Posted on 08/16/2010 6:48:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The majority leader of the Senate, Harry Reid, has weighed in on the Great Mosque Debate of 2010, becoming the highest-profile Democrat to call for the so-called Ground Zero Mosque to move to a new location at an unspecified distance away from ground zero. "The First Amendment protects freedom of religion," Reid's spokesman, Jim Manley, wrote in an e-mail today after Reid's Republican challenger, Sharron Angle, called on him to take a position. "Senator Reid respects that, but thinks that the mosque should be built someplace else." Reid's office did not elaborate on why Reid feels this way, or on how large the mosque-free (or, Islamic-community-center-free) zone surrounding ground zero should be.
Though Reid was more explicit, it's interesting to note that he doesn't necessarily break with President Obama with this statement like Reid, Obama also supports the right for the Corboda Initiative to build an Islamic community center two blocks from ground zero, but he refuses to say whether he supports the "wisdom" of the project. And, in fact, Reid is taking the same position as Sarah Palin (as well as a majority of Americans, who oppose the mosque while admitting its legality).
Reid isn't the only other political figure to weigh in on the mosque today. Mayor Bloomberg reiterated his support, saying, "If we shut down a mosque two blocks away from where freedom was attacked, I think it would be a sad day for America." Newt Gingrich, making an offensive and logically faulty comparison, said that "Nazis don't have the right to put up a sign next to the holocaust museum in Washington." In Florida, a Republican candidate for governor, Rick Scott, released an ad that rebutted Obama's position on the mosque without ever mentioning either of his opponents in the race or even the word "Florida." In case it wasn't already clear, the "mosque" is now a full-blown national issue on which nearly every candidate in every race will have to pick sides.
Update: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has added his two cents, and the Atlantic's Marc Ambinder says "this one guy seems to get this issue just right":
My principles on this are two-fold. One, that we have to acknowledge, respect and give some measure of deference to the feelings of the family members who lost their loved ones there that day. But it would be wrong to so overreact to that, that we paint Islam with a brush of radical Muslim extremists that just want to kill Americans because we are Americans. But beyond that ... I am not going to get into it, because I would be guilty of candidly what I think some Republicans are guilty of, and the president is now, the president is guilty of, of playing politics with this issue, and I simply am not going to do it.
Harry Reid weighs in on N.Y. mosque: It 'should be built someplace else'.
Only because Governor Sarah Palin, with more stones than ANY male politician, weighed in on it on her Facebook account. Has Mitt ever voiced an opinion either way?
He was authorized by his owners to say this. Politicians say anything. They’re all prostitutes. I don’t believe or trust any elected officials, whether they’re PTA, Sheriff, VA Delegates, U.S. rep. or sen. They’re worse than drink hustlers.
...actually, I’ve liked a lot more drink hustlers than elected officials.
Things must be getting pretty bad in Nevada for Pinky Reid.
Next he will be telling the sheeple he is a Tea party Patriot.
Wow, more and more people throwing Obama under the bus!
Dems are starting to eat one another. The Bush Derangement and elect-Obama union of orgies helped them stay on a common track, but the progressives are now devouring themselves even worse than conservatives are. Apparently the truce that bonded all the various units of the Lunatic Left has expired and there will be blood it seems.
The threat of an impending election loss works wonders in a RAT. (After the election when the RAT goes back to being a RAT one wonders why anyone voted for him)
It makes me sick to even see his name on the same line as hers. He’d love to try to ride her coattails in Nov. since his real buddy, Obama, has none.
I don’t think so. He’s trying to move a bit to the right for election time, and I’ll bet he has permission to “disagree” with Obami on this subject.
He’s a damn prostitute he’ll say anything if he thinks it’ll get him re-elected.
Pure damage control, plus Harry is about to get spanked in the coming election. And like McCollum here in Fl he will say or do anything to stay in power.
Yup, and prostitution is legal in Nevada.
Sarah was way out in front on this one before the polling took place. This is what seperates leaders from politicians.
Bammy tried to lead but found himself solidly in camp with the likes of Hamas and other radical muslims who view the mosk as a victory over the capitalist, great satan.
Following this guy inevitably leads one to camel poop, not the constitution.
Me too!
Skirt tails, and she'll kick him in the teeth.
I can barely wait for her to campaign for Sharron Angle!
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