National elected officials have been largely mum on the Cordoba House construction project, which would put a Muslim community center near the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan. President Obama, for example, considers the matter one for local officials, according to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
The Daily Caller has a round-up of the few who have made their position clear — on both sides of the debate.
First, those who have voiced support for the project:
New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
“The attack [on September 11] was an act of war — and our first responders defended not only our city but also our country and our Constitution. We do not honor their lives by denying the very Constitutional rights they died protecting. We honor their lives by defending those rights — and the freedoms that the terrorists attacked.”
New York Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler
“As an elected official who believes strongly in the separation of church and state, I contend that the government has no business deciding whether there should or should not be a Muslim house of worship near Ground Zero.”
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
“I agree with the community board that approved the siting of the mosque. … If there is a central premise to the founding of this nation it is religious freedom. It’s that government doesn’t pick religions.”
New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner
“I feel strongly that the constitutional protection of religion from the overreach of government means that elected officials should endeavor to stay out of the business of deciding where houses of worship may or may not be.”
Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick
When asked if he supported the Cordoba House, Patrick quoted former President George W. Bush: “The sooner we separate the peaceful teaching of Islam from the behavior of terrorists, the better for all of us.”
New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer
Schumer told the Washington Post that he was “not opposed” the plan but has refused to elaborate further.
All Republican, here are those who have voiced public disagreement:
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
“This is a desecration,” Giuliani told Politico. “Nobody would allow something like that at Pearl Harbor. Let’s have some respect for who died there and why they died there. Let’s not put this off on some kind of politically correct theory.”
Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty
“I’m strongly opposed to the idea of putting a mosque anywhere near Ground Zero — I think it’s inappropriate,” Pawlenty told Real Clear Politics. “I believe that 3,000 of our fellow innocent citizens were killed in that area, and some ways from a patriotic standpoint, it’s hallowed ground, it’s sacred ground, and we should respect that. We shouldn’t have images or activities that degrade or disrespect that in any way.”
Former Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich
“We need to have the moral courage to denounce it. It is simply grotesque to erect a mosque at the site of the most visible and powerful symbol of the horrible consequences of radical Islamist ideology,” Gingrich said in a statement. “Well-meaning Muslims, with common human sensitivity to the victims’ families, realize they have plenty of other places to gather and worship. But for radical Islamists, the mosque would become an icon of triumph, encouraging them in their challenge to our civilization.”
Former Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
Via Twitter: “Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing.”
Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain, Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson and Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe all told the Weekly Standard that the project was “insensitive.”
The New York City landmarks panel gave the organization the g0-ahead on its plans for the Muslim community center this week. A spokesman for the Cordoba Initiative said there is not yet a timeline for completion of the project.
E-mail Chris Moody and follow him on Twitter
OUTRAGE OVER GROUND ZERO MOSQUE