Ground Zero Mosque Debate Becomes a Campaign Issue

President Obama's comments on Friday night about the so-called Ground Zero mosque has reignited intense controversy surrounding the project, with Republicans now promising to make it a campaign issue in this fall's midterm elections.

Many conservatives have long decried the decision by New York City officials to allow for the construction of an Islamic community center and mosque a few blocks from the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Mr. Obama weighed in on the discussion on Friday, defending Muslims' religious freedom, which 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."

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said on "Fox News Sunday" that Mr. Obama's input "demonstrates that Washington, the White House, the administration, the president himself seems to be disconnected from the mainstream of America."

He said the mosque debate could become an election issue because "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."

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the recruitment chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, asked on CNN's "State of the Union" if "this is a New York issue, then why did the president engage in it?"

Mr. Obama's input on the issue "elevates it to a national issue," CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer said on the CBS' "The Early Show" this morning. "Clearly, Republicans are trying to take every advantage of this they can... every single Democratic candidate now running for office is going to be asked about it."

An unnamed House Republican strategist tells Mike Allen of Politico that "President Obama has now ensured that Democrats on the campaign trail will be answering for his remarks all this week and possibly into the fall. Candidates will be calling on their opponents to condemn the president's remarks and expressing their frustration over the decision through various forms of earned media."

At least one Republican outside of New York, Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, has directly engaged his campaign opponent on the issue.

"President Obama's support of building the mosque at Ground Zero is a slap in the face to the American people and I've demanded that President Obama reverse his position. Charlie Melancon's silence on the issue is troubling to Louisiana families," Vitter said in a statement about his Democratic challenger, Politico reports. "But, we should not be surprised. Melancon endorsed President Obama, gave him an A grade and now is eerily quiet as Obama thumbs his nose at the American people on this important issue."

On CBS' "Face the Nation," Republican strategist Ed Rollins called Mr. Obama's comments "probably the dumbest thing that any president has said or candidate has said since Michael Dukakis said it was okay to burn the flag."

Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, meanwhile, insisted on "Face the Nation" that voters cared more about the economy.

"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 [Obama] said about the mosque," Rendell said.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said on CNN's "State of the Union" that "it would be wrong to politicize the issue" and that New Yorkers should be left to discuss it.

After remarking Friday that Muslims have the right to build the mosque, the president on Saturday said that he wasn't commenting on the "wisdom" of the decision to build it there.

White House spokesman Bill Burton said later the president wasn't backing off his earlier remarks, but Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) nevertheless criticized Mr. Obama for "trying to have it both ways" on the issue.

"Obviously his words were carefully chosen on Friday, and the inference or the clear impression that everybody came away with was that he was supporting the mosque at ground zero, and he can parse it later on and sort of back away, but the fact is that was clearly the impression that he wanted to leave," King said on CNN's "State of the Union." "All I can think is perhaps there was political pressure from people in his own party that urged him to walk back away from that on Saturday."

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Proposed Mosque Near Ground Zero Stokes Debate

Watch CBS News' Marc Knoller, Marc Ambinder and Bob Schieffer discuss on "Washington Unplugged" the impact over President Obama's remarks defending plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero:

[usdefender12]

This is a very one-side right.I say take a page from General Pershing book.Use there religion against them and they will no longer build a mosque.Quite arguing over rights you do not have in there religion or society.They want to build here but you cannot build over there.Thats a fact.

[rorick125]

I beleive in freedom of religion and our constitution, having said that, i completely and totally DISAGREE that a mosque should be built there. It is obvious that the ones behind this idea are only doing this to cause controversy. Yes, they have a right. But any human with a soul can see that this would be completely disrespectful to the ones who lost their lives there. They can easily see that this is a sensitive subject to build this mosque and yet they choose to push the issue only because they want to cause more hurt and controversy. This iman guy even said so himself. WAKE UP PEOPLE.( Those who support the mosque) Why cant they simply move to another location. I am not against them building a mosque, just not anywhere near ground zero. They are only choosing this site because they can, not because they really want to. They are taking fool advantage of and in my opinion abusing the freedom of religion right only to promote self indulgence. Do you think america can go over to a muslim country and build a christian church. Of course not, because its not allowed.As i said earlier, they have a right but its not about rights, its about being respectful and making respectful decisions. I know not all muslims are terrorist and that most are very peaceful and friendly. It just happened to be that a small group of radicals casued the biggest act of terrisom and death to our country on 9/11 and that paticular area needs to be held sacred and serve as a memorial to all those who lost their lives. If you cannot not see that, then you need to seriously do a soul check, cause i dont think you have one and honestly dont belong in this country.

[Maureen1953]

Building a mosque near ground zero would have absolutely no bearing on the atrocities initiated by Osama Bin Laden on that fateful day. Oh, what people fear they don't understand.

[rickwarre]

Fact: There are over 1,290 mosques in the good ole U.S.A.

Fact: Muslimism is the fastest growing religion in America

Fact: 93 percent of all U.S. mosques are attended by more than one ethnic group

Fact: Only about 27 percent of U.S. mosques emphasize an ethnic focus and most of these are located in African American neighborhoods

Fact: 64 percent of Latino congregations in the United States and 50 percent of African American congregations place a high priority on preserving their racial, ethnic or national heritage.

Fact: The first Muslim in the US was Anthony Janszoon van Salee, in 1630

Fact: 72% of Muslims believe religion is very important, which is higher in comparison to the overall population of the United States at 59%

Fact: Nearly a quarter of the Muslims are converts to Islam (23%),

Fact: In America, converts = 34% white

Fact: There are 12 mosques in Arizona----imagine that

FACT: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

But the Right really does not want facts or reason, they want to distract. And that is what all this is, a distration.

The Right has shown what it really is since the Red under every bed 50's. Fear, Panic, guilt by asociation, thinly veiled racism and hatreds and resistance to accept change.

[raa10]

Why now they dare to build a mosque at ground zero, why they did not try when George Bush was president. They think this is the time since their fellow Hussein Obama is in power?

[steeepe]

Actually, legislators pledge to uphold and protect the U.S. Constitution, so any that carry out activities that are blatantly unconstitutional should be impeached immediately.

[farmertommy]

CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGY PUTS PROFIT ABOVE THE HUMAN IN EVERY CASE,
VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.

[paragon8473]

I love it - everyone is upset about the insensitivity of Islam to want to build a mosque near Ground Zero, and the Muslims are deaf to that insensitivity, BUT when a guy vows to open a GAY bar across the street, they object its being "insensitive" to the tenets of Islam!!!
THIS IS THE BS WE ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE. This is a deliberately provocative act by Muslims - an "in your face" rubbing of salt in the still open wound of ground zero. It must be stopped.

[thisisuneeded]

It has nothing to do with property rights or the Constitution. I have a right to build a strip joint but not the right to put it wherever I wish. I have the right to rob a store also, but there are consequences to doing so. The point is that just because someone has a "right" to do something does not make it "right". Muslims always erect mosques at places they consider they has a VICTORY, and that is what this is about in their minds. A mosque built at the location they want is meant to be a monument to a VICTORY of a terrorist act of war.

[jabberwolf]

Defending the constitution is one thing.
But being arrogant as to side with 1 right, and not side with the other to protest - is arrogant, naive, and hypocritical.

People have every right to build there.
People have the right to have bad taste, disgusting views, show it on display, and pretend its in "peace" - If islam wants hatred and rebuke like none-before, I suggest they proceed and build it.

But they should be very aware that its the same right of others to berate it, make opinions of it, and protest it.

Obama reminding of only 1 of the rights, on the Mosque's right to be built, shows which side he is clearly siding with. Had he been truly equal, he would have reminded both sides of both rights.