Jake Tapper asked a question about discrimination against Muslims, specifically citing the case in Texas today in which a boy was arrested for building a clock and bringing it to school. (School officials somehow got it in their heads that it was a bomb.) Unless I missed something, none of the four candidates on this stage wanted to answer the question.
Jindal’s answer was that although no one should be arrested for a clock, we should really be talking about discrimination against Christians who don’t believe in same-sex marriage, like Kim Davis.
Graham’s answer was that “young Muslim men are different” from Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, and Islamic websites need to be monitored.
Pataki’s answer was that Davis can’t pick and choose the laws she’ll follow as a government official.
Santorum, after the break, came back talking again about freedom of conscience.
And yes, a lot of voters want to hear about freedom of conscience. But the question was about discrimination against a Muslim kid who was arrested for bringing a clock to school. Does any Republican want to address that issue and make clear that we frown upon discrimination against Muslims, just like discrimination against Christians?
Maybe there just aren’t enough Muslim caucus-goers in Iowa.
