Kasich Tells Chuck Todd to ‘Calm Down’ on Judeo-Christian Values Agency

TODD: “Welcome back. One of the most striking responses to the ISIS attacks on Paris was Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich's proposal to create a new government agency to create Judeo-Christian values. It's now an idea he's amended a bit, and Gov. Kasich joins me now. Gov. Kasich, welcome back to Meet the Press. I've got to start with when you say that phrase, we've got to promote Judeo-Christian values around the world, particularly to the Middle East, in this atmosphere it can come across as a little anti-Islam. tell me why I'm wrong about that.”
KASICH: “Chuck you need to calm down, what I have said is when I look at Voice of America or Radio Liberty, what I've argued is the Western ethic, what is it about? It's about life, it's about equality of women, it's about the freedom of religion. It's not about going to church, that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about that every life has real meaning. And if you had read more carefully what you would have noticed is that I've invited moderate Muslims into this discussion as well. Now I proposed some time ago a comprehensive plan to deal with ISIS, including boots on the ground, a coalition including Arabs, NATO forces, no-fly zones, sanctuaries, a lot of things. But I've said we could win the battle of bullets, I have no doubt about that. But we have to also engage in the battle of ideas when we have many people, including many young people looking for meaning in life somewhere other than in Western civilization. And I think it's the Western ethic, Western civilization that is under attack. They don't want to negotiate. This is almost a metaphysical battle where they are saying they want to destroy our very way of life. And I think it's important we communicate these ideas of the importance of an individual and equality of women and a respect for education and a respect for science. And we'll invite anybody in that wants to be part of that communication. And frankly, I am proud to see so many moderate Muslims beginning to stand up and condemn the attacks in Paris and to say that their religion has been hijacked. So I think it's very important that we all come to grips with the fact that we've got to communicate who we are, and while we believe in life, they believe that death somehow gets them to paradise. So not any new agency and not anything about going to church, about who we are as the West that represents freedom and life and progress, that's what we need to communicate to the world.”