Republican Rod Blum, a businessman who is running to represent Iowa’s First Congressional District, challenged his opponent, Democrat Pat Murphy, to explain why he thinks illegal immigrant juveniles from Central America will become terrorists if they are not granted citizenship. 

“Obviously Pat Murphy’s comments are extremely offensive. How could anyone reasonably compare these children to terrorists? And what does that have to do with granting amnesty?” Blum exclusively told Breitbart News on Friday. “Comments like this are completely out of touch, and do not reflect mainstream, common sense American views. I hope that Pat Murphy explains his radical statement to the voters here in Eastern Iowa.”

This week, as ISIS released a heinous video of the beheading of U.S. photojournalist James Foley, Murphy said that illegal immigrant juveniles who have been flooding across the border from Central America will be like Middle Eastern terrorists in a generation if they do not get amnesty. 

“If they’re gonna be refugees, which, some, several of them are going to be, we need to make sure that we have–one, we take care of them, and we create a pathway for citizenship and set up education for them so they don’t become the same problem that we’re currently having in the Middle East–that they’ll be terrorists a generation from now,” Murphy told Iowa Public Radio on Tuesday. Murphy also said the illegal immigrant juveniles, nearly 90% of whom are teenagers, should be treated “like they’re our children or our grandchildren.”

Murphy has been consistent in his pro-amnesty advocacy. In May, Murphy told Iowa Public Radio that there are “13 million undocumented Americans here,” and they should be given a pathway to citizenship in exchange for community service. 

On his Friday radio program, Rush Limbaugh said Murphy’s comments are “certifiable proof” that some Democrats from Iowa “are insane.” Limbaugh said Murphy’s remarks are also reflective of the low regard with which Murphy holds his district’s voters. 

“I don’t know who it’s an insult to,” Limbaugh said. “Yes, it’s an insult to the children, but you talk about what must this guy think of the voters in Iowa who he wants to elect him. How stupid does he think they are?”

Blum and Murphy, who has touted himself as a “bold progressive” and a “liberal’s liberal,” are in a tight contest to replace Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA), who gave up his House seat to run for Senate against Joni Ernst. 

Photo: Progressive Change Campaign Committee