Mark Warner (D., Va.) said Monday that President Obama must step up his weak rhetoric against the Islamic State and make a strong statement about America’s commitment to eradicating the terror group.
Obama, who has been praised in the past as a talented orator, received heavy criticism in recent days for his halfhearted denouncement of the terror group in the wake of the Paris attacks.
When host Andrea Mitchell asked Warner whether Obama belonged among those who "have not spoken out forcefully enough after the Paris attacks," Warner said that the president’s response to the attacks has been lacking.
"I think we needed to hear a more forceful statement about the barbarity of these attacks and the fact that America is committed to destroying and eradicating ISIL [the Islamic State]," he said.
He said that members of Congress "on both sides of the aisle," along with Hillary Clinton, have declared a strong stance against ISIL. The president, however, has not.
"I think we need to hear a strong statement from the president," he said again.
In a speech days after the Paris attacks, Obama did not offer a vision of hope, insisting instead that the U.S. strategy against the Islamic State will remain unchanged. He grew irritated with reporters when asked about his earlier assessment that the Islamic State had been "contained," and attacked his Republican rivals for wanting to "pop off," or to criticize his Islamic State strategy.
On Sunday, Obama maintained his casual tone, referring to the terror group as "a bunch of killers with guns and social media." His lukewarm rhetoric again grew harsh, however, when the subject shifted to Republicans.
"They've been playing on fear in order to try to score political points or to advance their campaigns," he said.