President Obama on Saturday sought to clarify his comments supporting the building of a mosque near ground zero that have ignited a political firestorm ahead of a difficult election season for Democrats.

During a trip to Florida for a family vacation, Obama said his comments from Friday night were only directed at the constitutional right of the mosque to be there, and whether preventing the mosque’s construction impinges on the right to freedom of religion.

"I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there," he said in response to a reporter's question after he spoke about efforts to aid the Gulf Coast region. "I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about."

Obama came under instant fire after jumping into the middle of a cultural clash Friday night with comments that have elevated the contentious issue to the presidential level.

White House spokesman Bill Burton released the following statement on behalf of Obama's stance on constructing the mosque.

"Just to be clear, the President is not backing off in any way from the comments he made last night. It is not his role as President to pass judgment on every local project. But it is his responsibility to stand up for the Constitutional principle of religious freedom and equal treatment for all Americans. What he said last night, and reaffirmed today, is that If a church, a synagogue or a Hindu temple can be built on a site, you simply cannot deny that right to those who want to build a Mosque."

Republicans and some victims’ advocates have strongly condemned Obama's support for the mosque, which would be part of a $100 million Islamic community center two blocks from where nearly 3,000 people perished when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

While no one has voiced opposition to the construction of the mosque, critics are concerned that the center’s proposed location is insensitive to those affected by the terror attacks.

“I oppose the planned location of a mosque in close proximity to Ground Zero,” Sen. John McCain, R-A.Z., said in a statement released Saturday. “The concerns of the 9/11 victims’ families and the citizens of New York City should be respected.”

McCain added that hoped that the parties involved would be able to “sit down and discuss an alternative location for the mosque that would meet with the approval of” New Yorkers and the victims of the terror attacks.

"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."

Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son was killed at the World Trade Center, said the president had failed to understand the issue. "As an Obama supporter, I really feel that he's lost sight of the germane issue, which is not about freedom of religion," she said. "It's about a gross lack of sensitivity to the 9/11 families and to the people who were lost."

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said the president is "wrong."

"It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground zero," he said in a written statement.

"While the Muslim community has the right to build the mosque, they are abusing that right by needlessly offending so many people who have suffered so much," he said. "The right and moral thing for President Obama to have done was to urge Muslim leaders to respect the families of those who died and move their mosque away from ground zero. Unfortunately, the president caved into political correctness."

Congressman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. however, who represents Lower Manhattan and Ground Zero applauded Obama’s remarks at the White House, saying that “Hate should have no place in America.”

“As the Member of Congress who represents Lower Manhattan and Ground Zero, I commend President Obama’s statement on the Cordoba House and his support of our First Amendment rights of freedom of religion and separation of church and state,” Nadler said in a statement Saturday.

“As I previously stated, government has no business deciding whether there should or should not be a Muslim house of worship near Ground Zero. The United States was founded on the principle of religious liberty and tolerance, and it is equally important 234 years later that we uphold this principal.”

Entering the highly charged election-year debate, Obama surely knew that his words would not only make headlines in the U.S. but be heard by Muslims worldwide. The president has made it a point to reach out to the global Muslim community, and the over 100 guests at Friday's dinner in the State Dining Room included ambassadors and officials from numerous nations where Islam is observed, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

While his pronouncement concerning the mosque might find favor in the Muslim world, Obama's stance runs counter to the opinions of the majority of Americans, according to polls. A CNN/Opinion Research poll released this week found that nearly 70 percent of Americans opposed the mosque plan while just 29 percent approved. A number of Democratic politicians have shied away from the controversy.

Opponents, including some Sept. 11 victims' relatives, see the prospect of a mosque so near the destroyed trade center as an insult to the memory of those killed by Islamic terrorists in the 2001 attacks.

"The decision to build this mosque so close to ground zero is deeply troubling, as is the president's decision to endorse it. The American people certainly don't support it," House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a written statement.

