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| Obama stands up for Ground Zero mosque |
| 2010-08-14 |
| President Barack Obama on Friday endorsed a controversial plan to build a mosque and Islamic center just blocks from Ground Zero in Manhattan, despite the strong objections of conservatives, the ADL and those who lost loved ones in the September 11 attacks."Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground," Obama said at a White House dinner celebrating the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. "But let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances."Having steered clear of the controversy for weeks, Obama took on opposition to the mosque directly -- a move that many other Democratic lawmakers had been hesitant to do in the face of highly emotional appeals against its construction. But polls indicate the issue could be a high-voltage third rail for politicians who support the project: a recent CNN poll found that 68 percent of those surveyed did not approve of building a mosque so close to where the World Trade Center towers fell, killing more than 2,000 people. As perhaps the White House had anticipated, the reaction from conservatives and at least one 9/11 rescue worker was swift and angry. Most echoed Rick Lazio, the GOP gubernatorial hopeful who helped draw national attention back to the Ground Zero-area mosque by using it against his Democratic rival, Andrew Cuomo. "President Obama and Attorney General Cuomo still are not listening to New Yorkers," Lazio said in a statement, suggesting that the backers of the project have obscured their true motives and funding. There has been "a deliberate attempt to avoid transparency and a deliberate attempt to build the Mosque at this location," Lazio said. "Why?" In recent weeks, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs had deflected questions on the issue, insisting it is "a matter for New York City and the local community to decide." But Obama had been criticized for being slow to weigh in on the controversy, especially in light of his past statements in support of religious freedom and tolerance for Muslims in the United States.In his speech Friday, Obama called for sensitivity with respect to developing in lower Manhattan, but cautioned against drawing comparisons between mainstream Islam and the ruthlessly violent ideology of al Queda, which he said is a "gross distortion" of the faith."Our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect to those who are different from us -- a way of life that stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that September morning, and who continue to plot against us today," he said. Obama spoke before a group of about 90 attendees, which included Muslim community leaders, ambassadors, dignitaries, and Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), one of two Muslim members of Congress. After his statement, a number of individuals reportedly rushed to the stage to shake Obama's hands following his unexpectedly direct endorsement of the mosque. |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #25 I shall pray very hard that God smite this mosque with a large meteorite on the day it's officially opened - if it ever reaches that point. I'm sure islam will get the message, whether they wish to acknowledge it or not. Islam is a Satanic death cult, and it needs to die. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-08-14 23:44 |
| #24 Gaz, its called a victory mosque. Being built by a terrorist supporting anti American Muslim cleric, he's not a radical cleric, he's an average Judo-Christian hating Muslim cleric. Do you get that? Or are you just too stupid to understand what is going on? Islam, not radical Islam or terrorist Islam, but average ISLAM soldiers are operating in where we call the seams. Where they can play our laws and good christian beliefs against us. That is whats happening here. Go to Saudi, go to UAE, go to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Qatar, and on and on and the one thing you will find is their outright hate for Christians. I have been there and I have seen it, not as a soldier in uniform either. If you think for one second they are here to coexist in peace your wrong, fucking dead wrong. Your comment is that of a child that cant see the real issues at hand. I reccommend you take a hard look at your family, your community, your way of life and ask yourself if living in Saudi is how you desire to live and for your kids to live. If you have ever been there, and you think its ok then move and leave our society alone. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2010-08-14 22:48 |
| #23 what relationship do you see between those fatwas and this mosque? I-slam |
| Posted by: Beavis 2010-08-14 22:45 |
| #22 Now explain to me why it's okay for Muslims to threaten a Danish cartoonist and Salman Rushdie with death for exercising their rights It's not okay; what relationship do you see between those fatwas and this mosque? |
| Posted by: Gaz 2010-08-14 22:38 |
| #21 Is this an inaccurate statement? It is a lie of omission. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2010-08-14 22:33 |
| #20 Is this an inaccurate statement? No. Now explain to me why it's okay for Muslims to threaten a Danish cartoonist and Salman Rushdie with death for exercising their rights. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-08-14 21:21 |
| #19 Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances Is this an inaccurate statement? |
| Posted by: Gaz 2010-08-14 19:28 |
| #18 "I will stand with the Mslims should the political winds shift..." |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2010-08-14 18:03 |
| #17 Is he as hot on freedom of religion when he visits his chums in Saudi Arabia? |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2010-08-14 16:40 |
| #16 Disgusting. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-08-14 16:08 |
| #15 Let the spin begin... WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says Muslims have the right to build a mosque near ground zero in New York, but he's not saying whether he thinks it's a good idea to do so. Obama's comment Saturday during a trip to Florida expanded on a statement he made at a White House dinner on Friday. At that event, he said Muslims have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else in America. Obama said Saturday that he didn't comment on "the wisdom" of putting a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks — but rather was commenting on "the right" to build a mosque there. He's not just an asshole. He's a gutless asshole. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-08-14 15:17 |
| #14 Anybody know of any nice muslim neighborhoods where a church or synagogue might be built near a mosque? - against the will of the local population? |
| Posted by: Goober Goobelopolous 2010-08-14 15:12 |
| #13 Guess this qualifies as Bammo's official "coming out" as a Muslim. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2010-08-14 14:46 |
| #12 Well, you brought it on yourselves in November 2008 - the only muslim president of the Western world. Shame! |
| Posted by: vendaval 2010-08-14 14:35 |
| #11 Obviously Muslims, Bammo included, couldn't care less what we think. The contempt is so thick you could cut it with a knife. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2010-08-14 13:54 |
| #10 sounds like "bring a pound of bacon to work day". |
| Posted by: notascrename 2010-08-14 13:40 |
| #9 President Hussien and Ground Zero Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's Message To The 9/11 Families and to America. |
| Posted by: Hupuse Panda9678 2010-08-14 12:52 |
| #8 Ground Zero mosque, bailouts up the ying-yang, gay marriage, legalized marijuana, illegal immigrants, etc., etc. I tell people they're gonna miss Western Civilization when it's gone. I sure will. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2010-08-14 12:37 |
| #7 What an insensitive jerk, but what a wonderful present to the next elections and those of 2012. |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2010-08-14 12:15 |
| #6 I wonder what the quality of steel and cement is going to be on this mosque. Deliveries are going to be spotty too. Probably a lot of work accidents and lawsuits too. Wouldn't bother me a bit. |
| Posted by: JohnQC on the road 2010-08-14 11:59 |
| #5 They have a right to build it, but they are wrong to do so. And Zero is wrong to comment on it - especially as part of a Ramadan celebration. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2010-08-14 11:29 |
| #4 Further proof that our president is an elitist asshole. No, but it sure proves he's a Muslim. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2010-08-14 10:59 |
| #3 This is a wonderful development. Having Obama on record as supporting this mosque will be ideal fodder for his opponent in 2012. I wonder what the quality of steel and cement is going to be on this mosque. Deliveries are going to be spotty too. Probably a lot of work accidents and lawsuits too. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2010-08-14 10:58 |
| #2 What better way to celebrate Ramadan than to build a spite mosque? |
| Posted by: regular joe 2010-08-14 10:52 |
| #1 Further proof that our president is an elitist asshole. Pray for him, Psalm 109:8 |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2010-08-14 10:41 |