Harry Reid: Ground Zero Mosque "Should be Built Some Place Else"

AP

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was prompted today to state that he thinks the so-called "ground zero mosque" should be built somewhere else.

Republicans have threatened to make the mosque debate a 2010 campaign issue, and a few candidates -- including Reid's challenger Sharron Angle -- are beginning to do so.

"The First Amendment protects freedom of religion," Reid's spokesperson said in a statement today. "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."

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."

Republicans said over the weekend that Mr. Obama's remarks nationalized the issue and left it open for debate in the midterm elections. Reid is the most high profile Democrat so far to break with president by stating that the mosque "should" not be built near ground zero. Mr. Obama has said he is not commenting on the "wisdom" of the decision.

Angle, who is in a tight race with Reid in Nevada, challenged Reid today to take a stand on the issue.

"By supporting the construction of a mosque at Ground Zero, President Obama has once again ignored the wishes of the American people, this time at the expense of victims of 9/11 and their families," Angle's spokesperson Jarrod Agen said in a statement. "As the Majority Leader, Harry Reid is usually President Obama's mouthpiece in the U.S. Senate, and yet he remains silent on this issue. Reid has a responsibility to stand up and say no to the mosque at Ground Zero or once again side with President Obama -- this time against the families of 9/11 victims."

Meanwhile, multi-millionaire Rick Scott, who is trying to regain momentum in the Florida Republican gubernatorial primary, is airing a television ad in which Scott states his opposition to the mosque, without tying the issue to the Florida race.

"Barack Obama says building a mosque at Ground Zero is about tolerance," Scott says. "He's wrong. It's about truth... Ground zero is the wrong place for a mosque."

Scott's opponent, Florida attorney general Bill McCollum, was ahead in the most recent poll, but he faced some backlash last week after jumping into another state-turned-national debate -- McCollum proposed Florida adopt an immigration law similar to the controversial law passed in Arizona.

Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana has also directly engaged his campaign opponent on the issue of the mosque.

"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. "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."

More coverage:

Could Mosque Message Impact Elections?
GOP Pundit: Obama's Mosque Talk "Dumbest Thing"
Obama's Stance on NYC Mosque Draws Fire, Praise
Obama Defends Ground Zero Mosque
Obama: Ground Zero Mosque within Muslims' Rights
Palin "Refudiate" Tweet on NYC Mosque Draws Fire
Conservative Leader: No More Mosques in U.S.
GOP Candidate: NYC Mosque "Hot Bed For Trouble"
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:

[Sugar-Malen]

THIS IS HOW SAFE WE ARE HERE IN AMERICA!

'Honor killings' in USA raise concerns

Faleh Almaleki
Peoria Police Department via AP
By Oren Dorell, USA TODAY

Muslim immigrant men have been accused of six "honor killings" in the United States in the past two years, prompting concerns that the Muslim community and police need to do more to stop such crimes.
"There is broad support and acceptance of this idea in Islam, and we're going to see it more and more in the United States," says Robert Spencer, who has trained FBI and military authorities on Islam and founded Jihad Watch, which monitors radical Islam.

Honor killings are generally defined as murders of women by relatives who claim the victim brought shame to the family. Thousands of such killings have occurred in Muslim countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Palestinian territories, according to the World Health Organization.

Some clerics and even lawmakers in these countries have said families have the right to commit honor killings as a way of maintaining values, according to an analysis by Yotam Feldner in the journal Middle East Quarterly.


MORE: Ariz. woman allegedly hit with car by Iraqi father dies
BRITAIN: Father found guilty in honor killing

In the USA, police allege the latest "honor killing" was that of Noor Almaleki, 20, who died Nov. 2 after she and her boyfriend's mother were run over in a Peoria, Ariz., parking lot. Prosecutors charged Almaleki's father, Faleh Almaleki, with murder, saying the Iraqi immigrant was upset that his daughter rejected a husband she married in Iraq and moved in with an American.

"By his own admission, this was an intentional act, and the reason was that his daughter had brought shame on him and his family," says Maricopa County prosecutor Stephanie Low, according to The Arizona Republic.

Many Muslim leaders in the USA say that Islam does not promote honor killings and that the practice stems from sexism and tribal behavior that predates the religion.

"You're always going to get problems with chauvinism and suppressing vulnerable populations and gender discrimination," says Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Not all agree. Zuhdi Jasser says some Muslim communities have failed to spell out how Islam deals with issues that can lead to violence.

