Democrats looking to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in 2016 clashed over President Barack Obama’s call to allow refugees from Syria relocate to the United States.
On Thursday, the U.S. House voted to freeze bringing Syrian refugees into the U.S. until more safeguards are in place with more than 45 Democrats--including U.S. Reps. Gwen Graham and Patrick Murphy from Florida--joining Republicans to pass the measure.
Murphy explained his reason for voting against the White House in an email to TCPalm on Thursday.
“We must ensure that we have the strongest safeguards to certify refugees are not a threat to homeland security," Murphy emailed TCPalm. "This bill ensures that our entire intelligence community is on the same page without turning our backs on those fleeing violence and terror. We must put aside partisan differences to develop a comprehensive strategy that combats the threat ISIS poses to people who love freedom everywhere."
Murphy’s vote drew heavy fire from his Democratic primary rivals.
"Patrick Murphy showed today that he is too overcome with fear to think straight," insisted Doug Dodson who is managing U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson’s, D-Fla., Senate bid. Grayson voted against putting a freeze on allowing Syrian refugees in the U.S. "Instead of actually fighting terrorism, the Republican bill that Murphy supports exaggerates the threat posed by homeless, stateless refugees whose only mistake is believing that when we say we are a nation that welcomes the huddled masses, we actually mean it. Patrick Murphy and his Republican friends today declared loud and clear that we do not.
"In the past few days Republicans have called for a religious test for refugees, talked about closing down Mosques and shutting our borders to refugees," Dodson added. "Now Patrick Murphy has shown once again that he stands with Republicans in all their fear mongering craziness and not with President Obama."
Attorney and Navy veteran Pam Keith, who is also running in the Democratic Senate primary, also took aim at Murphy’s vote.
“As a veteran, a Floridian, and someone who believes and supports the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, I am appalled that Congressman Murphy would stand with extremist Republican efforts in the House of Representatives,” Keith said on Thursday. "It is very obvious in regards to the conflicts ongoing in Syria, that the refugees are fleeing the terror levied on them by Daesh and other groups. If France, in just a short time after being attacked by terrorists, can open their doors to Syrian refugees - it is time we take a stand as Americans and start behaving like Americans by doing the same.
"Florida's own population for example, according to the most recent census data, is 19.4 percent foreign born individuals,” Keith said. “I get that it may be politically expedient to ride the wave of fear and xenophobia. But isn't a leader supposed to guide people away from their base instincts, rather than to incite them? Patrick Murphy and Marco Rubio, be glad that some were willing to stand up and give your ancestors a chance."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
