Obama supports right to build mosque
Weighing his words carefully on a fiery political issue, President Barack Obama said Saturday that Muslims have the right to build a mosque near New York's Ground Zero, but he did not say whether he believes it is a good idea to do so, the Associated Press reports.
Obama commented during a trip to Florida, where he expanded on a Friday night White House speech asserting that Muslims have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else in America.
The president's statements thrust him squarely into a debate that he had skirted for weeks and could put Democrats on the spot three months before midterm elections where they already were nervous about holding control of the House and maybe even the Senate. Until Friday, the White House had asserted that it did not want to get involved in local decision-making.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has been a strong supporter of the mosque, welcomed Obama's White House speech as a "clarion defense of the freedom of religion."
Gov. Charlie Crist, R-Fla., who was among those who met with Obama on Saturday, lauded the president's position.
"I think he's right — I mean you know we're a country that in my view stands for freedom of religion and respect for others," Christ said after the Florida meeting with Obama and other officials. "I know there are sensitivities and I understand them. This is a place where you're supposed to be able to practice your religion without the government telling you you can't."
Others were quick to pounce.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene of Florida took Obama's Friday speech to mean the president supports the construction.
"President Obama has this all wrong and I strongly oppose his support for building a mosque near Ground Zero especially since Islamic terrorists have bragged and celebrated destroying the Twin Towers and killing nearly 3,000 Americans," Greene said. "Freedom of religion might provide the right to build the mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero, but common sense and respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones gives sensible reason to build the mosque someplace else."
The mosque would be part of a $100 million Islamic community center two blocks from where nearly 3,000 people perished when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
The proposed construction has sparked debate around the country that included opposition from top Republicans including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich as well as the Jewish civil rights group the Anti-Defamation League.
Obama's Friday comment was taken by some to mean that he strongly supports the building of an Islamic center near the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, something he never actually said.
Speaking to a gathering at the White House Friday evening to observe the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Obama said that he believes "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone 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," he said. "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."
Asked Saturday about the issue during his trip to Florida, Obama said: "I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right that people have that dates back to our founding."
Obama said that "my intention was simply to let people know what I thought. Which was that in this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion."
Some relatives of people killed in the Sept. 11 attacks supported Obama's comments.
The mosque is "in many ways ... a fitting tribute," said Colleen Kelly of the Bronx, who lost her brother Bill Kelly Jr. in the attacks.
"This is the voice of Islam that I believe needs a wider audience," said Kelly, who is Catholic. "This is what moderate Islam is all about."
Opinions are mixed among family members.
Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son was killed at the World Trade Center, has said the president's comments show "a gross lack of sensitivity to the 9/11 families and to the people who were lost."
Comments
This country was built on religious freedom. Case closed.
Moreover, how far away from Ground Zero is 'too far'. 2 blocks? 3 blocks? A quarter mile? 1 miles? In Manhattan?
Chipping away at the fundamental support of freedom, will only serve to destroy this country.
Posted by: Jay S | August 17, 2010 7:35 AM
Obama seriously...did you bump your head?? You may want to take a pole on this one buddy. Your next election may be decided on this. What about all the AMERICANS that lost their lives that day?? How is that going to effect their families?? Before you know it Americans will be all foreigners. As it is we already have to press 1 for English. You may want to think this one over again.
Posted by: Linda | August 17, 2010 9:21 AM
Obama taking the chance to call his fellow citizens bigots in front of a group of muslims gathered at the White House for ramadan is going to go down as one of the stupidest speeches in American history. With less than eighty days before the mid term elections that will send the Democrats into a legislative gulag, Obama decides to insult the memory of 2,700 Americans who were burned alive at Ground Zero. Obama and his Progressive buddies might not remember the sight of men and woman holding hands as they jumped from the top floors of the World Trade Center towers to avoid being burned alive, but we still remember. And we will still remember on November 2, 2010.
Posted by: nickel | August 17, 2010 11:57 AM
Except for a handful of native Americans whose ancestors survived the genocide this entire nation is a nation of foreigners Linda. You might recall that the Pilgrims didn't make the long journey to Provincetown Massachusetts to hob nob with Barney Frank and John Waters. They went there because they were poorly treated at home because of their religion. My ancestors who came to Maryland in the early 1700's did not come here for steamed crabs and Natty Boh. They came here because being Catholic in England could get them killed.
Is it really so difficult to “press 1 for English,” or go to school and work with folks with different complexions, or wait for the bus driver to secure a wheel chair?
Its name is “diversity” sweet pea and its last name is “progress.” It is the bedrock of our nation.
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01-2.html
Posted by: Dana LaRocca | August 17, 2010 12:49 PM
Dear Linda,
A few things:
The U.S. President shouldn't have to take a poll to decide that upholding the U.S. Constitution is right.
And the vast majority of Americans were foreigners at one point.
And there are plenty of Muslims who are Americans, or AMERICANS, as you like to say.
Posted by: Marf | August 17, 2010 1:21 PM
I have received an epiphany. But first this: . First of all, Sarah Palin has strengths. You might find this a weird assumption from a person who calls himself a liberal. Others might think that Palin is pure pandering to the most base elements of human nature. Not I. I am on my way to becoming the first Republican who is a Catholic Liberal. Don't ask me how I am working on it. For now, I am starting by offering Sarah some specific advice on how to more effectively raise money for the cause.
And back to my epiphany: "Those terrorists do not hate us because we happen to be alive." Isn't this brilliant! We have special qualities they hate. Having pumping blood, very secondary in my analysis. They would be just as mad if two corpses fornicated lasciviously in public. It contradicts Sharia law.On our side, it is all about fighting for just the right ideology. I am working on it. It has to do with freedom, but also following the dictates of a church, but also not following it when I am........Well, foolish consistency is the nob-gobblers of small minds!
Posted by: Michael Sean Wintersmix | August 18, 2010 11:06 AM