"The fact that someone has the right to do something doesn't necessarily make it the right thing to do," he added. "That is the essence of tolerance, peace and understanding. This is not an issue of law, whether religious freedom or local zoning. This is a basic issue of respect of a tragic moment in our history."

Former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania told Fox News that Obama seems to misunderstand that Islam is not just a religion, but also a political doctrine. He also said the mosque is being run by a man who accused the U.S. of being an accomplice in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Santorum compared the ground zero mosque to a minister who wants to builds a church near the location where the Rev. Martin Luther King was killed but preaches racial separation and the notion that King brought his death upon himself.

"I don't think Barack Obama would say, 'Well we have religious tolerance, we're going to allow them to do that,'" he said. "That is the wrong way to look at this. This is not whether it's a legal right to do it. People have legal rights to do a lot of things in this country."

"We have the will of the American public," he said, noting the polls show most oppose the mosque. The imam is "ignoring the will of the American public, as by the way, Barack Obama is by siding with him."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/14/obamas-support-ground-zero-mosque-draws/

What an idiot. Once again he opens his mouth on a city level issue (Anyone remember the Professor ordeal) and now has to insert his foot. He should know better with less then 80 days until election day.

Ho really sorry to read it. He has given up to terorists with fear of another strike. It is really a sad day Obama.

,,,and they totally miss the point again

'But it is his responsibility to stand up for the Constitutional principle of religious freedom and equal treatment for all Americans. What he said last night, and reaffirmed today, is that If a church, a synagogue or a Hindu temple can be built on a site, you simply cannot deny that right to those who want to build a Mosque."

Their, our "points" are valid.

Condescension is not nice.

Our "points" are as, if not more valid than those of Hussein.

The plan to build a Mega Mosque can be sued.

certainly, everyones opinions are valid based upon their interpretation of the facts

I just kind of think the assessment of giving up to terrorists misses the whole point of the president AFFIRMING THE CONSTITUTION

(in my best Jacobib voice, from zoolander)

I know its funny right,,,,we want what we want and then someone else wants it and we suddenly dont think they should have what they want because we dont like who we THINK they are and what we ASSUME they want,,,,


crazy crazy world,,,

I suppose, it's Constitutional for Mosques to fund terrorism?

Many are being found doing just that.

Imagine how much a Mega-Mosque could bring in.

They don't just have the mosqueetos paying in, they'll have funhouses, gift shops and cultural centers generating funds.

Do your Christmas shopping there or, idea for a South Park episode.

Lil' Johnny. "Daddy the head on my doll with the blindfold and orange jumpsuit keeps falling off. Is it broke?"

Daddy. "No Johnny, it's supposed to work that way. We just have to get you the rest of the beheading collection."

Lil 8 year old sister, Suzie. "Mommy, Johnny got something. What will you get for me?"

Mommy,"If we're lucky and you're not too old, maybe four goats and a couple chickens. Now shut up and try this wedding dress on before Daddy beats us both!"

he's just trying to ruin the country 3000 Americans died there, and he stands up for the people that killed them... that yellow streak on his back is getting bigger

Administration's Muddled Response on Mosque Creates New Election Year Debate

President Obama's seemingly conflicting responses over the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero demonstrate another example of the tone-deaf nature of the White House, politicians on both sides of the aisle are suggesting as the remark raises the prospect of another sticky election issue for lawmakers this November.

The issue of whether to build the thirteen-story Park 51 mosque and Islamic cultural center in lower Manhattan -- two blocks from where the Twin Towers fell -- is one that Democrats don't need on their plates right now as they try to defend their economic policies and the new health care law ahead of what is expected to be pivotal a midterm election.

Republicans, however, see the opening and are ready to pounce.

"I think it does speak to the lack of connection between the administration and Washington and folks inside the Beltway and mainstream America. And I think this is what aggravates people so much," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who runs the National Republican Senatorial Committee that is tasked with getting more GOP members in the Senate.

