In a focus group with American Muslims on CBS This Morning, participants told political strategist Frank Luntz that Republicans discussing terrorism was so offensive that their children could not be exposed to GOP debates. One woman warned: “I actually did a call out to Muslim parents across the country to not watch the Republican debate in front of their children because I knew that, that – subjecting our children to hear the hateful stereotyping and the lumping of Muslims with terrorism in front of our children is actually something that psychologically impacts them.”
Luntz wondered: “But don't you want the kids to know the challenges that they face?” She declared: “I don't want my children to be subjected to racism and the vilification of their faith. I will not allow Donald Trump to tell my kids how they should feel about being Muslim.”
Teeing up more attacks, Luntz asked: “How many of you are physically afraid because of – you're physically afraid? So most of you?” Most of the group raised their hands, followed by another woman citing the a left-wing advocacy group: “There has been an increase in hate crimes that has been reported through the Council on American Islamic Relations and as well as in the United Kingdom there’s been a 300% increase in hate crimes.”
Here is a transcript of the December 18 exchange:
7:33 AM ET
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UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I also think that it's important not to ignore the fact that all of this painful conversation is not necessarily positive, even though it is an opportunity. Oftentimes, there are manifestations of violence of this rhetoric.
FRANK LUNTZ: Now you said it's painful. How is it painful?
WOMAN A: Because it's – this is my faith. It’s representative of who I am. And for me to see that it has been so demonized is painful and it’s scary.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN B: I actually did a call out to Muslim parents across the country to not watch the Republican debate in front of their children because I knew that, that – subjecting our children to hear the hateful stereotyping and the lumping of Muslims with terrorism in front of our children is actually something that psychologically impacts them. So that’s how deep this is for us.
LUNTZ: But don't you want the kids to know the challenges that they face?
WOMAN B: I don't want my children to be subjected to racism and the vilification of their faith. I will not allow Donald Trump to tell my kids how they should feel about being Muslim.
LUNTZ: How many of you are physically afraid because of – you're physically afraid? So most of you?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN C: There has been an increase in hate crimes that has been reported through the Council on American Islamic Relations and as well as in the United Kingdom there’s been a 300% increase in hate crimes.
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