Aug 17, 2010 6:20am
George’s Must-Reads: Ground Zero Mosque Fallout
EmailMosque fallout. Reid distances himself from Obama. Did the Senate majority leader throw the "whole Democratic caucus under the bus"?
Surprise deadline for private security in Afghanistan.
Three-quarters of the oil isn’t gone from the Gulf? Wall Street Journal notes both assessments "are estimates based on incomplete information."
Flight attendants have a tough job. This doesn’t make it any easier.
Marathoners looking for more of a challenge. Impressive.
Obama: 'Now Is the Time For Common Sense Action' 
Romney Takes Aim at Conservatives
George, I am very disappointed by the negligent journalism who are partaking in. As you aired the story yesterday, your producer played the sound bytes of President Obama’s comments on the mosque. He did not backtrack – your writers keep using that word – but listen to your own videos. The only reason this has become national is because the media is misrepresenting what was said. Affirming a right exists and refusing to comment on the wisdom to exercise that right do not negate themselves. Come on George, don’t be part of this media ridiculousness.
Posted by: Alice | August 17, 2010, 7:15 am 7:15 am
When speaking to a Muslim group the President seemed to be supporting the building of the masque. But when the crap hit the fan he wavered. This is his style say what the group your speaking to wants to hear then spin it. Gutless and two faced!!!
Posted by: hkdakota | August 17, 2010, 7:23 am 7:23 am
ABC, other then this piece where’s the coverage on this today. No it’s more important to tell everyone about the Presidents Hollywood trip, after all you are Disney an entertainment company not a news agency.
Posted by: hkdakota | August 17, 2010, 7:26 am 7:26 am
I am glad that others feel like I do that this whole topic is media hype to make controversy where there is none. I am disgusted at ABC. Every news cast since last Friday – World News, Good Morning America every day all weekend started with this twisted version trying to make it political. Please don’t make me turn the channel. Stop manipulating the news. Too many people don’t think for themselves and believe you. It’s destructive and unprofessional. Please stop being part of the problem and start being part of the democracy. Obama, as our President, was trying to simply state the bottom line which is religious freedom is part of our foundation and we can’t forget that in the heat of emotions. It really disgusts me.
Posted by: moodyjudy | August 17, 2010, 8:06 am 8:06 am
I would like to know why this story has become such an issue. No one denies the sacredness of Ground Zero, but I look back at the bombing of Oklahoma City. Timothy McVeigh CLAIMED to be a Christian, yet we didn’t write off all Christians. Would we be throwing the same fit if a new church were going up next to the OKC site? We need to stop lumping all Muslims into the same category as those who are terrorists. Just because the terrorists claim Islam as their faith, doesn’t mean Islam promotes terrorism. We are a country that promotes the freedom of religion – it is our basis. If we start picking and choosing who can practice where, I fear what our country will become.
Posted by: Zoe | August 17, 2010, 8:20 am 8:20 am
The bottom line on this subject is that 90% of New Yorkers don’t want this mosque built. Isn’t that enough? I don’t live there but I certainly respect their wishes.
Posted by: Kathy | August 17, 2010, 8:26 am 8:26 am
First of all its not a mosque, its a community center. The framers of our constitution put in Freedom of religion just for this reason. So we would not be like the middle east. Either we have freedom of religion or we don’t. 2nd of all its not at ground zero. it blocks away and there is a mosque that has been closer to that location since before the twin towers were built and is still there and operating. If the GOP is all for rights of the constitution then how does this apply. Oh I know you want constitutional rights as long as the right agree with them.
Posted by: Macrose | August 17, 2010, 9:01 am 9:01 am
Personally I do not like the idea of the mosque being bult so close to ground zero. It stings my heart. BUT!! sometimes personall feeling do not count. I took the time to think about this and remembered.
We fought 2 world wars and many smaller wars and conflics over freedom and rights. Many many Americans died for these rights and freedoms.
So I may not like the planed mosque building site.—-LIKE IT OR NOT,THATS TO BAD SOME THINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY FEELINGS.
Barry Hughes
Posted by: Barry Hughes | August 17, 2010, 9:07 am 9:07 am
Obama’s comments continue to demonstrate the disconnect that Obama and his regime, including the government run lamestream media, have with the American people.
