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Trump camp tries to claim that he never called for a Muslim registry – politics live Trump camp tries to claim that he never called for a Muslim registry – as it happened
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Today in transition 2016Today in transition 2016
President-elect Trump has never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion, and to imply otherwise is completely false.President-elect Trump has never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion, and to imply otherwise is completely false.
The national registry of foreign visitors from countries with high terrorism activity that was in place during the Bush and Obama administrations gave intelligence and law enforcement communities additional tools to keep our country safe, but the president-elect plans on releasing his own vetting policies after he is sworn in.The national registry of foreign visitors from countries with high terrorism activity that was in place during the Bush and Obama administrations gave intelligence and law enforcement communities additional tools to keep our country safe, but the president-elect plans on releasing his own vetting policies after he is sworn in.
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Donald Trump is taking credit for Ford Motor Company not moving a plant from Kentucky to Mexico:Donald Trump is taking credit for Ford Motor Company not moving a plant from Kentucky to Mexico:
Just got a call from my friend Bill Ford, Chairman of Ford, who advised me that he will be keeping the Lincoln plant in Kentucky - no MexicoJust got a call from my friend Bill Ford, Chairman of Ford, who advised me that he will be keeping the Lincoln plant in Kentucky - no Mexico
I worked hard with Bill Ford to keep the Lincoln plant in Kentucky. I owed it to the great State of Kentucky for their confidence in me!I worked hard with Bill Ford to keep the Lincoln plant in Kentucky. I owed it to the great State of Kentucky for their confidence in me!
The plant, the Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, employs roughly 4,500 people and was never put suggested by Ford to be at risk of outsourcing in the first place.The plant, the Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, employs roughly 4,500 people and was never put suggested by Ford to be at risk of outsourcing in the first place.
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In an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Carl Higbie, a spokesman for a pro-Trump Super PAC, defended comments he made during a Fox News interview in which he said WWII-era Japanese internment camps could serve as a precedent for a registry of Muslims in the United States.In an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Carl Higbie, a spokesman for a pro-Trump Super PAC, defended comments he made during a Fox News interview in which he said WWII-era Japanese internment camps could serve as a precedent for a registry of Muslims in the United States.
“At no point did I ever even mention - it was actually Megyn Kelly, which I was actually talking about like immigration reform under Carter when he did the Iran thing, and then also under World War II with Japan and other many countries do,” Higbie said. “I wasn’t even talking about camps. Megyn brought it up and I was shocked.”“At no point did I ever even mention - it was actually Megyn Kelly, which I was actually talking about like immigration reform under Carter when he did the Iran thing, and then also under World War II with Japan and other many countries do,” Higbie said. “I wasn’t even talking about camps. Megyn brought it up and I was shocked.”
“She brought it up, but you did say, further to the New York Times, that it would be a precedent for a registry,” Burnett responded.“She brought it up, but you did say, further to the New York Times, that it would be a precedent for a registry,” Burnett responded.
“It was precedent for - exactly,” Higbie continued. “Here’s thing. I don’t actually advocate for any of this. I didn’t bring it up. I was shocked when Megyn brought it up. I clarified to the New York Times today, I said, look, you know what, this is something that is a huge black mark on our society, and we would never want to do it again. But you have to say that ’63 Supreme Court decision upholding it was never overturned. Should we overturn it? We should take a look at it.”“It was precedent for - exactly,” Higbie continued. “Here’s thing. I don’t actually advocate for any of this. I didn’t bring it up. I was shocked when Megyn brought it up. I clarified to the New York Times today, I said, look, you know what, this is something that is a huge black mark on our society, and we would never want to do it again. But you have to say that ’63 Supreme Court decision upholding it was never overturned. Should we overturn it? We should take a look at it.”
