Location of Proposed "Ground Zero Mosque"
Only a few weeks ago, the Obama administration’s stated opinion on the mosque/Islamic cultural center being built near Ground Zero was that it was a local issue that the President would not comment on, as seen here being said by Robert Gibbs:
It’s a position the administration has held on to several times since the Henry Louis Gates incident to not get involved in hot button topics such as Prop 8. But on Friday, the President finally did come out in support of the right to build a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, only to hedge his comments on Saturday. But why?
First, here is the video of the President’s initial comments from Friday:
Sounds pretty straight-forward, right? The man believes that all religions have the right to be practiced in our country. He was supporting the Constitutional right for the Muslims in charge of erecting the center. Didn’t sound like there was an any doubt that he strongly supported the group preparing to build this mosque near the site of one our greatest national tragedies.
However, 24 hours later while answering questions in Panama City Beach, Florida, the President seemed to backtrack on his initial statement. Responding to a reporter, the President said, “I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding.” Coming a day after his initial comments the President sounds completely political in his response. Especially when you consider recent CNN polling that has shown 68% of Americans are against the building of the Islamic center near Ground Zero.
In a vacuum, I actually agree with the President’s statement. I do believe in the right of religion, all religion, in the United States. It is a founding principal that needs to be upheld even when it doesn’t seem prudent. However, this isn’t a vacuum and political pundits are not looking for the President to lead our country through hypothetical examples, but based on real world examples. That is the largest part of being the President – to lead the direction of our country.
So which is it? Does the President not believe it should be built because it is an intolerant reminder of the events that occurred less than 10 years ago? Or does the President believe it should be built but won’t comment on it because he realizes 70% of the nation and majority of his own party disagree with him – so, he won’t say it, just imply it? It seems to me like the latter is true.
3conservativebros
MacGregor
Johnny M
Timmy K
President Obama’s official comment was a typical strawman. Attacking the notion that those opposed may somehow be against freedom of religion. Everyone understands that aspect, and yes this proposed “cultural center” may be a bit overblown and the media may be stoking a bit of tensions on this. But once again its Obama going against the will of the people and having to indulge in Gibbs type language going around the real issue.
I have real questions about the money used to fund this project, the intended purpose, and the potential for ratcheting up of tensions in a tense and sacred area, as well as the way it may be used (propaganda wise) by those who wish us harm.. I believe all these concerns are legitimate and fair and need to be answered.
Yes – exactly. I know and I think most Americans know of the constitution right to practice any religion. What I care about is what the President thinks of the practical case of a Islamic Center & mosque two blocks from Ground Zero? And why can this get approved in NYC so quickly and we still cant figure out how to memorialize the land at Ground Zero?
Also as a side note – I think Newt Gingerich & Sarah Palin are doing a HORRIBLE job as the conservative spokeperson on this issue and wish they’d shut up. I agreed with Newt at first when he said he didnt want to be told we were intolerable for opposing the mosque, when it should just be easily pointed that those in a favor are intolerable towards the emotions of those involved in the event. But he lost me when he then compared it to Saudia Arabia having no churches or synagogues. No one is suggesting America become Saudia Arabia, Newtster.
And then today, he compared it to putting a Nazi sign next to the Holocust museum…which is so far from an accurate comparison, Im not even sure where it came from. I know Newt likes to be a walking soundbite, but maybe he should sit this debate out.
On Twitter this weekend, Palin called it the “9/11 mosque”, which even for her is a pretty dumb thing to say. It just is another inflammatory statement that the liberals can focus on to make conservatives seem irrational rather than answering the questions you raise.
I agree with you on Palin, she will be carrying that flag for a long time on every issue. I have a hard time with this issue also. Every time I start to feel they have the right to build there, I here another lawyer or Muslim/American relations person talk about tolerance and Muslims were killed too. I would feel ok about it if the Imam and other Muslims would loudly and clearly denounce the terrorism and Hamas. The money issues, the state department travels, and the accessory quote are still enough to leave me on the side of move it further away.
Twenty percent of the world is Muslim. Of that number, about .001 percent are Solafists, the ones responsible for radical bs. They are strongly and loudly condemned by 99% of the Muslim world.
Gabe what’s a Solafist?
http://muslim-canada.org/binladendawn.html
I misspelled it MacGregor. Salafist. The link explains the ideology. Also admittedly, it in part refutes my statement which was a little over the top. Basically there is a difference between within the Salafist realm, but a lot of the milder Salafists do not loudly condemn the actions of the radical ones like bin-Laden for a myriad of reasons. This is one of the two arguments that currently bugs me the most because freedom of religion is central to the US Constitution. v/r Gabe
I was going to make this really great post but this Brit says it much better than I.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/pat-condell-on-ground-zero-mosque-is-it-possible-to-be-astonished-but-not-surprised.html
He did answer the way he always does. Americans come last. This is not what it seems. This Mosque was to be built to promote peace and tolerance. And the location is causing a problem. So who has to bend over? That’s right ! It’s the same as the illegal issue. Who did the government sue? And who is the government protecting? Who’s rights need to be protected by OUR constitution? Anyone except Americans.
Why not hold the Imam to his word. Your doing something to unite all people, them move the Mosque.
As President of the country, he should have said exactly this. You have every right to build it. But that does not make it right to build it.