Should Obama have voted "present"?
From a shrill Reuters article, here are some remarks President Obama made tonight regarding the mosque being proposed near Ground Zero:
"As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country," Obama said to applause at an event attended by diplomats from Islamic countries and members of the U.S. Muslim community."
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," he said, weighing in for the first time in a national debate that has grown increasingly heated in recent weeks.
I'm always happy when folks who were silent on, say, Kelo (or who have a horrible track record on eminent domain -- such as Mayor Bloomberg) make a nice defense of property rights. But is the debate really about whether the folks behind Cordoba have a First Amendment right to build on this site?
From speaking with and reading critics, it always seemed to me the debate was over whether they SHOULD. Maybe he did address that but Reuters and other outlets failed to mention it.
In any case, I'm curious what some of the political fallout might be. A president like our previous one probably could have -- surprisingly enough -- reassured or united the country by coming out in favor of the mosque proposal. Somehow I don't really see that happening in this case.
Will the 70% of folks who oppose the mosque wish that the President had taken a different approach? Will this become a more partisan and more heated battle? Or will this calm everything down now?
- Comment (13)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments :
May '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
A little while ago I got a push notification on my phone with this "breaking news". I stared at it for a good 10 seconds in disbelief. I am at a complete and utter loss in understanding Obama and his administration. It is as if they were consciously and deliberately trying to undermine a majority of Americans at every opportunity. However, the problem is that the majority of us are not consumed with post-modernism. In the real world, our world, there is objective truth. In our world, it is possible that something may be completely legal and within someone's rights, but be completely wrong to do at the same time. No one is arguing that they cannot build the mosque at ground zero. A sense of decency and morality argues that it is not right to build at that location. Just as it is their right to want to rub salt in our wounds it is our right to resist such provocation.
Jun '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
That does it. I am definitely starting a safety glasses franchise. Obama sticks his thumbs in the eyes of Americans so often, this will be a can't miss opportunity.
Upon hearing Obama's mosque announcement, my wife, who is not very politically active, asked me how much longer until he is no longer President. Two and quarter very long years. I never thought he was this stupid. Immigration, Michelle's trip to Spain, and now the GZM endorsement...I think he is cracking up.
Aug '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
For me, Obama's pronouncements change nothing, as they are exactly what I would have expected from him -- or indeed from any politician desiring to ingratiate himself with the "international community" (and Obama himself has told us he finds this ingratiation important).
Of course, as you say, the issue isn't whether they have the right to build Park 51 -- clearly they do -- but whether it's a good idea. But any politician too cowardly to ask whether or not this project is a bad idea is naturally going to frame this as simply a rights issue, and nothing more.
However, maybe this debacle presents an opportunity to build consensus on eminent domain abuse. Kelo was rare in angering purists on both left and right. If someone could point out to the pro-GZM crowd that eminent domain could now be employed to deprive Imam Faisal et al of the right to build, perhaps more leftists would see Kelo's injustice.
GZM gets publicity, but the silent ravages of eminent domain abuse in this country have got to be magnitudes worse. Supposing the GZM crowd has aided terrorists, Kelo's unsung damage would probably still be even worse.
Jun '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
What I want to know is if he supports the Gay bar next to the Mosque???
Jun '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
This move is going to be the last straw for a lot of folks. Obama's poll numbers will now tank to levels not seen since polling began. He's crossed the Rubicon. And to do so ten weeks before an election just boggles the mind.
Aug '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
There can no longer be any doubt that Obama is an agent provocateur whose purpose is to sow strife, anger, dissension, and discontent. Is he not the very definition of an extreme narcissist, and perhaps a malignant one? He's a destroyer, not a creator. It was all there for everyone to see when he proclaimed, "We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America!"
Then there was Michelle, early on, saying, "Barack won't allow you to go back to your ordinary life.... we will have a new history...."
He has succeeded in becoming the daily focus of the news, and strives to become the axis of our lives, a state dictator. All his programs and ideas have collapsed, and if it were not for the wounded pride of his supporters, who find reality just too painful a thing to admit, he would have 20% approval.
He's calculating that a civil war will benefit him, and that's all that counts.
Jun '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
Excellent, as usual, statement by Debra Burlingame, an acclaimed and outspoken member of the families of 9/11 victims. Her brother was a pilot on one of the hijacked planes. It actually encapsulates this entire discussion.
http://tinyurl.com/26m8bva
Jun '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
Ok, try this:
http://stopthe911mosque.com/2010/08/14/911-families-stunned-presidents-support-of-mosque-at-ground-zero/
May '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
Come on people, Obama's just trying to build bridges here. And as part of the opening ceremonies--on the tenth anniversary of 9/11--he'll encourage them to waft the call to prayer throughout the ground zero site, just to drive home the love.
Jun '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
I shouldn't say this, because I care very deeply about respecting the office of president in our great republic. But the thought of its current caretaker giving a moralizing speech at the 10th anniversary remembrance ceremonies turns my stomach.
May '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
Ditto, Jim.
May '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
Hmm, evidently President Obama was for the mosque before he was against it before he was for it?
It's currently 9:22 p.m. Central Time, Sunday August 15, 2010. Any word on President O's current position?
May '10
Re: Should Obama have voted "present"?
Don't worry Jim, odds are President O will just send a video. Unless there are funds to be raised or quail eggs stuffed with caviar to consume.