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Barack Obama on fake news: 'We have problems' if we can't tell the differenceBarack Obama on fake news: 'We have problems' if we can't tell the difference
Olivia SolonOlivia Solon
President Barack Obama has spoken out about fake news on Facebook and other media platforms, suggesting that it helped undermine the US political process.President Barack Obama has spoken out about fake news on Facebook and other media platforms, suggesting that it helped undermine the US political process.
“If we are not serious about facts and what’s true and what’s not, if we can’t discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems,” he said during a press conference in Germany.“If we are not serious about facts and what’s true and what’s not, if we can’t discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems,” he said during a press conference in Germany.
Since the surprise election of Donald Trump as president-elect, Facebook has battled accusations that it has failed to stem the flow of misinformation on its network and that its business model leads to users becoming divided into polarized political echo chambers.Since the surprise election of Donald Trump as president-elect, Facebook has battled accusations that it has failed to stem the flow of misinformation on its network and that its business model leads to users becoming divided into polarized political echo chambers.
Obama said that we live in an age with “so much active misinformation” that is “packaged very well” and looks the same whether it’s on Facebook or on TV.Obama said that we live in an age with “so much active misinformation” that is “packaged very well” and looks the same whether it’s on Facebook or on TV.
“If everything seems to be the same and no distinctions are made, then we won’t know what to protect. We won’t know what to fight for. And we can lose so much of what we’ve gained in terms of the kind of democratic freedoms and market-based economies and prosperity that we’ve come to take for granted,” he said.“If everything seems to be the same and no distinctions are made, then we won’t know what to protect. We won’t know what to fight for. And we can lose so much of what we’ve gained in terms of the kind of democratic freedoms and market-based economies and prosperity that we’ve come to take for granted,” he said.
These comments come after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg rejected the “crazy idea” that fake news on the social network swayed voters in the US presidential election. That’s in spite of analysis by BuzzFeed that showed that fake news on the site outperformed real news in the run-up to polling day.These comments come after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg rejected the “crazy idea” that fake news on the social network swayed voters in the US presidential election. That’s in spite of analysis by BuzzFeed that showed that fake news on the site outperformed real news in the run-up to polling day.
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Video: President-elect Donald Trump’s team has declared that “President-elect Trump has never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion.”Video: President-elect Donald Trump’s team has declared that “President-elect Trump has never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion.”
The problem is, there’s video from one year ago showing exactly that.The problem is, there’s video from one year ago showing exactly that.
“There should be a lot of systems, beyond databases,” Trump told NBC, saying such policies would help America to crack down on illegal immigrants. Asked how he would implement such a system, Trump replied: “Good management.”“There should be a lot of systems, beyond databases,” Trump told NBC, saying such policies would help America to crack down on illegal immigrants. Asked how he would implement such a system, Trump replied: “Good management.”
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at 1.46am GMTat 1.46am GMT
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And just minutes after news broke that retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn has been offered the role of national security advisor in Donald Trump’s administration, Yahoo News reports that Flynn ran a private consulting firm that offered “all source intelligence support” to international clients while he was receiving classified national security briefings:And just minutes after news broke that retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn has been offered the role of national security advisor in Donald Trump’s administration, Yahoo News reports that Flynn ran a private consulting firm that offered “all source intelligence support” to international clients while he was receiving classified national security briefings:
The full extent of Flynn’s overseas business is unclear. In the statement released by his lawyer, Flynn said only that his firm– which he described as a ‘private business intelligence company’ - has unnamed ‘international and domestic clients.’ In a brief telephone interview, Kelley, a former Capitol Hill staffer, declined to specify the issues that the firm was hired to lobby Congress about on behalf of Innova BV, a firm based in Holland and owned by the Turkish businessman, Ekim Alptekin. The lobbying disclosure statement filed with the Secretary of the Senate on Sept. 30 states only that Flynn’s firm ‘will advise client on U.S. domestic and foreign policy’ and congressional appropriations bills for the State Department.The full extent of Flynn’s overseas business is unclear. In the statement released by his lawyer, Flynn said only that his firm– which he described as a ‘private business intelligence company’ - has unnamed ‘international and domestic clients.’ In a brief telephone interview, Kelley, a former Capitol Hill staffer, declined to specify the issues that the firm was hired to lobby Congress about on behalf of Innova BV, a firm based in Holland and owned by the Turkish businessman, Ekim Alptekin. The lobbying disclosure statement filed with the Secretary of the Senate on Sept. 30 states only that Flynn’s firm ‘will advise client on U.S. domestic and foreign policy’ and congressional appropriations bills for the State Department.
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AP: Retired general Michael Flynn offered national security advisor roleAP: Retired general Michael Flynn offered national security advisor role
Retired Army lieutenant general Michael Flynn has been offered the role of national security advisor by president-elect Donald Trump, according to the Associated Press, citing a senior Trump transition official.Retired Army lieutenant general Michael Flynn has been offered the role of national security advisor by president-elect Donald Trump, according to the Associated Press, citing a senior Trump transition official.
The official did not tell the Associated Press whether Flynn had accepted the role or not.The official did not tell the Associated Press whether Flynn had accepted the role or not.
Flynn, 57, was the only national security figure of his rank to publicly align himself with Trump and remained loyal to the businessman throughout his campaign.Flynn, 57, was the only national security figure of his rank to publicly align himself with Trump and remained loyal to the businessman throughout his campaign.
While other national security experts criticised and denounced the GOP nominee, Flynn took part in campaign rallies where he led chants against Hillary Clinton, including those that called for her to be locked up. “The enemy camp in this case is Hillary Rodham Clinton,” Flynn said in Florida during the summer.While other national security experts criticised and denounced the GOP nominee, Flynn took part in campaign rallies where he led chants against Hillary Clinton, including those that called for her to be locked up. “The enemy camp in this case is Hillary Rodham Clinton,” Flynn said in Florida during the summer.
The three-star general also delivered what was reported to be a “fiery” speech at the Republican national convention, where he lambasted Barack Obama’s “empty speeches and his misguided rhetoric”, which he said had “caused the world to have no respect for America’s word”, or might.The three-star general also delivered what was reported to be a “fiery” speech at the Republican national convention, where he lambasted Barack Obama’s “empty speeches and his misguided rhetoric”, which he said had “caused the world to have no respect for America’s word”, or might.
Flynn, who in 2015 declared himself a registered Democrat, held senior positions in the 18th Airborne Corps, at the joint chiefs of staff at the Pentagon and at US central command, which runs US military operations in the Middle East.Flynn, who in 2015 declared himself a registered Democrat, held senior positions in the 18th Airborne Corps, at the joint chiefs of staff at the Pentagon and at US central command, which runs US military operations in the Middle East.
Flynn has since proven himself to be a controversial figure and public opponent of Obama’s foreign policy. In his 2016 book, The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies, co-authored with the historian and former Reagan administration official Michael Ledeen, he wrote that he is “not a devotee of so-called political correctness”.Flynn has since proven himself to be a controversial figure and public opponent of Obama’s foreign policy. In his 2016 book, The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies, co-authored with the historian and former Reagan administration official Michael Ledeen, he wrote that he is “not a devotee of so-called political correctness”.
He has come under fire for regularly appearing on Russian state-owned television station RT, and once attended a gala hosted by the channel, sitting two places away from the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. He later said his speaker’s bureau had arranged his trip to Russia and that he saw no distinction between RT and other news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC.He has come under fire for regularly appearing on Russian state-owned television station RT, and once attended a gala hosted by the channel, sitting two places away from the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. He later said his speaker’s bureau had arranged his trip to Russia and that he saw no distinction between RT and other news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC.
