*It seems that the president is having second thoughts about his endorsement of Islamic community center and mosque to be built near ground zero. Well, sort of.
Mr. 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:
“My intention was to simply let people know what I thought. Which was that in this country, we treat everybody equally in accordance with the law. Regardless of race. Regardless of religion. I was not commenting on and 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. That’s what our country’s about and I think it’s very important that as difficult as some of these issues are, we stay focused on who we are as a people and what our values are all about.”
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.”
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 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.”
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.”
“Barack Obama has abandoned America at the place where America’s heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see,” said Debra Burlingame, a spokeswoman for some Sept. 11 victims’ families and the sister of one of the pilots killed in the attacks.
Building the mosque at ground zero, she said, “is a deliberately provocative act that will precipitate more bloodshed in the name of Allah.”
Obama surely knew that his words Friday night at a White House dinner marking the holy month of Ramadan not only would make headlines, but be heard by Muslims worldwide. The president has made it a point to reach out to the global Muslim community, and the more than 100 guests at Friday’s dinner included ambassadors and officials from numerous nations where Islam is observed, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
When Obama first took office, Muslim leaders had high hopes from his presidency, even as he kept his distance from them during the campaign and rebutted false rumors that he was Muslim.
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It is my understanding that the land where they plan to build the Muslim community center is private property and it was owned by them prior to 9/11. Can someone correct me if I’m wrong?
Either way, I have to agree with the President that Muslims have the right to practice their religion the same as other citizens in this country. Timothy McVeigh, domestic terrorist, was a Christian. Do you think these same folks would have a problem if a church was built in Oklahoma City near the site where he blew up the federal building? Some people really, REALLY get on my nerves…
I am surprised someone hasn’t complained about the kind of toilet paper they use in the white house.
Next thing you know, it will be a big stink (no pun intended) because someone will decide that they use TOO MUCH toilet paper. And heaven forbid if they don’t wipe “front to back”!! *clutches pearls*
Cosign to all the above posts.
Omg, this man and his nuance! It’s so tired. I have NO idea why he weighed in on this in the first place, given that the mayor and others had given the project their blessing and it was probably going to happen. I would not have advised this president to weigh in. BUT, since he did, why backtrack??? “I didn’t say I support it, I said they have a right to build it.” Wtf? It’s like, “I believe this…oops there’s backlash…I only kind-of believe this, I’m really not saying if I believe it or not.” He is afraid of his own shadow. People who are afraid of their own shadows need not weigh in on controversial issues. Weak people don’t make good spokespeople.
And I say that as someone who doesn’t support the mosque being placed in that location. I think it’s a provocative move that creates uneccessary tension and divisiveness. Word is now the group might relocate, I think that’s best for all involved. No one will have peace while they’re there, not with all the hype surrounding it now. They’ll be safer elsewhere. Jmo
I agree…BO shouldn’t have weighed in period! And yes it was a deliberately provocative decision to build a mosque there which will serve as a monument and symbol of victory at Ground Zero.
I think he means that if the Mosque is built that it will be harder to reach the 5 strip-joints, 8 bars, and the Amish market that is within a block radius of that abandoned building.
Still dont like the idea…
Although I agree with the president that the Mosque should be built, I STRONGLY disagree with the fact the waded into this issue unnecessarily especially with the economy in the tank. I explain my thoughts more in a video commentary about it here: