIS murdered 224 people aboard a Russian plane, and now Friday night, Paris was struck by a multi-layered attack that resulted in over 125 people murdered, many more wounded, and a world again left in shock,” Huckabee said. “We are clearly not dealing with leashed animals or with a JV team. We’re dealing with a threat to western civilization.”
Texas Sen. [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore], appearing on Fox and Friends Saturday, said that “as long as we have a commander-in-chief unwilling to even utter the words ‘radical Islamic terrorism,’ we will not have a concerted effort to defeat these radicals before they continue to murder more and more innocents.”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich pressured Obama to take action. “’Time is of the essence,” Kasich said. “We cannot afford to await the outcome of the presidential election in a year’s time before being able to act. I urge the president to get on this now – in a much more assertive and consequent manner than we have seen from his administration to date.”
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, appearing on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show, said there has been a lack of “United States leadership” in fighting ISIS.
“Now, we have to lead,” Bush said. “Hopefully, this will be a catalyst for the president of the United States to actually admit that we need a strategy.”
South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham also called for America to take a larger leadership role: “There is a sickness in the world that has to be dealt with and the civilized world must come together to confront it. America should lead that unity.”
Other candidates, both Republican and Democrat, reacted to the attacks on Twitter.
The reports from Paris are harrowing. Praying for the city and families of the victims. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 13, 2015
The terrorist attacks in France tonight are alarming and heartbreaking. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. — Chris Christie (@ChrisChristie) November 13, 2015
My thoughts & prayers are with the people of Paris. America must stand united with France as they face this truly horrific act of terrorism
— Dr. [crscore]Rand Paul[/crscore] (@RandPaul) November 13, 2015
My prayers are with the victims and hostages in the horrible Paris attacks. May God be with you all. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2015
Praying for victims of attacks in Paris and for those reportedly held hostage.
— [crscore]Marco Rubio[/crscore] (@marcorubio) November 13, 2015
My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Paris tonight. — Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) November 13, 2015
I mourn with you. I pray with you. I stand with you. America must lead in the world. We must wage & win this fight against Islamic terrorism
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) November 14, 2015
#ParisAttacks The Western order of democracy and liberty is under assault, and must be defended. — Jim Gilmore (@gov_gilmore) November 13, 2015
It’s time for Americans to discard political correctness and come to terms with the truth — Radical Islam is evil and plans to destroy us.
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) November 14, 2015
Radical Islam is not “contained;” it is a cancer that is metastasizing across Europe and threatens our shores. https://t.co/85prUNpPKN — George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) November 14, 2015
Tonight we pray for and mourn with our French brothers and sisters. Today’s horror is another reminder that we must be vigilant against evil
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) November 13, 2015
Heartbreaking news from Paris. Praying for the country and its people. -O’M — Martin O’Malley (@MartinOMalley) November 13, 2015
Horrified by the attacks in Paris tonight. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 13, 2015