Flynn was once opposed to waterboarding and other banned extreme interrogation techniques, but, according to the Washington Post, in reference to Trump’s previously stated openness to reinstating such techniques, he said he “would be reluctant to take options off the table”. Asked by al-Jazeera if he would support Trump’s threat to kill the families of suspected terrorists, he said: “I would have to see the circumstances of that situation.”Flynn was once opposed to waterboarding and other banned extreme interrogation techniques, but, according to the Washington Post, in reference to Trump’s previously stated openness to reinstating such techniques, he said he “would be reluctant to take options off the table”. Asked by al-Jazeera if he would support Trump’s threat to kill the families of suspected terrorists, he said: “I would have to see the circumstances of that situation.”
In July, Flynn retweeted an antisemitic post by a Trump supporter who mocked the Clinton campaign’s blaming of Russian hackers for leaked emails. The tweet, by a pseudonymous user, read: “CNN implicated. ‘The USSR is to blame!’ Not anymore, Jews. Not anymore.” Flynn later deleted his retweet and apologised, saying it was a mistake and that he had meant to link to an article on Clinton and the DNC emails.In July, Flynn retweeted an antisemitic post by a Trump supporter who mocked the Clinton campaign’s blaming of Russian hackers for leaked emails. The tweet, by a pseudonymous user, read: “CNN implicated. ‘The USSR is to blame!’ Not anymore, Jews. Not anymore.” Flynn later deleted his retweet and apologised, saying it was a mistake and that he had meant to link to an article on Clinton and the DNC emails.
Flynn also tweeted in February that “fear of Muslims is RATIONAL,” a tweet which was never deleted.Flynn also tweeted in February that “fear of Muslims is RATIONAL,” a tweet which was never deleted.
Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL: please forward this to others: the truth fears no questions... https://t.co/NLIfKFD9lUFear of Muslims is RATIONAL: please forward this to others: the truth fears no questions... https://t.co/NLIfKFD9lU
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Muslims in Trump's America: realities of Islamophobic presidency begin to sink inMuslims in Trump's America: realities of Islamophobic presidency begin to sink in
Fariha Nizam was sleepy and stressed last Thursday morning when she boarded the Q43 bus, which cuts through the affluent Queens neighborhood where Donald Trump was raised.Fariha Nizam was sleepy and stressed last Thursday morning when she boarded the Q43 bus, which cuts through the affluent Queens neighborhood where Donald Trump was raised.
As a Muslim, she was concerned about the newly minted president-elect and his campaign promises that targeted Muslims, immigrants and women. But it wasn’t until an older white couple began yelling at her, 10 minutes into her weekly commute to her internship, that the reality of Trump’s America set in.As a Muslim, she was concerned about the newly minted president-elect and his campaign promises that targeted Muslims, immigrants and women. But it wasn’t until an older white couple began yelling at her, 10 minutes into her weekly commute to her internship, that the reality of Trump’s America set in.
“Most of what they were saying was telling me I can’t wear it [the hijab] anymore and telling me to take it off,” Nizam, a Bengali American, said.“Most of what they were saying was telling me I can’t wear it [the hijab] anymore and telling me to take it off,” Nizam, a Bengali American, said.
The 19-year-old student had heard some Islamophobic comments before, but hadn’t experienced such aggressive harassment in New York City, where she, like Trump, was born and raised. But the stream of verbal abuse forced her to confront a reality she had been trying to avoid – that Trump had actually won.The 19-year-old student had heard some Islamophobic comments before, but hadn’t experienced such aggressive harassment in New York City, where she, like Trump, was born and raised. But the stream of verbal abuse forced her to confront a reality she had been trying to avoid – that Trump had actually won.
“I didn’t believe it until the moment this incident occurred,” she said of Trump’s victory. “I don’t think I absorbed it and felt the reality of it, I didn’t. I kept myself distracted all of Wednesday and then Thursday happened and then it hits me, this is actually what’s going on and it was not OK.”“I didn’t believe it until the moment this incident occurred,” she said of Trump’s victory. “I don’t think I absorbed it and felt the reality of it, I didn’t. I kept myself distracted all of Wednesday and then Thursday happened and then it hits me, this is actually what’s going on and it was not OK.”
