Ground Zero Mosque controversy swirls around Obama

As everyone seems to agree, the Muslims have the Constitutional and legal right to build the mosque where they want in NYC. But do they have the moral right? Relatives of the thousands who died in the 9/11 attack are vehemently opposed to this sight being used as a monument to the memory of the terrorists who died in the attack. This is how they see it, whether true or not.

While, as many liberals have said, the site is not on ground zero, it is the site where the landing gear, of one of the planes, fell to the ground. That is close enough for me.

A truly God loving religious leader would take these feelings into account and move the location of the mosque out of the area. This article seems to give Obama credit for his courage in the face of all the anticipated criticism. However,it may be that as a Muslim himself, he had the responsibility to defend the Muslim position. After all, when has he really cared what the American people think.

Excerpt: The White House on Saturday struggled to tamp down the controversy over President Barack Obama’s statements about a mosque near Ground Zero — insisting Obama wasn’t backing off remarks Friday night where he offered support for a project that has infuriated some families whose loved ones died in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Obama’s comments placed him in the middle of the controversy over a Muslim group’s plans for a mosque near the site of the 2001 attack — and in turn, transformed an emotion-laden local dispute in New York into a nationwide debate overnight.

Republicans pounced, amid early signs that the issue would seep into some state and congressional contests. “It is divisive and disrespectful to build a mosque next to the site where 3,000 innocent people were murdered at the hands of Islamic extremism,” said Florida GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio. His opponent, Charlie Crist, a Republican turned independent, came out in support of Obama’s comments.

And Democrats — at least some who were willing to comment — could barely contain their frustration over Obama’s remarks, saying he had potentially placed every one of their candidates into the middle of the debate by giving GOP candidates a chance to ask them point-blank: Do you agree with Obama on the mosque, or not?

That could be particularly damaging to moderate Democrats in conservative-leaning districts, already 2010’s most vulnerable contenders. Read the POLITICO article "Mosque controversy swirls around Obama" here.