CNN's Christiane Amanpour wildly claimed that "top" Republican presidential candidates "have decided to make a war on Moslems...1.5 billion members of another faith." Amanpour didn't name any names, but since she pointed out how Pope Francis referenced "Thomas Merton, a Cistercian friar" during address to Congress, who, in her words, "had tolerance and interreligious dialogue as his leitmotif;" and because Dr. Ben Carson was among the attendees at the pontiff's speech; she likely had him in mind when she made that accusation. [video below]
The anchor hyped that "it's hard not to appreciate that this is a glorious day and a glorious moment. I think no matter how...cynical or political or hard-hearted or whatever it is, you can't help but get swept up when there is a global moral leader who's addressing you. And he has shown that...he walks the walk and talks the talk." She continued with her "war on Moslems" remark.
It should be pointed out that along with Dr. Carson, GOP presidential candidates Chris Christie and Senator Marco Rubio were also in attendance at the Pope's address. However, it's more likely that Amanpour was directly her remarks at the former neurosurgeon and Donald Trump.
The transcript of Christiane Amanpour's analysis from CNN's live coverage of Pope Francis's visit to the United States during the 11 am Eastern hour on Thursday:
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: It's hard not to appreciate that this is a glorious day and a glorious moment. I think no matter how – as you said, cynical or political or hard-hearted or whatever it is – you can't help but get swept up when there is a global moral leader who's addressing you. And he has shown that his – you know, he walks the walk and talks the talk. He's not somebody who sits and pontificates – sorry, to coin a phrase – from – from on high – but he does it from down below with the people, and it's so important.
You know what, Jake? I was wondering whether anybody here sort of twigged that he chose Thomas Merton, a Cistercian friar who had tolerance and interreligious dialogue as his leitmotif. And in that Congress was one of the Republican candidates for presidency – there are two. The top Republican candidates have decided to make a war on Moslems – you know, 1.5 billion members of another faith. And it must be a little bit weird to have that sort of discordance when – you know, when – when this pope is here talking about what makes America great – tolerance and – and all the other issues that have made this country great – and the power of immigrants and other religions to build this country.
