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Obama Takes Harsher Tone With Republicans Than ISIS At G20 [VIDEO]

Christian Datoc Senior White House Correspondent
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President Obama took a public shot at Jeb Bush and other Republican presidential candidates during his Monday speech at the G20 Summit in Turkey, saying that it is “shameful” to suggest that the United States only admit Christian Syrian refugees.

Bush had told CNN’s Jake Tapper Sunday that the United States should focus its refugee support on “the Christians that are being slaughtered” by ISIS. President Obama called any suggestion to admit refugees based on their religion “shameful” and “not American.” (VIDEO: Obama — Don’t Equate Paris Terror Attacks To Islam)

OBAMA: We have to, each of us, do our part, and the United States has to step up and do its part. When I hear folks say that, well, maybe we should just admit the Christians but not the Muslims. When I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which person who’s fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted. When some of those folks themselves come from families who benefitted from protection when they were fleeing political persecution — That’s shameful. That’s not American. That’s not who we are. We don’t have religious tests to our compassion. When Pope Francis came to visit the United states and gave a speech before Congress, he didn’t just speak about Christians who were being persecuted. He didn’t call on all Catholic parishes just to admit those who were of the same religious faith. He said, “protect people who were vulnerable,” and so I think it is very important for us right now, particularly those who are in leadership, particularly those who have a platform and can be heard, not to fall into that trap. 

Earlier in the press conference, Obama mocked suggestions that he should take a more “bellicose” tone when discussing ISIS.

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