Cornyn said the issue will resonate in the election not because of the mosque itself, which is a local matter, but because public surveys show that the White House's seeming support for its construction demonstrates another example of the frequently reinforced theme that it is disinterested in the public's perspective. A Fox News poll out Friday showed 61 percent agree that the group building the mosque has the right, but 64 percent say it's wrong to do so.

"Whether you're connected with people, whether you're listening or whether you're lecturing to them, I think this is sort of the dichotomy that people sense, that they're being lectured to, not listened to, and I think that's the reason why a lot of people are very upset with Washington," Cornyn said.

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, however, said he doesn't think the issue will make a difference in the November election.

"Well, I don't know if it's good or bad politics, but I can't imagine that any American -- given the challenges facing this country -- is going to vote based on what he said about the mosque," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie, who appeared with Rendell, said the president's casting opposition to the mosque as an attempt to deny religious freedom to Muslims in this country is a telling sign of the president's view of the public.

"It tells you that he has a very disdainful view of the American people. ... There's kind of a condescension toward Americans that they don't like," he said.

The president's remarks seemed to run the gamut over two days despite White House insistence that he is being consistent.

Speaking Friday night at a White House dinner to honor the holy month of Ramadan, the president said, "Muslims have the right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country," an apparent show of support for the mosque.

On Saturday, while spending the day in the Gulf, the president clarified, "I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about."

Later in the day, spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement saying "the president is not backing off in any way from the comments he made last night.

"It is not his role as president to pass judgment on every local project. But it is his responsibility to stand up for the constitutional principle of religious freedom and equal treatment for all Americans," Burton said.

But both Democrats and Republicans say the question isn't about constitutional principles, but sensitivity to the families of the nearly 3,000 people who died when terrorists hijacked airplanes and steered them into three landmark buildings in New York and Washington. Another plane crashed in Pennsylvania.

"If the president is going to get involved, he should put everything on the table. He shouldn't do what he did on Friday night and just make half a statement, which was not even relevant because nobody was questioning the right to build a mosque. It's a question where it should be," Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told Fox News.

Later in an interview on CNN, King and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who represents the district in lower Manhattan where the mosque would be constructed, sparred over whether it's a win for America to let the mosque be built.

"The fallacy is that Al Qaeda attacked us. Islam did not attack us. Islam, like Christianity, like Judaism, like other religions, has many different people, some of whom regard other adherents of the religion as heretics of one sort or another. It is only insensitive if you regard Islam as the culprit, as opposed to Al Qaeda as the culprit. We were not attacked by all Muslims," Nadler said.

But King said that he disagrees since "the attack was carried out in the name of Islam," and the imam who was behind the construction of the mosque reportedly has questionable views of tolerance, including support for the terrorist group Hamas.

Besides, King said, the president should use this opportunity for a "teachable moment," that means not just paying lip service to constitutional rights but getting people who are involved in the debate -- including the developers, builders, Muslim community that will use the facility and opponents of it -- and "get a consensus as to where it would be acceptable."

In the meantime, some candidates aren't waiting to express their hesitation with the president's comments. Democrat Jeff Greene, who is vying for the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate seat from Florida, said he disagrees with the president.

"President Obama has this all wrong and I strongly oppose his support for building a mosque near Ground Zero," Greene said. "Freedom of religion might provide the right to build the mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero, but common sense and respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones gives sensible reason to build the mosque someplace else. President Obama had the chance to show leadership by calling on the mosque's supporters to find a more appropriate location."

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.,, told "Fox News Sunday" that he thinks the overriding issue in the election will remain the economy, but he's not surprised that the issue has sucked up a lot of the oxygen this month.

