First GOP Presidential Debate Focuses on Religious Freedom, Islamophobia
A major topic of discussion among 2016 presidential hopefuls during CNN's first GOP debate on Wednesday night centered around same-sex marriage, religious freedom and Islamophobia.
The candidates were asked their perspective on Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who was recently jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses based on her Christian religious beliefs.
While former New York Governor George Pataki and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey O. Graham argued that Davis should have followed the rules of her government job, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum argued that Davis's Christian beliefs should be protected.
Jindal suggested that "right now, the biggest discrimination going on is against Christian business owners and individuals who believe in traditional forms of marriage."
"They're throwing this woman in jail in Kentucky. Let's talk about that," Jindal continued, adding "Let's talk about the Christian florists, the caterer, the musician who simply want to say, don't discriminate against us [...] for believing that marriage is between one man and woman."
Graham argued that there are more important issues facing the U.S. than Davis, suggesting that the debate should be focused on foreign issues including the Islamic State.
"I'm not worried about [Kim Davis] attacking me, I'm worried about radical Islamic extremists," he said. "I want a legal system that understands difference of fighting war and fighting a crime."
The debate also centered on a recent incident involving a teen in Irving, Texas who was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school to show his teachers.
"Here's the reality: young men from the Mid East are different than Kim Davis," Graham said. "And we've got to understand that."