Kasich: 'We die and bleed' with Brussels

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich spoke at the Minneapolis Club on Tuesday during a fundraising stop. Kasich took a few minutes to address the terrorist attacks in Brussels that claimed at least 31 lives.

“When people die and bleed in Europe, we die and bleed a little bit right here in the United States of America,” Kasich said.

Kasich said the U.S. must move aggressively to destroy ISIS, but said "we are not at war with Islam."

“Just because you happen to be a Muslim doesn’t mean that you are a radicalized person that wants to destroy somebody in the West,” Kasich said. “We are not at war with Islam, we are at war with radical Islam. We are going to need a collation of people – both Arab Muslims – who are going to join the coalition to destroy ISIS.”

Kasich made specific mention of Minnesota's Muslim-American population as an example.

“Right here in Minnesota you have a significant population of Muslims. I don’t believe that all of these people who are living in Minnesota are somehow intent on trying to destroy our families.”

Kasich's tone was noticeably different from his Republican competitors.

“This is a time when you have to keep your cool," Kasich said. "This is a time when you have to have a good action plan of how to move forward. This is a time where you have to remain strong. But not a time in which you should let your rhetoric take advantage of a situation where people may be frightened.”

“Do you all remember how beautiful and safe a place Brussels was,” Donald Trump posted on Twitter. “Not anymore, it is from a different world! U.S. must be vigilant and smart!”

Our hearts break for the men and women of Brussels this morning. Make no mistake -- these terror attacks are no isolated incidents. They are just the latest in a string of coordinated attacks by radical Islamic terrorists perpetrated those who are waging war against all who do not accept their extreme strain of Islam,” Ted Cruz said. “Radical Islam is at war with us. For over seven years we have had a president who refuses to acknowledge this reality. And the truth is, we can never hope to defeat this evil so long as we refuse to even name it. That ends on January 20, 2017, when I am sworn in as president. We will name our enemy -- radical Islamic terrorism -- and we will defeat it.”