Senate

Durbin: Proposal to ban Muslims ‘un-American’

by Jordain Carney - 12/14/15 8:04 PM ET

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) took a veiled shot Monday at Donald Trump, calling the Republican presidential candidate’s push to ban Muslims from entering the United States “un-American.”

“A candidate for president of the United States of a major political party has called for the exclusion of Muslims from being allowed to immigrate into the United States,” the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat said. “That is reprehensible. It is outrageous and it is un-American.”

{mosads}Durbin added that he was concerned recent rhetoric could negatively impact the relationship between the Muslim-American community and law enforcement and that lawmakers “must condemn bias and bigotry aimed at Muslim Americans and make it clear that we will not tolerate religious discrimination.”

He didn’t specifically mention Trump, but the GOP presidential front-runner has gotten widespread pushback after he called for a “total and complete shutdown” of federal processing to allow followers of Islam to enter the country.

Durbin also praised Republican lawmakers who denounced Trump’s comments, including Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) who made headlines late last week by visiting a mosque in his home state.

“[Flake] made outstanding remarks about the regret he felt over some of the political statements that have been made over the last several weeks by political candidates,” Durbin said on Monday. “Jeff Flake reminded us across the nation … that America is a nation which values the freedom of religious belief.”

Flake, during his speech, said that he hopes “isolated voices calling for division are overwhelmed by the chorus of voices … calling for acceptance, for tolerance and inclusion.”

Durbin isn’t the only member of Democratic leadership to speak out in the wake of Trump’s comments. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called Trump’s proposal “hateful” and “vile.”

Tags Dick Durbin Donald Trump Harry Reid Jeff Flake