Bob Sparks: GOP, Obama heading for high-stakes showdown on Syrian refugees

On the morning after the Islamic terrorist massacre in Paris, the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit continued with its second, and final, day. Circumstances required the second-day speakers to alter their prepared messages.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum summed up the mood by offering sentiments we all shared. He talked about ISIS wishing to return the world to the 7th century when slaughtering other humans was a normal occurrence. Let’s accommodate them, he told the audience, and “bomb them back into the 7th century.”

While Santorum engages in hyperbole, it points to our leaders talking about “containing” ISIS as opposed to “defeating” them. Notwithstanding Paris, that strategy will continue for as long as President Barack Obama is in office. With that in mind, conversations must be about how best to protect the homeland.

ISIS is committed to hitting us at home. Clear-thinking people should take them at their word; so how safe are we?

“I’ve never been more concerned,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, the ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on MSNBC. “I read the intelligence faithfully. ISIL is not contained. ISIL is expanding.”

Her use of the word “contained” is significant because it followed Obama’s use of it just hours before the Paris attacks. Apparently her concern is not assuaged by a PolitiFact ruling that both Obama’s and his deputy national security adviser’s use of the word “contained” when discussing Iraq and Syria rated a ruling of “True.”

No matter one’s definition of contained, Feinstein could remind the president that the bad guys are already here and more wish to come. His administration said so.

Within that context is the growing debate about Syrian refugees. ISIS has already murdered thousands and displaced many more. People are fleeing for their lives.

Europe is absorbing large numbers of those refugees, but many more seemingly have nowhere to go. This country, as we usually do, pledged to help by taking some.

That was before Paris. With as much humanity as we can muster, the influx must be postponed. Not cancelled, but postponed until the identities and intentions of those entering this country can be verified. Here’s why.

We now know at least one of the bombers had fake Syrian papers. In an extremely disturbing development, Britain has discovered that at least eight “migrants” have slipped into Europe using documents “almost identical to those carried by one of the Paris suicide bombers,” reported the U.K.’s Daily Mail.

The story from overseas continues with a chilling message for Americans: “It lets Islamic State fanatics bent on murder pose as refugees fleeing war and persecution.”

New House Speaker Paul Ryan called for a “pause” on the administration’s plan to absorb Syrian refugees. A bill in the House that would place greater safeguards for Americans passed the House on Thursday 289-137 with 47 Democrats joining Republicans in support.

The president has, of course, pledged to veto that common-sense bill. He chides Republicans for being “scared of widows and 3-year-old children.”

One can only shake his or her head at such childish comments coming from our “leader” who has not joined other Democrats such as Senator Feinstein in grasping the security threat ISIS poses. By the way, Mr. President, we should be afraid of those like the female terrorist who blew herself up in Paris this week.

On cue, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid is rounding up Democrats to filibuster the bill in the Senate. He will likely succeed.

We are a compassionate country that understands the plight of those fleeing for their lives. When a careful process for admission can be established that puts the security of Americans at the top of the list, followed closely by the well-being of refugees, then we will show our compassion as we always do.

Unfortunately, our president and his administration are willing to roll the dice on our safety. The choice is simple: You either make the safety of our people, cities and towns your primary concern, or you don’t.

Quietly, the first whispers of Congress denying funds have emerged if Obama vetoes the House bill and refuses to pause the refugee intake. The other side is dusting off the tried-and-true playbook of “Republicans shutting down the government.”

If it gets to that point, Republicans will have their own choice to make. You can either choose to risk a political hit for standing up to the president or take a much bigger risk by backing down. The consequences of a “refugee” taking part in a Paris-style attack would be far more profound than losing an election.

To the Democrats content to gamble along with Obama by talking about and forcing shutdowns, you would be wildly overplaying your hand. Don’t be surprised when growing numbers of your party choose the safety of their constituents over party unity.

Bob Sparks is a business and political consultant based in Tallahassee. Column courtesy of Context Florida.