Barack Obama, The defender of the faith

[JG55]

Barack Obama, defender of the faith

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August 14, 2010 Posted by Scott at 6:31 It's good to have President Obama on record on the proposed mosque at Ground Zero. To no one's surprise, I'm sure, he supports it, and he does so in his usual style:

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Recently, attention has been focused on the construction of mosques in certain communities - particularly in New York. Now, we must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of lower Manhattan. The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. The pain and suffering experienced by those who lost loved ones is unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground.

But let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. 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 will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are. The writ of our Founders must endure.

Obama's statement begs the question posed by the mosque (or whatever it is) at Ground Zero. No one has questioned the right of Muslims to practice their religion the same as anyone else in this country. Rather, those opposed to the mosque have asked the proponents to recognize and give way to the feelings of ordinary Americans that a mosque does not belong at Ground Zero.

If it is another mosque that is wanted, as Obama suggests, ordinary Americans desire only that it be built somewhere else in New York. Obama's invocation of the First Amendment right of the free exercise of religion is not on point.

In the good old USA, citizens have a right to do many wrongs. One such wrong would be the establishment of a Muslim shrine at Ground Zero. Obama simply does not engage the point. He does not argue that the establishment of a Muslim shrine at Ground Zero would be right.

He says that we must all recognize and respect the sensitivities involved with the development of lower Manhattan, but then again, apparently we need not. His acknowledgment of the need to recognize and respect the sensitivities involved is meaningless ornamentation.

Obama does not recognize the deep offense that would be given by the establishment of a Muslim shrine at Ground Zero. On this point he has precisely nothing to say. He does not make a case why the feelings of ordinary Americans should give way.

With great reliability Obama stands athwart the feelings of ordinary Americans. Indeed, he is a much more ardent defender of the faith of Musims than he is of the United States, of its history or of its people. Obama's defense of the mosque at Ground Zero highlights his adversarial stance and is thus a particularly valuable addition to the record.

UPDATE: Debra Burlingame responds to Obama's statement

[greenego]

At first Robert Gibbs said the president had no comment about the mosque, "It was a local matter'. Guess the president couldn't keep his month shut. It amazes me how he goes out of his way to turn Americans against him.

[JG55]

The establishment of a mosque at ground zero has nothing at all to do with the free expression of religion. That is a canard being used by the Iman and others. People like Obama, Bloomberg and Phil Valentine are way off on this. This mosque is solely a Statue to the Muslim Jihadist who killed 3000 people and brought the towers down. Does anyone really believe that they could not find a a location that would not be so insensitive to Americans and still be central to there worshipers. ( if you don't I have some property in the everglades I would like to sell you). Obama and others are setting up a false bogeyman that Americans are trying to keep Muslims from free access to worship, Not true. At some point we as a people have to stop this madness of PC and Tolerance. Not everything is right. This a insult to Americans and the people who died on 9/11 and a Heroic Statue to the Muslim Jihadist. It says see the struggle continues and there are other ways to strike Jihad at the Americans, we may not be able to beat the Americans on the battle field but we can use their own laws and profit motives to defeat them in their country.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

The establishment of a mosque at ground zero has nothing at all to do with the free expression of religion. That is a canard being used by the Iman and others. People like Obama, Bloomberg and Phil Valentine are way off on this. This mosque is solely a Statue to the Muslim Jihadist who killed 3000 people and brought the towers down. Does anyone really believe that they could not find a a location that would not be so insensitive to Americans and still be central to there worshipers. ( if you don't I have some property in the everglades I would like to sell you). Obama and others are setting up a false bogeyman that Americans are trying to keep Muslims from free access to worship, Not true. At some point we as a people have to stop this madness of PC and Tolerance. Not everything is right. This a insult to Americans and the people who died on 9/11 and a Heroic Statue to the Muslim Jihadist. It says see the struggle continues and there are other ways to strike Jihad at the Americans, we may not be able to beat the Americans on the battle field but we can use their own laws and profit motives to defeat them in their country.

That's exactly what this about. It has nothing to do with the constitution. It has to do with a radical muslim

cleric and his organization having it there.

Other muslims agree that in deference to 9/11 and

the victims, it should be somewhere else, also.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jughead]

has he not made the comment that he would stand with the muslims if things got tough. i think i read or heard that a year or so ago. old memory fails me. please correct me if i am wrong.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

He may have said. I don't know, but I do know he is a liar by default. He will

say his stance, and when it goes the other way, watch what happens.

Nothing.

Maybe liar is too harsh for some young ears, so I will say "disingenuous".

[DaveTN]

This mosque is solely a Statue to the Muslim Jihadist who killed 3000 people and brought the towers down.

Exactly.

And that is why it won’t happen. Obama may think he is a King and doesn’t answer to anyone, but he doesn’t have enough political power to overcome the outrage of the American people when the families of those who died start speaking out.

