Broward GOP chairman supports Trump's Muslim travel ban

Republican leader Bob Sutton says blocking Muslims is meant to keep Americans sa

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – While many Republicans on both the national and local level have condemned GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump's proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States, one local party leader endorsed the idea Tuesday.

Bob Sutton, chairman of the Broward Republican Executive Committee, told Local 10 News that he believes the travel ban is a good idea.

"I think his priority is to keep Americans safe," said Sutton, adding later by text, "I guess Trump wants the Muslim Americans and all Americans to be safe."

Sutton appears to be in the minority among Republican officials, as numerous GOP presidential candidates have spoken out against Trump's plan. Republican congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen added to that chorus in a strongly-worded statement.

"Donald Trump's call to stop all Muslims entering the United States shocks the conscience," she said in the statement. "Trump's position violates the First Amendment's protections regarding freedom of religion and the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Trump's plan would provide fodder for America's enemies."

Local Muslims, meanwhile, took the news as a punch to the gut.

"It hurts me," said Hiva Nesr, who was doing some grocery shopping at the Al Salam International Market in Plantation. "I get upset. My family wants to come and visit me, so that's not fair. From every religion there are people that are not good, so we can not judge the religion. We have to judge [the] person."

Najeh Yusef, who has run the Middle East Fashion Center in Plantation for the past 18 years and has lived in the United States since 1980, said the Trump proposal runs contrary to the country he loves.

"America is, like they say, a melting pot," said Yusef. "We came from everywhere and we're creating this great nation. There are over a billion Muslims. For a few thugs you are going to blame all Muslims?"

Sutton wasn't the only one defending the Muslim travel ban. Many at Wings Plus in Coral Springs, a local Republican stronghold, said they too support the ban.

"It's right," said retired salesman Fred Case. "We should keep them out until we know what the hell is going on, period."

Wings Plus owner Brian Walsh, who has hosted numerous GOP candidates, is a Trump supporter, but even he said the candidate went too far this time.

"I have a lot of Muslim friends that come in here, and I certainly wouldn't want to see anybody told they can't come in the country," he said.

Walsh said Trump's talk about Muslims and earlier comments describing Mexican immigrants as "rapists" was simply examples of the candidate "bloviating."

"Isn't that dangerous?" asked Local 10 News investigative reporter Bob Norman.

"It's dangerous to a point, but most people know he doesn't really mean from his heart what he's saying," answered Walsh.

"But don't you want a president who means what he says?" Norman asked.

"I do want a president who says what he means," said Walsh. "He does tend to overstate the fact a little bit, but I think he's the man for the job."