Bill Clinton’s attempts to appeal to Muslims living in America, and counter what some consider xenophobic rhetoric toward them from GOP candidate Donald Trump, appears to have backfired.
The 42nd U.S. president delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Tuesday night in which he spoke directly to minorities who may feel cut off, including immigrants and “disillusioned and afraid” African-American young people.
“If you are a Muslim, and you love America and freedom and you hate terror, stay here and help us win and make the future together,” Clinton said in his 45-minute address. “We want you.”
Bill Clinton: “If you’re a Muslim and you love America and freedom and you hate terror, stay here and help us win.” https://t.co/xXPYZg5Jx6
— CNN (@CNN) July 27, 2016
However, since then the former president has received some flak on Twitter, with many likening his remarks to that of Trump’s and considering them as further reinforcing Muslims as a class apart in America.
Sorry @billclinton, my Muslim American daughters are part of the ‘us’. They’re not a separate category (or subgroup) https://t.co/hJBhuFnmRT
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 27, 2016
Disappointed at @billclinton message to Muslim Americans. There is no “if” for which Americans get to stay here! pic.twitter.com/X650j6Y9hq
— Negar نگار (@NegarMortazavi) July 27, 2016
His comments were clearly aimed at distancing the Democratic platform from stiff rhetoric by Trump, who has previously called for an all-out ban on Muslims entering the United States and has criticized Hillary Clinton for her prior support of allowing more vetted refugees from war-torn Muslim countries like Syria to seek refuge in the U.S.
Bill Clinton’s ‘*If* you’re a Muslim and hate terror’ line seemed completely out of touch—legitimizes notion that Muslims should be suspect
— Graham Liddell (@grahamliddell) July 27, 2016
“If youre a Muslim and you love freedom and hate terror, we want you” – Bill Clinton. Muslims offer more than what you are degrading us to.
— Zahra Haider (@ZahraHaiderr) July 27, 2016
.@BillClinton‘s remarks last night on Muslim-Americans and African-Americans were just as bad as what Trump has said pic.twitter.com/yUJroRf2nl
— Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) July 28, 2016
