Kasich refuses to 'play the blame game' after Paris attacks
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}strong>ORLANDO, Fla. — While several of his Republican rivals have criticized President Obama's strategy to defeat the Islamic State following the terrorist attacks in Paris, France, Ohio Gov. John Kasich took a more somber tone Saturday during remarks to Florida voters.
"Today is not a day of politics or promoting a candidacy. I wouldn't be comfortable with that today," the GOP presidential hopeful told a crowd at the 2015 Sunshine Summit.
"What we saw last night, what we observed on 9/11, what we observed at Fort Hood, what we witnessed in Chattanooga, and what we saw of the murderers who invaded Charlie Hebdo … we need to understand that these attacks really represent an attack on Western civilization," Kasich said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He continued, "I don't know that this is the time for political criticism or the blame game."
"But I must say that we as a nation, the United States of America, have not shown leadership. We've had an unwillingness to lead," he said.