Donald Trump declined last week to correct a questioner at his New Hampshire rally who said President Obama is a Muslim, and when the man asked when the country “can get rid of” of all Muslims, Trump responded by saying, “We’re going to be looking at that”. But, if it fits within the realm of America and consistent with the constitution then no problem.
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Todd then asked whether Carson thought Islam was compatible with the U.S. constitution, to which Carson replied: “No I do not”.
Minnesota Democratic representative Keith Ellison, the first practicing Muslim elected to Congress, said: “It’s unimaginable that the leading GOP presidential candidates are resorting to fear-mongering to benefit their campaigns”. Mr Trump said on Twitter on Saturday.
Trump would finish off with a nice dog whistle when Todd asked him point blank again if we should have a Muslim president. “You know he isn’t even an American“, the person said.
“You know that one“.
“I try to see that as a separate thing – someone’s religion”, the Republican presidential hopeful said.
However, despite this backlash, a recent poll by American consulting company Gallup found that as many as 38% of Americans are not willing to vote for a Muslim president, suggesting that Carson did not stray from a prevalent ideology.
Trump’s campaign manager initially claimed he had failed to correct the questioner as he had trouble hearing in the packed room, but the former reality television star finally addressed the controversy with a series of tweets on 19 September. I think they’d all be taken aback that religion is a hot button issue in America in 2015.
Trump said later that he was not “morally obligated to defend the president” against every negative or controversial comment. Carson also refused to say that President Obama is an American Christian, saying merely that he has “no reason to doubt” otherwise.
Carson’s record includes stating that prison sex proves homosexuality is a choice, demanding the U.S. military not be constrained by rules, and that the best way to understand the administration of President Obama is to read Mein Kampf.
The CNN/ORC poll showed Trump, a real estate mogul, continued to lead the contest with the support of 24 percent of registered voters, down from 32 percent in a previous poll.
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Sixteen Republicans are seeking the party’s nomination for the USA presidential election in November 2016.
