President Obama speaking in favor of the right of Muslims to build a mosque close to Ground Zero at a White House dinner on Friday, seemed to retreat on Saturday from such a ringing endorsement, as he struggled to clarify his remarks.
On Friday, Obama said:
“But let me be clear. As a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are. The writ of the Founders must endure.”
But during a visit to the Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, Obama retreated from his earlier position suggesting that he was not commenting on the “wisdom” of building a mosque close to Ground Zero.
“I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there,” said Obama. He added, “I was commenting very specifically on the right that people have that dates back to our founding. My intention was simply to let people know what I thought. Which was that in this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion.”
Obama’s comments on Friday have generated a fire-storm from survivors of the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks in which more than 3,000 Americans lost their lives and from conservative New Yorkers who have rejected the construction of a mosque so close to Ground Zero. His comments are already creating divisions within his own party.
Earlier today, Senate Majority Harry Reid said he believes that the mosque should be built someplace else, reports cbsnews.com.
“The First Amendment protects freedom of religion,” said Reid’s spokesperson in a released statement. “Senator Reid respects that but thinks that the mosque should be built some place else. If the Republicans are being sincere, they would help us pass this long overdue bill to help the first responders whose health and livelihoods have been devastated because of their bravery on 911, rather than continuing to block this much-needed legislation.”
Meanwhile, in Florida, Democratic candidate Jeff Greene in the race for U.S. Senate weighed in saying that Obama got it all wrong.
“President Obama has this all wrong and I strongly oppose his support for building a mosque near Ground Zero especially since Islamic terrorists have bragged and celebrated destroying the Twin Towers and killing nearly 3,000 Americans,” Greene said in a statement. He added that, “common sense and respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones gives sensible reason to build the mosque someplace else.”
Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek, in a tight race with Greene for his party’s nomination for U.S. Senate, demonstrating great sensitivity to the issue said in a statement that “religious freedom and construction of the mosque should not be denied on religious grounds but this is ultimately a decision for the local community in New York City to make.”
Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent, also in the U.S. Senate race, said he agreed with Obama and his articulation of religious freedom, reports the Miami Herald.
Republican Marco Rubio, also in the Senate race said he “strongly disagreed with President Obama and Charlie Crist.”
The mosque is part of a $100 million Islamic Community Center two blocks from the construction site of the World Trade Center towers which were attacked by terrorists on 9/11.