"It's the nature of current affairs and of politics that issues arise," he said.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/15/administrations-muddled-response-mosque-creates-new-election-year-debate/

I dont see how a mosque that is not yet erected has been funding terrorists. Much like the profiling debate over immigration law in arizona,,,,,,

the question lies in what is actually being done or said and whether it is constitutional,, and NOT what it MIGHT lead to


if the mosque funds terrorism, Im sure the authorities will handle that,, but this isnt the minority report and we dont condemn people or organizations to less than constitutional treatment because of what we ASSUME they might do in the future

american is a nationality
muslim is a religious designation


many AMERICANS are muslim and many american muslims also died,,,

Obama vs. Kerry

"I actually voted for it BEFORE I voted against it!"



I vote for their right in principle to build a huge Islamic Center (with mosque)
adjacent to the location of the worst Islamic terrorist attack on U.S.
civilians where thousands died. I will proclaim it so loud they will hear me all
the way in Cairo and Riyadh! (But I really don't think they should build it there...)
That's off the record. Right?

It's like Obama looks at the polls and see that its something Americans are saying 3:1 that they don't want it. Then he decides since American's don't want it it sounds like a good idea.

This has been how hes handled his whole Presidency.

so what?
he's s#$tting on them too... all 8 of them.

He's shitting on EVERY American and doing favors and kissing all of our enemies a$$e$.

Samad Afridi
Ashraf Ahmad
Shabbir Ahmad (45 years old; Windows on the World; leaves wife and 3 children)
Umar Ahmad
Azam Ahsan
Ahmed Ali
Tariq Amanullah (40 years old; Fiduciary Trust Co.; ICNA website team member; leaves wife and 2 children)
Touri Bolourchi (69 years old; United Airlines #175; a retired nurse from Tehran)
Salauddin Ahmad Chaudhury
Abdul K. Chowdhury (30 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald)
Mohammad S. Chowdhury (39 years old; Windows on the World; leaves wife and child born 2 days after the attack)
Jamal Legesse Desantis
Ramzi Attallah Douani (35 years old; Marsh & McLennan)
SaleemUllah Farooqi
Syed Fatha (54 years old; Pitney Bowes)
Osman Gani
Mohammad Hamdani (50 years old)
Salman Hamdani (NYPD Cadet)
Aisha Harris (21 years old; General Telecom)
Shakila Hoque (Marsh & McLennan)
Nabid Hossain
Shahzad Hussain
Talat Hussain
Mohammad Shah Jahan (Marsh & McLennan)
Yasmeen Jamal
Mohammed Jawarta (MAS security)
Arslan Khan Khakwani
Asim Khan
Ataullah Khan
Ayub Khan
Qasim Ali Khan
Sarah Khan (32 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald)
Taimour Khan (29 years old; Karr Futures)
Yasmeen Khan
Zahida Khan
Badruddin Lakhani
Omar Malick
Nurul Hoque Miah (36 years old)
Mubarak Mohammad (23 years old)
Boyie Mohammed (Carr Futures)
Raza Mujtaba
Omar Namoos
Mujeb Qazi
Tarranum Rahim
Ehtesham U. Raja (28 years old)
Ameenia Rasool (33 years old)
Naveed Rehman
Yusuf Saad
Rahma Salie & unborn child (28 years old; American Airlines #11; wife of Michael Theodoridis; 7 months pregnant)
Shoman Samad
Asad Samir
Khalid Shahid (25 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald; engaged to be married in November)
Mohammed Shajahan (44 years old; Marsh & McLennan)
Naseema Simjee (Franklin Resources Inc.'s Fiduciary Trust)
Jamil Swaati
Sanober Syed
Robert Elias Talhami (40 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald)
Michael Theodoridis (32 years old; American Airlines #11; husband of Rahma Salie)
W. Wahid



more than eight, for certain
and just as valuable as any other american

if the christians would be permitted to erect a monument , the muslims should be permitted to erect a mosque,,,

show me where christians have applied and been denied the right to build and I would feel differently,,,but thats not the law

I am sure atleast half of those had ties to terrorists in some way, shape or form.