Burr Actually Defends Trump Muslim Ban

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In case you missed it, after an American-born terrorist shot and killed 49 people and injured dozens more in an Orlando nightclub, incumbent Senator Richard Burr actually defended Donald Trump's widely criticized ban on Muslims entering the United States, according to the McClatchy News Service. As McClatchy notes, Burr's "defense of Trump came as other top Republicans disavowed Trump's call for a Muslim ban." Trump's proposal has been called "offensive," "ill-informed," and "downright dangerous" for our nation's security by prominent Republicans across the country. In addition, national security experts have warned that this kind of rhetoric, which Burr is defending, makes us less safe and could serve as a recruitment tool for our enemies. This comes as Burr refuses to support legislation that would help stop suspected terrorists from buying guns. Burr has previously voted against this proposal.

"Keeping Americans safe should of course be a top priority," said Deborah. "But instead of supporting an effort to prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns, Senator Burr is behind an unenforceable ban -- or pause -- on people coming into the country based on their stated religious beliefs. Congress can act today to make it harder for suspected terrorists -- regardless of their religion or citizenship -- to buy guns. That's commonsense to me and, I believe, most North Carolinians."

Despite the very real national security implications of the rhetoric Burr is defending, McClatchy notes that Joseph Wippl, a former CIA officer and current university professor with expertise in national security and terrorism, believes Burr is putting his own politics first, saying that "Burr's comments about a potential Muslim ban or pause are likely more political statements influenced by Trump's presence on the top of the Republican ticket this fall, rather than an indication of intelligence information shaping a specific policy view."

ICYMI: Charlotte Observer: Senate Intel Chairman Burr Defends Trump But Argues "Ban' Isn't On The Table

WASHINGTON -- North Carolina's U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Tuesday defended Donald Trump's comments about Muslims following the nightclub terror attack in Orlando.

Trump on Monday expanded his earlier call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. Now, he said, he wants to "suspend immigration from areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we fully understand how to end these threats."

"The ban will be lifted when we as a nation are in a position to properly and perfectly screen those people coming into our country," Trump said, according to a transcript provided by his campaign.

Afterward, he tweeted, "In my speech on protecting America I spoke about a temporary ban, which includes suspending immigration from nations tied to Islamic terror."

To Burr, that meant a pause in such immigration, not a ban -- even though Trump used both words.

"The speech said "pause' -- it did not say "ban,' " Burr said in talking with a handful of reporters Tuesday. "There's a big difference in that."

His defense of Trump came as other top Republicans disavowed Trump's call for a Muslim ban. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Tuesday: "It's not reflective of our principles, not just as a party but as a country."

Trump insists he could pursue his Muslim entry policy with an executive action -- the sort of presidential tool that Burr and others have sharply criticized President Barack Obama for over the course of his two terms in office.

Trump said Monday the U.S. president has "the power to suspend entry into the country of any class of persons that the president deems detrimental to the interests or security of the United States, as he deems appropriate."

Burr on Tuesday didn't say whether he agreed with this approach.

In North Carolina, the Democratic challenger Burr will face in November's U.S. Senate race, Deborah Ross, said in a statement: "Instead of supporting an effort to prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns, Senator Burr is behind an unenforceable ban on people coming into the country based on their stated religious beliefs."

In her statement to McClatchy, she called national security a "top priority."

Burr's comments about a potential Muslim ban or pause are likely more political statements influenced by Trump's presence on the top of the Republican ticket this fall, rather than an indication of intelligence information shaping a specific policy view, says Joseph Wippl, a former CIA officer and current university professor with expertise in national security and terrorism.

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