Speaking to reporters momenta ago in the Philippines, President Obama hammered Republicans demagoguing and demonizing Syrian refugees, saying: "think they're so tough."
"At first, they were too scared of the press being too tough on them in the debates. Now they are scared of three year old orphans. That doesn't seem so tough to me," Obama said, referring to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's assertion that not even refugee children should be allowed into the United States.
Obama says he's open to ideas for enhancing the screening process but adds that's not what's happening in the political debate. He says the idea of only allowing Christian Syrians to enter runs contrary to American values, calling it "offensive."
He says rhetoric like that is a potential recruitment tool for the Islamic State group.
"I cannot think of a more potent recruitment tool for ISIL than some of the rhetoric that's been coming out of here during the course of this debate," he said.