Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Governor John Kasich stated of admitting refugees from the Middle East and Africa “if our intelligence community tells us it’s not safe, then we shouldn’t do it” on the Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” after Wednesday’s GOP debate.
Kasich said, [relevant exchange begins around 3:30] “Sean, if our intelligence community tells us it’s not safe, then we shouldn’t do it. I just want to make sure that the door is open for us to take a look at people who are in distress, who are not part of that — of any of that terrorism or extremism. And, if that’s the case, then we shouldn’t take them in. But, I’m just suggesting to you that, look, if they come out and they say there’s no way to certify, we don’t want to take people into our country who could be radicals. We don’t want to do that.”
After host Sean Hannity followed up, “In other words, that you would be open, if that’s the case, and that has been stated publicly now, you would support maybe other ways to help the refugees or the genuine refugees?” Kasich answered, “Yeah. But, sometimes people make statements. We’ve just got to make sure that what they’re saying is solid, and they say, look, we shouldn’t do it. If they say we shouldn’t do it, I’m not going to be for doing it.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett