Congressman: Obama Doesn't Want To Deal With ISIS
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Texas Congressman Mike McCaul criticized President Obama for not being prepared for the rise of ISIS and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney following his statement that last week's shooting of a Philadelphia police officer had nothing to do with Islam.
McCaul, during and interview with Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, said President Obama is too heavily invested in putting the war on terror behind him to acknowledge a serious threat still exists.
"This has never been part of his campaign narrative. He doesn't want to deal with it. He wanted this to go away, Iraq, Afghanistan, closing Guantanamo. ISIS never factored into his campaign narrative. He has a hard time, I think, being truthful about the nature of that threat. Remember San Bernardino. He came out initially saying, we're not sure if this is workplace violence or an act of terrorism. In each of these cases, based on my experience and my briefings, I know what this is."
He was also surprised to hear Mayor Kenney dismiss the religious aspect of the shooting of police officer Jesse Hartnett.
"To me that is just shocking and a disgrace to the police office and to all police officers who serve who are targets of ISIS. When I read the propaganda coming out of Syria, it's directed towards hitting military, police officers. I think you've got to call it what it is and be honest with people about what the nature of the threat is. When then say, in their own words, that they did this in the name of Islam or say that they are pledging their allegiance to ISIS, I'd take them at their word on that."
McCaul will be appearing at the National Constitution Center on January 27 to discuss his book, Failures of Imagination. Tickets for the event are on sale now at cbsphilly.com/speakerseries.
