Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., blasted President Obama for relaxing in Cuba the day that Americans were killed in a terrorist attack in Brussels, saying the president’s strategy to minimize fear doesn’t help protect the country.
“President Obama in the middle of a terrorist attack when Americans were murdered, maimed and still missing, went to a baseball game and did the wave with Castro and compared himself to Big Papi,” Cotton said Friday morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “Now Big Papi is a great designated hitter. His job is to hit home runs. President Obama’s job is to keep us safe. Not to minimize the fear that Americans fear about terrorism. This is not a mistake on President Obama’s part, this is the deliberate policy.”
Tuesday’s Brussels attacks happened while Obama was in the midst of scheduled diplomatic visits to Cuba and Argentina. Rather than return home to deal with the situation, Obama said it was the terrorists’ goal to disrupt daily life by creating fear and he wouldn’t let them succeed. He stayed overseas, attending a baseball game with Raul Castro and tangoing in Argentina, prompting sharp criticism from Republicans.
U.S. officials confirmed Friday morning that at least two Americans were killed in Brussels.
“President Obama goes around telling people more Americans die in bathtub falls than are killed by terrorists. It’s that mentality we have to change and get on offense against the Islamic State and if we don’t want to see a Brussels-style attack here,” Cotton said.
He added, “I wouldn’t go to the baseball game and do the wave with Castro or compare myself to Big Papi whose job it is to beat the Yankees, not to keep America safe.”
