Pelosi: New Yorkers Should Decide on Mosque (Says it's a "zoning issue")

The San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Tuesday, August 17, 2010 | Drew Joseph

[kristinn]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today weighed in on the heated debate over the proposed Islamic community center in Manhattan, saying that New Yorkers should be left to decide on what she called a "zoning issue."

Asked by The Chronicle what her position was on the community center, which includes a prayer space that some opponents are referring to as the "ground zero mosque," Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said that she is leaving the issue to her colleagues in New York.

And when Doug Sovern of KCBS asked a follow-up question, Pelosi criticized those who are trying to use the issue for political gain and also offered a bit of a retort to us dang reporters for not focusing on why we were gathered there, which was something to do about transferring Treasure Island from the Navy to the city.

Shaky Hand Productions was there to capture Pelosi's reponses, and apologies for the poor sound quality. It was a bit windy (just ask Mayor Gavin Newsom's hair).

(Video at source link.)

[Max_850]

I agree that it should be left a local issue and trust that New Yorkers will convince the Muslims to pick another site.

In following this logic I also think the Arizona “Illegal Alien” bill is also a “local” issue and other states should butt out of that as well.

Local and state governments are best positioned to govern.

[Mr_Moonlight]

Pelosi criticized those who are trying to use the issue for political gain .... (blah blah blah)

It's always amusing whenever some politician (usually Dem) accuses opponent politicians of using current issues for 'political gain' ... as if they are so high above the fray themselves ... it's sickening really.

[popdonnelly]

Pelosi is not an American. She has no feeling for the American public or its feelings.

[madison10]

Nancy doesn’t give a hoot ‘cause she’s from San Fran. This would be a whole different story if she was from NYC.

[popdonnelly]

Pelosi wouldn’t care if she was from New York City. She’s no different than that unfeeling oaf, Jerry Nadler.

[kristinn]

Update: 'Nazi' Pelosi: Investigate Opposition to 9/11 Mosque.

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2572644/posts

[GVnana]

“Zoning issue” my *ss. The only thing Pelosi knows how to do is spend other people’s money.

[GrannyAnn]

I don't agree that the mosque is a local issue. They didn't attack NY, they attacked AMERICA. Just like Pearl Harbor, the Japanese didn't attack Hawaii, they attacked AMERICA. They attacked me. I live in AZ but am deeply disturbed by this mosque. I don't have to live near Ground Zero to recognize that it is AMERICAN hallowed ground.

I don't have to be a 911 family member to be pissed off by this mosque.

I can't type what I think of nancy.

[prairiebreeze]

LOL! There may be quite a market for that....

[Max_850]

I would think as someone who lives in AZ, you of all people should be wary of “outsiders” trying to make laws or policy for you. What did you think of all the Progressives telling you how you were a Racist for not wanting illegals in your country without having direct knowledge of how the problem is affecting your life and local area?

I don't want the Mosque there either. As a former upstate New Yorker, I trust New Yorkers to take care of this mess and convince the Muslims to pick another site without someone from Wash DC, Calif, or anywhere else telling them they are racist for not wanting it there.

My hunch is personally Nancy would like it to be there but is playing politics.

[Mariner]

Even Pelosi is running from Obama.

Wow, we've entered an alternative universe...where the supposed "most powerful man in the world" stands alone.

There's nothing but a cold, quiet breeze at his back.

[Nosterrex]

Pelosi is a perfect example of what it means to be out of touch with the American people. Did anyone actually believe that building a Mosque near Ground Zero was not going to be inflammatory?

[MtnMan101]