The Paris attacks and the Syrian refugee crisis quickly brought out the worst in Republicans. Will it now bring out the best in Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton?

Of course Republican politicians are doing what they do best: stoking Americans’ worst fears, deepest suspicions and darkest prejudices. No surprise. The politicians saw what bashing Mexicans did for Donald Trump. They’re not going to miss out on bashing Muslims.

Of course Governor McCrory is going to join the chorus. He’d rather talk about that than special favors for campaign contributors. And he’s behind in the polls.

“So what if hundreds of thousands of desperate people are fleeing from their homes, abandoning everything they have and risking their lives to escape bloodthirsty barbarians? We’ve got elections to win here!”

After all, America has a long history of hostility to refugees – Jews in the 1930s, Vietnamese and Cambodians in the 1970s and Cubans in the 1980s.

Yes, Democrats are right to slam the Republican politicians as untrue to America’s best traditions and unmoved by the Christian injunction to shelter and succor the suffering.

But that’s not enough.

Most Americans want to help refugees. But they also want to know how we will screen out terrorists.

Most Americans see that more bombing can create more refugees – and more terrorists. They know that more boots on the ground can end badly (See: Iraq). But they want to defeat ISIS.

We want smart AND strong.

This is where President Obama, for all his good judgment, disappoints. His cerebral detachment doesn’t communicate the strength and resolve that Americans want in a President.

The one presidential candidate who could be both strong and smart is Hillary Clinton. She alone could calm our worst fears and call forth our best selves.

So, memo to Hillary: Worry less about being likable. Be more like Margaret Thatcher.

Rise to this moment. That’s what great leaders – and great Presidents – do.