John Kasich calls for new agency to spread Judeo-Christian values

Republican Presidential candidate John Kasich has proposed a new government agency to promote Judeo-Christian values throughout the world to help defeat Islamic State.

John KasichReuters

"We need to beam messages around the world about what it means to have a Western ethic, to be a part of a Christian-Judeo society," Kasich said in an interview Tuesday with NBC.

"It means freedom, it means opportunity, it means respect for women, it means so many things."

The agency would promote a Judeo-Christian based belief system to China, Russia and the Middle East, reviving "what we used to do when we beamed messages to the former Soviet Union.

He also implored those in the West to "begin again to embrace our Jewish Christian ethic rather than running from it."

When asked about the impact this message has for those of other or no faith living in America, Kasich responded in suggesting there are plenty of "moderate Muslims" who would agree with his sentiment and the necessity of this agency:

"We have many moderate Muslims who share our views condemn the Paris attacks. There are many of them that stand up and speak out and they should be included in this.

"They would be very effective part of this. So to support the Jewish Christian tradition also involves building up tolerance."

Defending the decision to create a new government agency when his Republican competitors are focused on shrinking federal government, Kasich said "There's nobody who's spent more time shrinking government and cutting budgets than I have" but suggested that not all government programmes are equal.

The United States already has an international government funded broadcast called Voice of America which broadcasts American news and programmes abroad.

When asked in the same interview about the USA's response to the Syrian refugee crisis, Kasich said: "I don't think any refugees should be coming now until we can determine who they are and that our country will be safe."