Nizam is one of several Muslims around the country who have spoken to the Guardian about life since Trump’s victory. Trump won the keys to the White House following an incendiary campaign where he proposed a ban on Muslims, said Muslims “hate” Americans and promised a Muslim registry. Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach, reportedly a key member of Trump’s transition team, said on Tuesday that the president-elect’s advisers are already considering the Muslim registry.Nizam is one of several Muslims around the country who have spoken to the Guardian about life since Trump’s victory. Trump won the keys to the White House following an incendiary campaign where he proposed a ban on Muslims, said Muslims “hate” Americans and promised a Muslim registry. Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach, reportedly a key member of Trump’s transition team, said on Tuesday that the president-elect’s advisers are already considering the Muslim registry.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the amount of hate crimes reported since election night has been unusually high – as of Tuesday, the civil rights organization had tallied 437 incidents nationwide.According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the amount of hate crimes reported since election night has been unusually high – as of Tuesday, the civil rights organization had tallied 437 incidents nationwide.
This is the case even in seemingly Muslim-friendly places like New York City, and in Michigan, which has one of the largest concentrations of Muslims in the US. Civil rights groups there have reported an uptick in harassment – with one calling for a hate crime investigation after a Muslim woman in Ann Arbor was allegedly forced to remove her hijab by an unknown white man who, according to police, threatened to set her on fire with a lighter.This is the case even in seemingly Muslim-friendly places like New York City, and in Michigan, which has one of the largest concentrations of Muslims in the US. Civil rights groups there have reported an uptick in harassment – with one calling for a hate crime investigation after a Muslim woman in Ann Arbor was allegedly forced to remove her hijab by an unknown white man who, according to police, threatened to set her on fire with a lighter.
In another reported incident, two men shoved an 18-year-old woman wearing a hooded sweatshirt, commented on religion and asked her: “Do you know you’re in America?”In another reported incident, two men shoved an 18-year-old woman wearing a hooded sweatshirt, commented on religion and asked her: “Do you know you’re in America?”
In the traditionally liberal city of Ann Arbor, two alleged incidents of ethnic intimidation and religious bias in a week is unusual, said Detective Lt Matthew Lige of the Ann Arbor police department.In the traditionally liberal city of Ann Arbor, two alleged incidents of ethnic intimidation and religious bias in a week is unusual, said Detective Lt Matthew Lige of the Ann Arbor police department.
“Certainly Ann Arbor, as a community that prides itself on its diversity, in race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, all those type of things,” he said. “So, for us to have two incidents that fit in this category is unusual and certainly [with] the political climate that we’re in right now, it’s concerning.”“Certainly Ann Arbor, as a community that prides itself on its diversity, in race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, all those type of things,” he said. “So, for us to have two incidents that fit in this category is unusual and certainly [with] the political climate that we’re in right now, it’s concerning.”
Michigan and New York are home to some of the largest concentrations of Muslims in the US. But it is impossible to say with certainty how many Muslims there are in the country as the Census Bureau does not ask questions about faith. Estimates vary from as few as 3 million to as many as 8 million. Within that overall demographic, there is huge diversity in terms of geography, religious identity and race-cum-ethnicity, which renders any generalizations about the “Muslim community” in America perilous.Michigan and New York are home to some of the largest concentrations of Muslims in the US. But it is impossible to say with certainty how many Muslims there are in the country as the Census Bureau does not ask questions about faith. Estimates vary from as few as 3 million to as many as 8 million. Within that overall demographic, there is huge diversity in terms of geography, religious identity and race-cum-ethnicity, which renders any generalizations about the “Muslim community” in America perilous.
12.44am GMT12.44am GMT
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Is it correct that Donald Trump has “never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion”?Is it correct that Donald Trump has “never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion”?
