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Former GOP Rep. Vin Weber -- on MSNBC -- said that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is a "fine man, a voice of reason whom we should be listening to," who worked with Weber and former Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on a task force five years ago for the Council on Foreign Relations. They worked on how to promote democracy in the Arab World. Weber brought with him the task force report, which has Feisal Abdul Rauf listed as one of the members.
Weber disagrees with his "good friends" Tim Pawlenty and Newt Gingrich on this issue.
Also speaking out on the mosque today on MSNBC, Ted Olson, a former Bush Solicitor General. After an interview about his role challenging Prop 8, Olson was asked about the mosque and said that he will anger some of his friends by saying that he agrees with President Obama on this and supports the right to build the mosque.
Also: At the State Department briefing today, spokesman P.J. Crowley said the Imam's upcoming trip to the region will be his fourth for the State Department. He also made two trips under this administration to Egypt in 2007 and traveled with former State Department Counselor Karen Hughes to Doha for the Bush administration.
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At least there are SOME Repubs that don't go through life with chronic rectal-cranial inversion. Other than delivering us Bush for eight long and dreadful years, this guy Ted Olson is alright in my book.
I pose the question here again: why do the Repubs and teabaggers hate the constitution so darn much?
If Imam Rauf is such a fine man and a voice of reason, why does he insist on building a mosque at a site that is causing so much turmoil?
But honestly, you can't blame Repubs and teabaggers for this mess. It would have been a non-event if fearless leader hadn't back tracked. This is another case of the administration shooting off its own foot. I mean could Obama, Reid and Pelosi be any more of a joke?? Just sayin'.
We are far more worried about how you libtards have spent us into a ditch, lied about banking and healthcare legislation, and have made the economy worse through heightened business uncertainty. Not to worry. We're going to start fixing that in November ;)
to bad you cannot ask his widow how she feels obout tthis mousque.
About thirty nuns built a covenant next to Aushwitz to pray for all the lost souls that were murdered during the holocaust. The Pope made them leave the covenant. The reason was that some sites should be remembered with silence and respect, not voices of prayer and places of worship.
Everyone, especially, Nancy Pelosi, who says people that are against the construction of this mosque next to ground zero is "immoral" should take a minute to digest what they are saying. . .
Mosques are beautiful buildings with beautiful people inside them. A Mosque next to ground zero is disrespectful to the United States. Their adamant position not to move the mosque a few blocks further away (with government financial support) makes me think they have a seperate agenda.
The question: "Who is the New York Imam?"
The answer: "Um, Imam Obama....?"
We must protect our constitution from extremists on both sides of the political aisle, it has served this great nation well for 234 years and if left in tact I expect it will serve future generations equally as well. Without the governance of this great document we are no different from any other nation. It is what makes the USA the USA and it is what makes this nation great! We do have religious freedom (regardless of the religion), we do have the right to bare arms, we do have the right to free speech, and we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. All guaranteed by this great document. I am so thankful that God allowed our founding fathers the wisdom to write it and make it the cornerstone for all the laws in our country.
I may not participate in your religion and you may not like mine one bit but we are all guaranteed this right, regardless of the religion.
Actually, the Constitution is 221 yeasr old. It was ratified in 1789. But I understand your point.
And I think you meant "bear arms", not go with short sleeves and "bare arms".
Well said partner! It's freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM.
I'd like to hear GWB's opinion on this. My guess is that he would agree with Mr. Weber and Mr. Olson. I think it would do his public image some good to speak out on this.
As soon as he gets his opinion from Rove and Cheney I'm sure he'll share.
As much as I disagreed with GWB on most of his policies and opinions, I actually find myself missing his leadership on this issue. He helped keep the anti-Muslim sentiments at a minimum after 9/11. As we can see now, most of the people in the country that turn to bigotry in the face of fear are Republicans and only a Republican leader could keep these people level headed after an event such as 9/11.
Seriously, why does the left always conjure up President Bush as a matter of convenience to fit the issue of the moment? And, why the heck would President Bush put his neck on the line for a successor who has done nothing but bash him?
President Bush has remained above the fray during 9.5 years of constant bashing from liberals, and you should expect nothing different from him now. He respects the office too much and besides, Barry is his own man - let him sink in the muck he's stirred.
FYI, Barack Obama is The President, bush is a FORMER president.
I can understand possibly objecting to putting the Mosque on the site of the World Trade Center but this is 2 blocks away. Of course, some would complain if it were 5 or 56 blocks away.
