Why Won’t This President Say Radical Islam?

After the attacks in Paris, many Republicans have been calling for President Obama to use the term “radical islam.” They are outraged that his language isn’t to their liking, but Obama doesn’t seem to care. Cenk Uygur, host of the The Young Turks, breaks it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

"The newest fault line in the 2016 presidential campaign is over two words: "radical Islam."

During Saturday night's debate, held in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris, all three Democratic presidential candidates were asked if they'd say the US is "at war with radical Islam" — and, like President Obama, they all demurred.

That phrase isn't "particularly helpful" to America's efforts to reach out to Muslim countries, said Hillary Clinton, who used the word "jihadists" instead. "I don't think the term is what's important," said Bernie Sanders. "I believe calling it what it is, which is to say, radical jihadis," said Martin O'Malley.

Afterward, their Republican rivals professed incredulity. "I don’t understand it," Marco Rubio said Sunday. "That would be like saying we weren't at war with Nazis because we were afraid to offend some Germans who may have been members of the Nazi party, but weren't violent." And Donald Trump chimed in in a tweet: "When will President Obama issue the words RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM? He can't say it, and unless he will, the problem will not be solved!”...

And it's not purely a partisan controversy — because throughout most of his presidency, George W. Bush was also reluctant to define the conflict in terms that emphasized religion.”*

Read more here

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The Young Turks November 16, 2015 Hour 1

Why Won’t This President Say Radical Islam?

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