It is truly a sign of his ignorance (and arrogance) that we should even have to have a discussion on such a ridiculous issue.

[Guest Letereat!]

Politicians will do anything for a vote, and if it offends the whole country to gain the endorsement of Muslims then our president doesn’t give a rip. What rubs me is that the solution is simple. When Mr. Sharia law decides he wants to build a mosque and goes to the Mayor and declares his intention, the reply should have been something like the following. “In the interest of solidarity between our two countries you can build your mosque wherever you like, and we will go to your country and build a Grand cathedral where Christians in your country may worship. Err uh excuse me….what was that Mr. Sharia law, you do not allow Christians or their houses of worship in your country. Come again…..as a matter of principle you are obliged to murder them in the name of Allah etc, etc.

Well Then u can kiss my American ass jack hole NO DEAL! NO Mosque!!!!!”

[Chief07]

has he not made the comment that he would stand with the muslims if things got tough. i think i read or heard that a year or so ago. old memory fails me. please correct me if i am wrong.

Yes he did say that. It was in his book "Dreams of my father".

He had to pander to his "Muslim Brothers".

What do we really know about this man? All his records and any

documents about him are sealed.:shrug:

[JG55]

Here is what President Obama said Friday night at the White House iftar dinner in front of a room full of Muslims regarding the Ground Zero Megamosque (GZM):

Recently, attention has been focused on the construction of mosques in certain communities - particularly in New York. Now, we must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of lower Manhattan. The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. The pain and suffering experienced by those who lost loved ones is unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground.

But let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. 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 will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are. The writ of our Founders must endure.

Obama carefully read his speech, including this statement. When he got to this passage, he spoke slowly, with some vehemence and condescension. Regarding these remarks, as the late, great William Buckley used to say, a few observations.

1. Obama's tone was not one calculated to persuade. He both hectored and belittled those who oppose the GZM. If you respectfully beg to differ with Obama, it is hard to like the persona Obama had on display Friday night.

2. Obama supported the GZM in his usual style, in which his position is juxtaposed with a straw man of his choosing. It is an unappealing rhetorical habit that is made even more unappealing when applied to an issue on which people of good faith obviously differ with him.

3. Obama's statement begs the question posed by the GZM. No one has questioned the right of Muslims to practice their religion the same as anyone else in this country. Rather, those opposed to the GZM have asked the proponents, among other things, to recognize and give way to the feelings of ordinary Americans that a mosque does not belong at Ground Zero.

4. Obama's remarks alluded to the right of private property involved in the construction of the proposed GZM. We haven't previously heard much about the right of private property from Obama.

5. Obama's remarks emphasized the First Amendment rights of Muslims in America. Gone was the living Constitution and the vaunted "empathy" that may impel right (left) thinking judges to depart from a fixed reading of constitutional rights. Whatever empathy Obama expressed for the opponents of the GZM, it was an empathy that had to give way in recognition of the First Amendment right of free exercise. Now if Obama would just take the same approach to the First Amendment right of free speech at issue in Citizens United, for example, he might want to issue an apology to the Supreme Court.

6. It's good for Muslims to build the GZM in New York, but not for Jews to build apartments in Jerusalem. Go figure.

7. In the remarks prefacing his formal speech, Obama recognized Rep. Andre Carson in the audience, who (along with Rep. Keith Ellison, whom he also called out) is one of the two Muslims in Congress. We are still awaiting the the enterprising journalist who can ferret out the branch of Islam that comports with the tenets of the Democratic Party on the equality of women, abortion, gay rights and all the rest.

8. By Saturday, in the face of the response his remarks engendered, Obama was backing off from his support for the GZM. He availed himself of the option of emphasizing the straw man he had addressed. We were to believe that he was only addressing the issue in the abstract. Both Friday's statement and Saturday's backtracking were remarkably unpersuasive.

9. Obama could have played a constructive role in resolving the deeply divisive issues raised by the GZM. Instead he chose to put on display his belief in his superior nature.

10. With great reliability Obama stands athwart the feelings of ordinary Americans. Indeed, he is a much more ardent defender of the faith of Musims than he is of the United States, of its history or of its people. Although Obama framed his GZM remarks as a citizen and President of the United States, he seems to think of himself less as a citizen of the United States than as a citizen of the world and less as president than as philosopher king.

In the 2008 campaign Obama presented himself as a healing if not a redemptive figure. For reasons that are almost completely understandable, many voters chose to believe in Obama's self-presentation. Belief in Obama's persona conflicted with voluminous evidence to the contrary that was there for anyone with eyes to see.

These voters who bought Obama nevertheless quickly saw through Obama's persona after the election. They now believe they were sold a bill of goods, and they are of course right. Obama's Iftar remarks suggest that Obama has no hesitation at all in reminding voters how he pulled one over on them.