This issue reminds me of my grandmother who lost a son (my uncle) who was a victim of the Bataan Death March. Apparently (and according to some survivors of the march) my uncle who was suffering from a severe case of malaria fell out of line during the march and was bayonetted to death by the Japanese soldiers guarding the captured Amercians. From that day forward and until she passed my grandmother hated all Japanese. As a youngster and when recalling at times the fate of my uncle and watching my grandmother tear up with emotion I had two different thoughts and emotions. While understanding her terrible grief, her desire for revenge and feeling very sorry for my grandmother I could not accept her utter hatred for all Japanese.
In this same vein I can understand and feel sorry for those victims and their families of 911, as well as understand those feelings of all Amercians regarding 911. But I cannot accept these over-generalized and bigotted feelings and/or statements from some on the right that because a few terrorists killed Americans on this fateful day that we should somehow hold all Muslims repsonsible or be afraid that every Muslim on this earth is out to do us harm. It is no different than some of our ancestors who when moving west killed as many Indians as they could, men, women and children simply because they were Indians, or because a few more violent Indians committed violent acts aganist white settlers.
I understand and I am not opposed to holding any person(s) responsible and accountable for doing Americans harm no matter their race, religion or culture. I am not opposed to hunting such people down and elimnating them. But I will never be a part of this tendancy by some to project blame for the acts of a few on to an entire race, religion or culture.
Am I saying that perhaps the Muslim leaders behind this community center should themselves not be thinking of another location out of sensitivity. No, I am not. But the question is are many of us showing the same sensitivity that some are expecting from the Muslims by condemning an entire culture or religion for the acts of a few radical terorists?
CA:
Man, enough with the bigoted RIGHT comments. The disapproval sentiments are coming from both sides. You are just so damn determined to make this a right vs left issue and it is NOT. This is the very reason this issue is warped.
You may as well call 70% of America a bigot. I have never in my life heard this word "bigot" used so loosely as it is used by you lefties today.
If this mosque is not intended to cause issues, then it should not be a problem to build it somewhere else. I don't live in NY so Me and a lot of you on here really don't have a dog in this fight because if something eventually goes down, they are the ones in harms way.
You say condeming an entire culture...What about the condemnation of the stereotyping of young black males by the white community. The males that you all consider Americas worst nightmare "YBMTDGAF" young black male that don't give a F.
You're right, CA, the people fanning these flames seek only to turn God's/Allah's children against each other.
This prayer room is as much a mosque as a hospital chapel is a church. A similar facility exists in the Pentagon. Why should I or anyone outside the immediate neighbors in Lower Manhattan care about it? Because some lunatic right-wing blogger says so? No thanks, I'm not playing that game. I prefer to think for myself and I choose not to hate.
InTheMiddle:
Trying to make sense of your response. It seems you are ranting and raving just to rant and rave and to disagree. I think. In any case, and if I understand you correctly, in response I'll say yes, I will condemn anyone who sterotypes young Black males and many do. I will condemn anyone who sterotypes any group of people based on the behaviors of a few. And yes, when people exhibit sterotyping and prejudice I will accuse them of bigotry. And in reference to this issue I stated that I would not disagree with the Muslim leader's choice to build the mosque somewhere else if they decided to do so out of a sense of sensitivity. But you cannot tell me that some of the oppostion to this Muslim community center is the result of the fact that it is Mulims wishing to build it, who are being sterotyped as somehow akin, close too or somehow connected to those who committed the tragedy of 911.
I wonder if Hannity and the rest of the so-called"real Americans" would agree with these republicans? Also, why haven't any of the Fox-Republican Party commentators addressed the issue of the Imam travelling for the Bush Asministration? Could it be that they forgot about this fact or is it just another one of those things that was ok until this administration took office...
These people never cease to amaze me at the hypocrytical nature they continue to display with no thought of others perception of them.
In my opinion, they are extremely dangerous to this nation and are bent on terrorizing this nation to get back into power. To think they could possibly be running this nation again is totally frightening to me.
Hey middle Texas-has it occurred to you they bought this property many yrs ago and that their congregation happens to live in the area? I would not want to worry about someone not wanting my place of worship moved because one group didn't like it.
The dangerous people are in the White House now!