Posted by: Red, White, & Blue | August 17, 2010, 9:31 am 9:31 am
I don’t hear people objecting to the building of a Mosque but it is to the insensitivity of it being on the site they chose. This is the place of deep respect for those killed with the deliberate intent of annihilation
of American citizens in that place. This act of violence should not be rewarded with their building of Mosque anywhere they please. It should be a place of respect for the children, fireman,and men and women who lost their life. I wonder, would they allow us to build a Church ANYWHERE in their country and why not?
Posted by: Sylvia Castle | August 17, 2010, 9:45 am 9:45 am
If 90%of the USA population supports “slavery” should we allow it?
Posted by: Boris | August 17, 2010, 10:41 am 10:41 am
Some people here actually wonder why this has become an issue? Come out, come out from wherever you are. Regardless of what you folks feel about this Mosque issue, it is big. Maybe not you but seems so for 68% of America including me who lost friends that day. I know, I know that constituency is a collective ignorant herd and therefore summarily dismissed. As a Democrat, I only wish this were true but it isn’t. America was attacked that day and respect will be given. This I think is one of Obama’s last straws in our little voting block beginning with the hands off approach in the Gulf. We’re Democrats, not idiots.
Posted by: Tina Ferrer | August 17, 2010, 10:56 am 10:56 am
Talk about “rubbing salt in the wound”. Really people, could you be any more insensitive to the feelings of all the people that were killed in 911? I realize that we have have freedom of religion in this Country, but let’s use some common sense here.
Posted by: Rena | August 17, 2010, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
HDAKOTA…So you are a “mindreader…are you? And how do you know for certain that the President did not question the “wisdom” of the decision all along? But until his divisive critics “played their cynical game”…he just had no reason to bring it up? Or is that explanation…too much “commom sense oriented” for you? It is the politicians on the RIGHT who should ne vilified for pandering to emotions on this subject. Just like they did in Arizonas with the “immigration issue”. And you know why they do it? Because it consistently works on the narrow minds of the dumbed down electorate.
Posted by: CND FOX | August 17, 2010, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
America, If we do not let these people build this muslim/mosque community center we are headed in the wrong direction. This is a constitutional issue and not even the people of New York should make a decision on this.
The events of 9/11 is forever haunting me and just thinking about it brings great sadness. I didn’t lose a loved one but it broke my heart too. Do I blame all Muslims? No! We need to remember that the people who committed this crime were CRAZY!
Posted by: Michelle | August 17, 2010, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
Michelle…I agree with you except for one thing. Because Mayor Bloomburg is a wise man, he employed an ecumenical task force to participate in the decision to build the mosque. That was wise because he knew the “negative theatrics” the Republicans and the right wing narrow minds would employ to stop a progressive thing from happening. The people who live there made a good, wise decision. The rest of us inour nation…should repect that decision and just “butt out”. We have too many other “direct problems” that affect us all to focus on and improve upon. But it appears that one Party (Republicans/conservatives) just can’t leave it alone. And why niot? They have no solutions to our other problems. How pathetic they have turned out to be.
Posted by: CND FOX | August 17, 2010, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
No one would argue that Muslims have the right to build the mosque near ground zero, the question is should they? After seeing the reaction of the families and the community as a whole, I would think they would offer to move the site themselves purely out of sensitivity.
Posted by: Ed | August 17, 2010, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
This is a stupid issue. The foundation of the country is religious freedom. How long have the Muslims been planning to build this mosque? How long have they owned they land? Would they build elsewhere if they had an equal location? Has anyone offered to buy them out? Give us a break. Figure out a solution and quit playing into the hands of ignorant Republicans with these little sound bite either or issues.
Posted by: judyblueeyes | August 17, 2010, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
What other rights under the Bill of Rights can be denied if a majority of people think it is inappropriate or hurts feelings of other Americans? Would the NRA back down and limit the types of automatic weapons we can own because a majority of Americans have concern about people in their town having certain types of weapons?
Posted by: MikeMo1947 | August 17, 2010, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
Michelle,
Religious tolerance indeed. Could you also comment on the Greek Orthodox Church that Bloomberg and NYC are blocking? The original Church was closer to G-Zero than the mosque. It was lost in the attacks.Any comment on this?
Posted by: ZMan | August 17, 2010, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
Hear, hear judyblueeyes!!!