Here’s what he told NBC News in November last year:Here’s what he told NBC News in November last year:
Donald Trump “would certainly implement” a database system tracking Muslims in the United States, the Republican front-runner told NBC News on Thursday night.Donald Trump “would certainly implement” a database system tracking Muslims in the United States, the Republican front-runner told NBC News on Thursday night.
“I would certainly implement that. Absolutely,” Trump said in Newton, Iowa, in between campaign town halls.“I would certainly implement that. Absolutely,” Trump said in Newton, Iowa, in between campaign town halls.
“There should be a lot of systems, beyond databases,” he added. “We should have a lot of systems.”“There should be a lot of systems, beyond databases,” he added. “We should have a lot of systems.”
When asked whether Muslims would be legally obligated to sign into the database, Trump responded, “They have to be – they have to be.” Later, Trump was repeatedly asked to explain the difference between requiring Muslims to enter their information into a database and making Jewish people register in Nazi Germany. He responded four times by saying: “You tell me.”When asked whether Muslims would be legally obligated to sign into the database, Trump responded, “They have to be – they have to be.” Later, Trump was repeatedly asked to explain the difference between requiring Muslims to enter their information into a database and making Jewish people register in Nazi Germany. He responded four times by saying: “You tell me.”
12.40am GMT12.40am GMT
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Statement from Trump team on 'Muslim registry'Statement from Trump team on 'Muslim registry'
Jason Miller, communications director for the Trump transition team, has released this statement in response to reports that the incoming administration has been considering a register for Muslims arriving in the US:Jason Miller, communications director for the Trump transition team, has released this statement in response to reports that the incoming administration has been considering a register for Muslims arriving in the US:
President-elect Trump has never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion, and to imply otherwise is completely false.President-elect Trump has never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion, and to imply otherwise is completely false.
The national registry of foreign visitors from countries with high terrorism activity that was in place during the Bush and Obama administrations gave intelligence and law enforcement communities additional tools to keep our country safe, but the president-elect plans on releasing his own vetting policies after he is sworn in.The national registry of foreign visitors from countries with high terrorism activity that was in place during the Bush and Obama administrations gave intelligence and law enforcement communities additional tools to keep our country safe, but the president-elect plans on releasing his own vetting policies after he is sworn in.
12.32am GMT12.32am GMT
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Barack Obama is the latest figure to speak out about fake news on Facebook and other media platforms, suggesting that it helped undermine the US political process, Olivia Solon reports:Barack Obama is the latest figure to speak out about fake news on Facebook and other media platforms, suggesting that it helped undermine the US political process, Olivia Solon reports:
“If we are not serious about facts and what’s true and what’s not, if we can’t discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems,” he said during a press conference in Germany.“If we are not serious about facts and what’s true and what’s not, if we can’t discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems,” he said during a press conference in Germany.
Since the surprise election of Donald Trump as president-elect, Facebook has battled accusations that it has failed to stem the flow of misinformation on its network and that its business model leads to users becoming divided into polarized political echo chambers.Since the surprise election of Donald Trump as president-elect, Facebook has battled accusations that it has failed to stem the flow of misinformation on its network and that its business model leads to users becoming divided into polarized political echo chambers.
Obama said that we live in an age with “so much active misinformation” that is “packaged very well” and looks the same whether it’s on Facebook or on TV.Obama said that we live in an age with “so much active misinformation” that is “packaged very well” and looks the same whether it’s on Facebook or on TV.
“If everything seems to be the same and no distinctions are made, then we won’t know what to protect. We won’t know what to fight for. And we can lose so much of what we’ve gained in terms of the kind of democratic freedoms and market-based economies and prosperity that we’ve come to take for granted,” he said.“If everything seems to be the same and no distinctions are made, then we won’t know what to protect. We won’t know what to fight for. And we can lose so much of what we’ve gained in terms of the kind of democratic freedoms and market-based economies and prosperity that we’ve come to take for granted,” he said.