Conservatives Ridicule Gingrich’s “Kooky” And “Embarrassing” Plan To Test American Muslims’ Faith

Written by Zachary Pleat

Published

Conservative media figures ridiculed Trump vice presidential finalist and former Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich’s call on Fox News to “test every person” in America “of a Muslim background” to see if they “believe in Sharia,” stating that the proposal is “unconstitutional,” “embarrassing,” and “kooky.”

Gingrich Calls To “Test” Americans “Of A Muslim Background” And Deport Them If They “Believe In Sharia”

Gingrich: “We Should Frankly Test Every Person Here Who Is Of A Muslim Background, And If They Believe In Sharia, They Should Be Deported.” Former Fox News contributor and Trump vice presidential finalist Newt Gingrich called on everyone in America “who is of a Muslim background” to have their faith tested to see “if they believe in Sharia,” and for any who do to be deported. From the July 14 edition of Fox News’ Hannity:

SEAN HANNITY (HOST): I don't want to really tie this into politics, but every issue America is now dealing with, every issue that we have discussed in recent months and years about the Islamization of Europe, about refugees, about immigration, about open borders -- it seems to come together, and also political correctness and not recognizing radical Islamic terrorism as the enemy and evil in our time. From your perspective, what does this tragedy, this evil attack tonight, mean for that conflict and debate?

NEWT GINGRICH: Well, first of all, Sean, as you know, I was in Paris just last weekend talking with people who are deeply involved in trying to deal with the Iranian government and other sources of terrorism. And let me also say Daniel Silva has a remarkable new novel called Black Widow, and the entire opening section is on the systematic Islamic attack on Jews in France, which is the worst it's been since the Nazis. So let me start with where I'm coming from, and let me be as blunt and as direct as I can be.

Western civilization is in a war. We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background, and if they believe in Sharia, they should be deported. Sharia is incompatible with Western civilization. Modern Muslims who have given up Sharia, glad to have them as citizens. Perfectly happy to have them next door. But we need to be fairly relentless about defining who our enemies are. Anybody who goes on a website favoring ISIS, or Al Qaeda, or other terrorist groups, that should be a felony, and they should go to jail. Any organization which hosts such a website should be engaged in a felony. It should be closed down immediately.

Our forces should be used to systematically destroy every internet-based source. And frankly if we can't destroy them through the internet, we should destroy them with kinetic power, using various weapons starting with Predators, and frankly just killing them. I am sick and tired of being told that the wealthiest, most powerful civilization in history, all of Western civilization, is helpless in the face of a group of medieval barbarians who, for example, recently burned 20 young women to death -- burned them to death because they wouldn't have sex with them. A group which beheaded recently in the Philippines two Canadian businessmen.

And we're told to be reasonable, to be passive, to not judge. Well I just want to tell you tonight, everybody who watches this video, this is the fault of Western elites who lack the guts to do what is right, to do what is necessary, and to tell us the truth, and that starts with Barack Obama. [Fox News, Hannity, 7/14/16]

Conservative Media: Gingrich Proposal Is “Unconstitutional,” “Embarrassing,” “Kooky”

Fox Contributor Steve Hayes: “Embarrassing. And From Someone Who Surely Knows Better”:

[Twitter, 7/14/16]

Fox Contributor Jonah Goldberg: “Maybe Newt’s New Strategy To Get VP Slot Is To Make Trump Look Moderate By Comparison”:

[Twitter, 7/14/16]

Goldberg: “Most Overlooked/Amazing Part Of Newt’s ‘Muslim Test’ Is That It’s For Anyone Of Muslim ‘Background’”:

[Twitter, 7/14/16]

Long War Journal Editor Thomas Joscelyn: “Come On. This Is Nuts”:

[Twitter, 7/14/16]

Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol: “Newt Is So Distraught At Being Passed Over For VP By Trump That He’s Saying Kooky Stuff Even Trump Doesn’t Say”:

[Twitter, 7/14/16]

Kristol: “Is Newt Proposing Congress Enact Unconstitutional Law, Or That President Act Unconstitutionally On His Own?”:

[Twitter, 7/14/16]

Commentary Editor Noah Rothman: “You Can’t Criticize Obama For Not Governing In Accordance With The Constitution And Then Say You Want To Deport People For Their Beliefs”:

[Twitter, 7/14/16]