Posted by: izaura | August 17, 2010, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm
judyblueeyes…There was a solution provided by the mayor of NYC and an “ecumenical council”…and they decided it was OK to build there. But you are right in saying that it is a mess because of the republican politicians. However, instead of the adjective “ignorant” to describe the Republicans I would use “deceitful, pandering, divisive, negative or diabolical”. None of those are very positive are they? The Republicans do this to fire up people emotionally so that a proper resolution cannot be achieved. They know exactly what they are doing. Right out of the old Karl Rove playbook. But the “pathetic part” is that so many people “fall for it and are used to vote this type of “cynical political entity” into power. That is why I constantly post about the “dumbed down electorate”. Until the majority of our nation proves that they can actually “think and reason analytically and with common sense”, Republicans and conservatives will continue to use these deceptive, vile tactics. And as long as they are successful…our nation loses and gets further behind.
Posted by: CND FOX | August 17, 2010, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
I think that instead of building that Mosque people should get toguether to help the people of the flood in Pakistan… we do not need another building in NY. The victims of the flood need food. Use that money to help human beings in need!!!
Posted by: Cynthia | August 17, 2010, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
You know something has happened here in the news at abc I don’t understand. Newt Gingerich came out with one of the most idiotic, inflammatory, extreme comments (on “Faux News” concerning the “mosque”)..surprise, surprise…and yet I have seen no article on it to comment on it. Hopefully abc considered it “non-news newsworthy”. But I have chosen this blog to make mey comment. I think Joe Scarborough of MSNBC has it right. Newt wants to get in on the same type of “scam” that Palin is on. He wants to “sell books” to the conspiracy loving “dumbed down electorate” that has made Palin very rich. Makes me wonder how long the Republican Party is going to allow these two cynical morons to “associate” themselves with their tasrnished, tarnished image?
Posted by: CND FOX | August 18, 2010, 8:00 am 8:00 am
I feel there is a serious lack of sensitivity… and it will only go to toward more antagonism… and hatred.
Question: Hypothetically– let’s say a “group” of American Citizens… “The Baptist Bombers” hijacked 3 planes…. and flew them into the Great Pyramids in Egypt… yelling “ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS !!”… killing 3,000.
Now, the ‘Southern Baptist Convention’ decides they want to build a huge PLT-style complex–complete with the amusement park… place of worship…and all the other “amenities”….” in the shadows of where the Great Pyramids had stood”.
Do YOU Believe for One Minute that would be WELCOMED…. or even ALLOWED ???? (Even though all Baptists, or Christians were not involved !!)
Do the survivors and families of 9/11 need to hear the chants of “ALLAH AKBAR” (which the Terrorist yelled as they killed these people on 9/11 — it is a “praise”… AND a “War Cry”) … when mourning their loved ones at Ground Zero (The “Call to Prayer” echos over many blocks) ?? Would the ‘hypothetical’ Muslims at the ‘Bombed Great Pyramids’ welcome A Choir singing “Amazing Grace” ??
It cuts both ways…..
“Tolerance” is one thing…. rewarding bad behavior is yet another.
Posted by: Brenda | August 19, 2010, 4:02 am 4:02 am
George,
Watch GMA every morning, I have it taped just in case I wake up late. This morning you’re reporting on the story of the Mosque at Ground Zero and the Nancy Pelosi comment about the people that were in opposition to the Mosque and supporting an investigation as to where the money is coming from to fund this opposition. Why did you cover all this up with Dana Perino and Bill Kristol being the people that are ginning up this opposition? WHAT ABOUT HARRY REID???? DID YOU FORGET ABOUT HIM? He along with a number of Democrats has came out in opposition to this Mosque, is she going to start an investigation about Harry Reid’s involvement and where he is getting his money? You need to take another look at this story.
Jack Bunker, Davenport, Florida
Posted by: Jack Bunker | August 19, 2010, 8:57 am 8:57 am
Timothy Mcveigh was NOT a christian, tired of people getting that wrong! He was raised by his parents as a christian but as an adult he claimed to be atheist, which is why he wasnt afraid of execution, he didnt believe in Heaven or Hell!!!!
Posted by: Michelle | August 26, 2010, 9:03 am 9:03 am
This is my opinion and question that I cannot find the answer..Build a mosque your the boss. Why even consider after all the loss. America is home of the free and those are the people that don’t want it to be. We are divided by sea to shining sea I truely feel that is the way it was meant to be. America the beautiful and home of the brave seems the last thing on your list as we fill up the graves. Here we are BARAK off in Iraq fighting the War. I ask you to remember what for?
Posted by: Brenda | August 30, 2010, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm