Kasich calls for more cooperation with American Muslims

Republican presidential candidate John Kasich is calling for increased cooperation with American Muslims, breaking with the harsh rhetoric of his GOP rivals in the wake of Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Brussels.

During a Wednesday speech in Wisconsin, the Ohio governor did not directly address calls by Ted Cruz and Donald Trump to increase surveillance on Muslim communities in America.

But when a supporter told Kasich that those positions are deeply personal to her because her best friend is a Muslim, he emphasized a different approach.

“Your friends in the Muslim community, they’re going to have to work with us to destroy ISIS. They are going to have to tell us what they are hearing in their community from people who have been radicalized,” Kasich said.

“But if all we tell them is drop dead, how the heck are we supposed to get them to work with us? And how are we supposed to get these countries around the world to work with us?”

The message contrasts with not only the policy prescriptions by Trump and Cruz, but also with comments from a Trump spokesperson who questioned whether Muslim communities would step up.

Kasich said Tuesday’s attack has provided a chance for the world to unite against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

“I think we have an opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade,” he said, listing Middle Eastern countries that could help America in its fight against the terror group.

See more on this Topic