Hillary Clinton says she doesn’t use the term “radical Islam” because it “sounds like we are declaring war against a religion,” and that it contributes to a “clash of civilizations.”
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week” with Clinton Global Foundation donor George Stephanopoulos, Clinton suggested that “radical elements who use a dangerous and distorted view of Islam to promote their jihadist ambitions, I’m fine with that, I say it all the time and I go after Islamists too.” (RELATED: Ted Cruz: Barack Obama Is ‘An Apologist For Radical Islamic Terrorists’)
Stephanopoulos asked Clinton, “What’s the problem with radical Islam?” (RELATED: Voters Say What Obama Wont: ‘We Are At War With Radical Islam’)
Clinton responded,”Well, the problem is that that sounds like we are declaring war against a religion and that to me is number one, wrong.”
Stephanopoulos retorted, “Even though the qualifier radical is there?”
“No because look, you know enough about religion, you’ve studied it and there are radicals, people who believe all kinds of things in every religion in the world,” Clinton suggested. (RELATED: Hillary: Saying ‘Radical Islam’ Is ‘Not Particularly Helpful’ [VIDEO])
“I don’t want to do that because number one it doesn’t do justice to the vast numbers of Muslims in our own country and around the world who are peaceful people.”
“Number two it helps to create this clash of civilizations that is actually a recruiting tool for ISIS and other radical jihadists who use this as a way of saying, ‘We’re in a war against the West. You must join us. If you’re a Muslim, you must join us.’ No, if you are a law abiding, peace-loving muslim, you need to be with us, against those who are distorting Islam,” Clinton said.