Hillary Clinton issued a statement and quickly went about arranging to deliver a major address on the issue at a university noted for its foreign policy and political science programs. She was introduced by a past ambassador /faculty member. Former cabinet members were in the audience along with notables from Silicon Valley.
Bernie Sanders also made a statement. Ted Cruz proposed police patrols in Muslim neighborhoods (without knowing how many Muslims there are in the United States) while Donald Trump allowed that Salah Abdelsalam would have been talking a whole lot more quickly if authorities had only water-boarded him, part and parcel of Trump's pro-torture platform plank and corollary to the "good guy with a gun" principle.
And that was that.
By this morning, two days after attacks so devastating that survivors cannot be identified due to the extent of their injuries, the Republicans succeeded in pulling their campaign to an all-time nadir. In much the same way that 5th graders frame insults in terms of "your mama..," the Trump-Cruz battle raged on in puerile commentary about their respective spouses. Cruz, who likes to couch comments in movie references, did his best imitation of Bugs Bunny imitating John Wayne. The challenge was issued. It was pretty much the equivalent of a triple-dog-dare. Typical middle school strategy when you didn't study for the test. It's about what? Foreign policy? Food fight in the cafeteria! So much for ISIS, Belgium, and terrorists.
Hillary Clinton remained on topic. At the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, she held a homeland security round table with Muslim community leaders. Apparently she does intend to find out what we can all do to keep each other safe and secure.
- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a roundtable with Muslim community leaders at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, joined by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, left, and President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council Salam Al-Marayati, right, speaks during a roundtable with Muslim community leaders at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets people in the audience after participating in a roundtable with Muslim community leaders at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton participates in a roundtable with Muslim community leaders at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 24, 2016. From left are, City of Los Angeles General Manager, Emergency Management Department James Featherstone, Senior Policy Analyst City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission & Adjunct Assistant Professor (CSUDH) Joumana Silyan-Saba, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Clinton, and President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, Salam Al-Marayati (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, joined by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, right, pauses as she talks to media after a roundtable with Muslim community leaders at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, joined by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, right, greets people in the audience after a roundtable with Muslim community leaders at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, joined by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, right, talks to media after a roundtable with Muslim community leaders at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes photographs and greets people in the crowd after a roundtable with Muslim community leaders at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Thursday, March 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton attends a community forum on counter terrorism and homeland security in Los Angeles, California March 24, 2016. REUTERS/David McNew
- Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti looks on as U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a community forum on counter terrorism and homeland security in Los Angeles, California March 24, 2016. REUTERS/David McNew
- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton listens as Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti speaks during a community forum on counter terrorism and homeland security in Los Angeles, California March 24, 2016. REUTERS/David McNew
- Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti introduces U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a community forum on counter terrorism and homeland security in Los Angeles, California March 24, 2016. REUTERS/David McNew
- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a community forum on counter terrorism and homeland security in Los Angeles, California March 24, 2016. REUTERS/David McNew
Don't miss this! Hillary with Jimmy Kimmel later tonight!
