The New York Times suggested Tuesday that only Hillary Clinton has called for improved relations with American Muslims, even though Donald Trump made similar comments that went ignored by the paper.
Trump, the Republican nominee, said in his remarks Monday that he wants “us all, all of us, to work together” to combat terrorism.
“We have to form a partnership, with our Muslim communities,” he said. “We have Muslim communities in this country that are great, and we have to form that partnership. Now, the Muslim community, so important. They have to work with us. They have to cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad. They know it. And they have to do it, and they have to do it forthwith.”
The New York Times, however, said Trump’s speech was delivered “without distinguishing between mainstream Muslims and Islamist terrorists…”
At the same time, the Times article said Clinton “has sought to present herself as the default choice of mainstream voters, including Republicans disturbed by Mr. Trump…” While ignoring similar comments from Trump, the Times said Clinton “stressed the importance of building relationships between law enforcement agencies and American Muslims.”
Clinton’s comments on relationships with Muslim Americans were similar to Trump’s.
“Since 9/11, law enforcement agencies have worked hard to build relationships with Muslim American communities,” she said. “Millions of peace-loving Muslims live, work and raise their families across America. And they are the most likely to recognize the insidious effects of radicalization before it’s too late, and the best positioned to help us block it. So we should be intensifying contacts in those communities, not scapegoating or isolating them.”
On Sunday, Omar Mateen shot up a gay nightclub Orlando, Fla., killing 49 people and wounding scores more.
FBI Director James Comey said there are indications that Mateen had been “radicalized” and federal authorizes said he had been placed on terror-watch lists.
