Valerie Jarrett: We Shouldn’t Be ‘Throwing Around Labels’ like Radical Islam

HASSELBECK: “Ms. Jarrett, thanks for being here. I want to ask you this. For the first time since 9/11, the words al Qaeda were not used in a State of the Union address. Why is it, in fact, because I think the American people deserve accurate terminology here, why won’t the president say Islamic extremism or radical Islam? Why?”
JARRETT: “First of all, there is nothing more important to the president than the safety and the security of the American people. That’s his focus. That’s his first priority. That’s what he’s dedicated to doing. And many of the countries who are helping us fight terrorism are Islamic majority countries. Let’s look right here at home where there is Sikh temple in Wisconsin or the Holocaust museum right here in Washington, D.C. Those were terrorists. Those were extremists, but they weren’t of any particular faith. So before we start throwing around labels, let’s look more broadly at terrorism. Let’s not limit it. Let’s look broadly at it and let’s attack it together and that’s what the president is absolutely –“
HASSELBECK: “There are other nations, leaders that have come out with specifics in terms of saying radical Islam. Does the president find it more offensive that radical Islam exists or the term radical Islam? Which is more offensive to the president?”
JARRETT: “I think his philosophy is let’s keep America safe and let’s focus on that.”