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Donald Trump Obliquely Backs a Federal Database To Track Muslims

HughPickens.com writes: Philip Bump reports at the Washington Post that Donald Trump confirmed to NBC on Thursday evening that he supports a database to track Muslims in the United States. The database of Muslims arose after an interview Yahoo News's Hunter Walker conducted with Trump earlier this week, during which he asked the Republican front-runner to weigh in on the current debate over refugees from Syria. "We're going to have to do things that we never did before," Trump told Walker. "Some people are going to be upset about it, but I think that now everybody is feeling that security is going to rule." When pressed on whether these measures might include tracking Muslim Americans in a database or noting their religious affiliations on identification cards, Trump would not go into detail — but did not reject the options. Trump's reply? "We're going to have to — we're going to have to look at a lot of things very closely," he said. "We're going to have to look at the mosques. We're going to have to look very, very carefully." After an event on in Newton, Iowa, on Thursday night, NBC's Vaughn Hillyard pressed the point. "Should there be a database system that tracks Muslims here in this country?," Hillyard asked. "There should be a lot of systems, beyond databases" Trump said. "We should have a lot of systems." Hillyard asked about implementation, including the process of adding people to the system. "Good management procedures," Trump said. Sign people up at mosques, Hillyard asked? "Different places," Trump replied. "You sign them up at different places. But it's all about management."

9 of 608 comments (clear)

  1. Unbelievable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The cataloging, rounding up, and internment of the Japanese is one of the darkest and frankly most embarrassing chapters in America's history. I can't believe someone is honestly suggesting that we do this again.

    1. Re:Unbelievable by meglon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      To me it sounds more like having them wear something to single them out... maybe a yellow Star of David, as it worked so well in the past for the last group of fascists.

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      Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
    2. Re:Unbelievable by ScentCone · · Score: 5, Informative

      I can't believe someone is honestly suggesting that we do this again.

      You mean, the reporter who suggested it? Yeah, pretty awful. Watch the entire sequence, and listen to the questions the OTHER reporter is asking at the same time, which he's answering at the same time. I don't like Trump. But this characterization is BS, and you either know it or should. He's said he wants to keep track of recent immigrants so we don't have what the French just put up with, and he said "I'd definitely do that" to the second reporter (in a loud room) who asked him about the border wall/fence, not some mythical "muslim database" that was present only in the mouth of the reporter who dreamt it up. You don't have to like Trump to dislike out of context spin.

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      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    3. Re: Unbelievable by Rei · · Score: 5, Informative

      You joke, but there actually is a Pakistani children's show called Burqa Avenger about a burqa-wearing ninja who fights people that try to stop girls from getting an education. ;)

      One could take the joke from SATW and pit an arabian or south asian woman in a burqa against a Somali ship hijacker and get an epic Ninja vs. Pirate battle ;)

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    4. Re:Unbelievable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The Koran has its 5 pillars and never really comes away from conversion by force unto death if necessary.

      The five pillars being profession of faith, prayer, charity, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage. Meanwhile from the bible (also a Muslim holy book, I should note):

      Deuteronomy 17:
      2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
      3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
      4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
      5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.

      If you want some new testament:
      Luke 19:27:
      But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

  2. Ben Carson was actually right bout something. by meglon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/30/...

    Clearly there could be the rise of a charismatic egomaniac who preys on the fears and hatred of the conservatives, making groups out to be the scapegoats (Muslims, gays, immigrants... at least it's not Jews this time around). Everything Trump says about these groups are the same things that Goebbels and Hitler were saying about Jews. We are witnessing the rise of the radical fascists Europe had to deal with 80 years ago. How in the hell are people so damn fucking stupid not to learn from history?

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    Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
  3. TIL; Not saying "NO" = "YES" by flashgordo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Trump would not go into detail — but did not reject the options" apparently Not saying "NO" = "YES"

  4. This is getting nuttier by the day by 50000BTU_barbecue · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Lately I've been feeling like I'm in a Philip K Dick novel.

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    Mostly random stuff.
  5. Re:Liberal misinformation by AnontheDestroyer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Nope. You're living in your own little fantasy world, sponsored by Rush Limbaugh. Trump explained how he'd sign Muslims up for the database.

    The reason this is a good move is because people like you are so delusional you'll give him a pass because you would sooner blame the media than pull your head out of your ass.