The Demoncrats hate the Constitution. Their judges on the Supreme Court tried to make the right to bear arms disappear, ALTHOUGH it is written in plain English that All Americans have the right to bear arms. So who disrespects the Court more than the Demons and their political allies. There it is , written down but as usual , the Demoncrats tried to pull the curtains over our eyes. They are nice people , people who greet you with a handshake with one hand, and a knife in the other, ready to strike. The Bama so loves the Constitution so much so that I never heard him utter anything in support of it EXCEPT when the masque at Gun Zero came up. Only when a Muslim problem is involved , does the Bama speak of the Constitution. and the white Founding Fathers. Otherwise they are slave owners, bigots and what have you. First we use to have an archbishop of NY, or a bishop of NY, now we have a IMAM of NY. Good. But only that this Imam comes with a background of terror born out of the sands of Arabia. We need an Imam but a holy one who can stand among the people and civic authorities to help society and its spiritual needs. Not one from the savage and primative corner of an ancient bloodthirsty sands of ancient history who cloakes himself in the holy scriptures and asks blessings from God and at the same time uses trickery, deviousness and the black art of deception to build his masque at Gun Zero. I call it Gun Zero because it was etched and formed in the red hot flames of hell.
I wish you would either support the first amendment as much as you support the second amendment, or stop using the "it's in the constitution" argument to back up your political beliefs.
First we use to have an archbishop of NY, or a bishop of NY, now we have a IMAM of NY. Good. But only that this Imam comes with a background of terror born out of the sands of Arabia. We need an Imam but a holy one who can stand among the people and civic authorities to help society and its spiritual needs.
Would you say that the above statement was posted by a bigot??
It isn't "Ground Zero." It is several blocks away, in the heart of a busy section of town right by stores and shops owned by people from all nations. It has been called Ground Zero by the radical right as a way of politicizing an issue and making this a football to be tossed about. Stick with the constitution, people. They have a right to build it on private property and this Imam is a good man.
End of story.
I find it refreshing that liberals, at least on this one specific issue, support private property rights and the freedom of religion. I can bet that if this was a Christian church you would be up in arms.
I do agree with Obama on this issue. I support their Constitutional rights, yet doubt the "wisdom".
I don't want to provide any political advice Bo's way, but why did he feel the need to wade into this issue in the first place? This seems to me to be a local private property rights issue.
The GOP needs to focus on the issues of jobs and the role of the Federal government in our daily lives. Those are issues that matter to me.
I think they have to stand their ground at this point and not relocate the mosque. They need to hold their ground or risk having the Muslim population being pushed around again in the future. They need to stand up for their rights as Americans.
The only one that made this a political issue or even an religion issue was President Obama when he stepped in to frail and then had to back track. This has been completely blown out of proportion, especially by the media. (I am not for sure that Obama didn't interject himself to take pressure off the talk of the failed economy.). Why won't the Imam answer the questions he has been asked, like where is the money coming from and why doesn't he support the American government in calling Hamas a terrorist organization. And Pelosi has helped matters by saying the congress needs to find out who is backing the movement against the mosque. This whole thing is not about the 1st Amendment's guarantee of religion but about if this is the appropriate location.
The repugs had been making a lot of noise about this issue for weeks before The President spoke about it.
It started in May and I am certain this is a republican planned and structured strategy to culminate in August, the slowest news month. The "death panels" of 2010.
Alex, CA, Typical of you Demoncrats. Shut down the conversation by labeling others bigots and racists. No wonder the American people are rejecting you.
There is no mosque proposed at ground zero. This is a fabricated issue based on lies and misinformation by republcans their media division.
Islam Already Lives Near Ground Zero: AP Fact Check
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/19/islam-already-party-of-gr_n_687639.html
It saddens me to see democrats caving in on this ridiculous non-issue.
i mean why are these people so stubborn that they want this mosque at this exact location? is there massive amounts of gold under that ground? why can't they move it out a little , show some sesitivity and perhaps gain many friends and respect from americans ?instead of digging in and win or lose gain much to the contrary? 9-11 is ground zero forever sacred ground burnt in the heart of americans to be respected by all americans and foreigners and by all religions. if they want respect they have to respect. simple as that!
There already is a prayer center at this location. Ground zero is blocks from here. The 3,000 people lost that day were from over 70 countries and every religion, including Muslim. Just stop it! You're entitled to your opion but it really doesn't matter, thank goodness!
Andrea Mitchell, YOU and the media are fanning the flames of this mosque issue, but you keep saying "this issue is not going away." The media IS ABSOLUTELY sensationalizing the news when it comes to President Obama. It was the media who said Obama backtracked from his statement regarding the Islamic rec center. The President SAID that the muslims had a protected RIGHT under the First Amendment, consistent with state and local laws and ordinances to pursue their project. He then said that he would not comment on the WISDOM of selecting the location for the rec center. THAT IS NOT BACKTRACKING!!!! The media, so eager for a sensational story, got just that by mischaracterizing the President's statements! The media is like that kid on the school yard who is always instigating fights. We need to scrutinize YOU the way you claim journalism requires the media to scrutinize us!!! SHAME ON YOU!!!!