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DNC Chair Calls Out Trump Ideas As Similar To Germany in World War II

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz speaks to party members during their meeting last summer in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Ross D. Franklin/AP

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz speaks to party members during their meeting last summer in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The whirlwind of Republican presidential debates is touching down again in Las Vegas Tuesday.

Much of the country will watch as Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz fight for their party’s nomination.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz will also be watching. She chairs and is a key strategist for the National Democratic Party.

She talked with “KNPR’s State of Nevada” about the debate, immigration and more.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS:

On immigration reform:

"The immigrant population all across the country, but particularly in Nevada, are really a critical backbone to the success of Nevada's economy. We have a growing Latino population, AAPI (Asian-American Pacific Islander) population there and making sure that folks, especially when it comes to undocumented immigrants, can come out of the shadows that we can focus on family unity, that we can protect the Dreamers, who President Obama, through his immigration action for Dreamers, has been able to allow them to stay in the country. That's absolutely critical"

On Syrian refugees:

"Our position is that the United States of American has been a refuge for those who are fleeing oppression since before we were a country. Particularly when it comes to the Syrian refugees, the refugee population undergoes the most rigorous intense scrutiny and investigation when it comes to security clearances and the risks that anyone may pose to the United States, if they are allowed to immigrate here. But what President Obama has suggested is that we accept 10,000 of the millions, literally, of Syrians refugees that have been fleeing Assad's horrific attacks on their people. It is un-American to turn them away." 

On Donald Trump's call for " a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." 

"Well as an American I find Donald Trump's position that we should ban all Muslims, temporary or otherwise, from the United States un-American. That's plain and simple. And what is just as bad is that the rest of the Republican field, while on the surface have said they don't agree with him, that is a very mealymouthed position. Each one of those Republican candidates for president raised their right hand, signed a pledge and said that they would support the Republican nominee and none of them have said they would not support Donald Trump, if he were the nominee. To say that they would support the nominee of their party, if it were Donald Trump, who has the most outrageous extreme views that would take us back to the McCarthy era, is just like these candidates have endorsed the same policies."

On the feeling of fear:

"We obviously have to make sure that we are focused on our national security that's absolutely critical. And under President Obama's leadership we have decimated Al Qaida's leadership, including killing Osama Bin Laden. We've taken out senior ISIL leaders, including Jihadi John, and the group's chief financial operative, but what we must do is we have to make sure that while combating the threat that ISIL poses, we have to ramp up our targeted air strikes as the president has said, but we also have to make sure that we do that along our coalition partners, which now numbers more than 60 countries."

On Hispanic voters:

"What Hispanic voters care about is that they have a good job that pays them well. Making sure that their kids can get a good education that won't bankrupt them through the later part of their lives. That they can have access to quality affordable health care like they've been able to get access to through the Affordable Care Act. That they can make sure they have a good roof over their head that they can count on. And when they retire they have a safe and secure retirement. Those are the cornerstone of a middle-class life. That's what Hispanic-Americans just like all Americans care about. And the Republicans who are running for president are wrong on everyone of those issues."

On Assemblywoman Michele Fiore and gun control:

"That Republican legislator... that string of things you just said that she did is outrageous and extreme and shows just how deeply the extremism goes in the Republican party. So, it's not just Republican candidates for president. It is a deeply held view that is completely out of step with the majority of America, even with the majority of NRA members, who believe like Democrats believe, that we should have background checks for Americans who wish to purchase a gun so that we can keep them out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them. We are for commonsense gun reform. So, that we can make sure that if you're mentally ill, that if you are a felon, if you are on the terrorist watch list, which is also something that Republicans have just opposed and defeated last week, if you're on the no-fly list you can't get access to a gun without a background check and if you're on the terrorist watch list and the no-fly list you can't get access to a gun."

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee 

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Joe Schoenmann joined Nevada Public Radio in 2014. He works with a talented team of producers at State of Nevada who explore the casino industry, sports, politics, public health and everything in between.