"How should young adult women be treated who want to assimilate more than their parents want them to assimilate?" asks Jasser, founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, which advocates a separation of mosque and state. "How does an imam treat a woman who comes in and says she wants a divorce ... or how to deal with your daughter that got pregnant, and she's in high school?"

Phyllis Chesler, who wrote about honor killings in her book Woman's Inhumanity to Woman, says police need to focus on the crimes' co-conspirators if they wish to reverse the trend. Before 2008, there were six honor killings in the USA in the previous 18 years, according to her research.

"It's usually the father, brother or first male cousin who is charged with the actual shooting or stabbing, (but not) the mother who lures the girl home," Chesler says. "The religion has failed to address this as a problem and failed to seriously work to abolish it as un-Islamic."

Jasser says his community needs to address how to treat young women who want to assimilate. "Until we have women's liberation ... we're going to see these things increase."

[meshine]

Harry Reid is obviously talking out of both side of his mouth. First he says that the first amendment protects religious freedom but in the same breath wants to deny Muslims the freedom to build their Mosque. Makes him sound like a phony. Neither He nor anyone else can have it both ways. The Constitution protects the rights of all Americans or it should not protect the rights of any Americans. Are these Muslims not American citizens? For anyone to say that they dont have a right to build their Mosque at that site is wrong. To ask them not to build a Mosque there as a show of respect for the people murdered there during 9/11 would be a better call.

[ibsteve2u]

Stage 1, accomplished: Enforce prohibitions against specific peoples and religions because of historical events outside of their control.

Stage 2: Who killed Jesus?

[cbs_tom]

He died for all of us.

[Sugar-Malen]

In the grand purpose of humanity, G-d allowed it. Y'shua said that He gave His life freely.

[gaiaschild-2009]

Even the president would rather it probably be built elsewhere but all he did was say this nation is built on the principle of religous freedom and legal uses of private property so there is a legal right. It is horrible that people blame all muslims and the religion for the criminal acts that became 9 Eleven but people do. It is not fair but emotional and emotions are not fair. They just are. The negative energy that would result from a mosque on that site would not be conducive to a happy spiritual consciousness. It's not fair but it is what is.

[maxyas]

Being a Muslim I believe that the purpose of a mosque is strictly for praying to God and nothing else. None can support any other agenda for building a mosque. Having said that the people who want to build a mosque near Ground Zero, should listen to the majority and keeping in view of tolerance towards other religions the Quran preaches, should build it somewhere else. People who believe in Islam and who really want to pray will go anywhere to pray the importance of location itself is not important. Really hurts to see people condemning each other's religions, its not few who represent a religion, they represent their own ideologies. If you want to understand a religion do not follow the people. No human being can be a true reflection of the religion he/she follows in this age.

[Sugar-Malen]

I can't believe how so many are saying it is a Constitutional issue, a racial issue, a religious issue, etc. It is far from the truth. Many of us understand that the Constitution protects them, but just because it does doesn't mean it is right. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf says it is to promote relations and understanding. He should then practice what he is saying, and build someplace else, and REALLY show good faith. I am a Republican, that has voted Democratic. I am NOT saying they can't build. To me it is like rubbing it on our faces. I have read about THEIR history, and that is how I also see it. Every time these people tear a church or synagogue down, they build a mosque in it's place, as an "IN YOUR FACE" psychological statement. PROVE US WRONG IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUL!

[AbdulAkhir]

Saying the mosque should not be built by Ground Zero is like saying no church should be built near a federal building due to the horrible Oklahoma Bombing (the worst terrorist attack before 9-11, committed by a Christian). In every religion there are people who remain strong and true to "right and wrong" and those who fall victim to themselves. We should not judge a whole nation by a few wrong-doers.

[OldGeezer43]

Did you see where Nancy Pelosi wants to investigate anyone who opposes the building of said Mosque. I guess she'll have to investigate Harry Reid.

[armyoftwelve]

Finally, some common sense from the American left.

If I was a muslim I'd be ashamed to see this mosque go up where it is but happily I'm not a muslim anymore : )

[rickstas]

Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana needs to get his own moral house in order before he starts making comments on what others need to do.

[bytheway59]

it sounds like sen. reid is offering a spot on the Las Vegas drag.