9/11 families and GOP's Boehner, Palin react strongly to Obama's support of a Ground Zero mosque

The political lines are now drawn, as President Obama obviously intended Friday when, unsolicited, he used the occasion of the Muslim Ramadan holiday and a White House dinner to insert himself into the emotional New York City mosque controversy.

The Democrat's speech endorsed the idea of a mosque and social center in Lower Manhattan near the ground zero of 9/11, drawing it as an issue of religious freedom, beyond sensitivity to the deadly occasion's impact on the nation or families involved.

As usual, we posted the White House text of Obama's Ramadan Iftar dinner remarks in full right here.

Today, as the president enjoyed another family vacation in Florida, the fervent reactions began.

They came from an organization of families who lost loved ones on 9/11 and from House Republican Leader John Boehner. The Ohio representative's brief full statement on the president's stance is below:

The decision to build this mosque so close to Ground Zero is deeply troubling, as is the president’s decision to endorse it. The American people certainly don’t support it.

The fact that someone has the right to do something doesn’t necessarily make it the right thing to do. That is the essence of tolerance, peace and understanding. This is not an issue of law, whether religious freedom or local zoning. This is a basic issue of respect for a tragic moment in our history.

Additionally, 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America issued a strong statement, also published in full below.

In it, Debra Burlingame, the group's cofounder and sister to the slain American Airlines 9/11 pilot whose plane was crashed into the Pentagon, says in "a breathtakingly inappropriate setting the president has chosen to declare our memories of 9/11 obsolete and the sanctity of Ground Zero finished."

(UPDATE: Exclusive podcast Burlingame interview now with Tammy Bruce here.)

"Barack Obama," the group adds, "has abandoned America at the place where ...

... America's heart was broken." The full statement is below:

Barack Obama has abandoned America at the place where America’s heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see.

Since that dark day, Americans have been asked to bear the burden of defending those values, again and again and again. Now this president declares that the victims of 9/11 and their families must bear another burden. We must stand silent at the last place in America where 9/11 is still remembered with reverence or risk being called religious bigots.

Muslims have worshiped in New York without incident both before and after the attacks of 9/11. This controversy is not about religious freedom. 9/11 was more than a “deeply traumatic event,” it was an act of war.

Building a 15-story mosque at ground zero is a deliberately provocative act that will precipitate more bloodshed in the name of Allah. Those who continue to target and kill American civilians and U.S. troops will see it as a symbol of their historic progress at the site of their most bloody victory.

Demolishing a building that was damaged by wreckage from one of the hijacked planes in order to build a mosque and Islamic center will further energize those who regard it as a ratification of their violent and divinely ordered mission: the spread of Sharia law and its subjugation of all free people, including secular Muslims who come to this country fleeing that medieval ideology, which destroys lives and crushes the human spirit.

We are stunned by the president’s willingness to disregard what Americans should be proud of: our enduring generosity to others on 9/11 – a day when human decency triumphed over human depravity. On that day, when 3,000 of our fellow human beings were killed in barbaric act of raw religious intolerance unlike this country had ever seen, Americans did not turn outward with hatred or violence; we turned to each other, armed with nothing more than American flags and countless acts of kindness.

In a breathtakingly inappropriate setting, the president has chosen to declare our memories of 9/11 obsolete and the sanctity of ground zero finished. No one who has lived this history and felt the sting of our country’s loss that day can truly believe that putting our families through more wrenching heartache can be an act of peace.

We will honor the memory of our loved ones. We will protect our children, whose lives will never be the same. We will not stand silent.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin bluntly asked Obama:

Mr. President, should they or should they not build a mosque steps away from where radical Islamists killed 3000 people?

Please tell us your position.

We all know that they have the right to do it, but should they? And, no, this is not above your pay grade.

If those who wish to build this Ground Zero mosque are sincerely interested in encouraging positive "cross-cultural engagement" and dialogue to show a moderate and tolerant face of Islam, then why haven't they recognized that the decision to build a mosque at this particular location is doing just the opposite?

Related Items:

Obama supports mosque near Ground Zero of 9/11

Barack Obama issues special Ramadan message to the Muslim world

Republican (Insert any name here) defeats Obama in 2012, new poll reveals

-- Andrew Malcolm

Don't miss any Ticket commentaries or texts. Click here for Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item. Or follow us @latimestot. Our Facebook Like page is over here. Also available here on Kindle now.

Photos: Associated Press (Obama speaks at Ramadan Iftar White House dinner Aug. 13); Associated Press (Burlingame).

Comments

[TeamTeam]

I propose that the house next door to Sarah Palin occupied by author Joe McGinnis be torn down so we can re-locate the mosque to Wasilla. It can't be any worse than the all male ex-convicts who lived there for 4 years and she never complained about that.

[Bob in Seattle]

Nice recap of some astonishing facts.

[Robert]

obama:
bows deeply to saudi king
supports the Victory Mosque at Ground Zero
is taking down America's missile defense
and is wrecking the economy.

whose side is he on?

[yoohoo]

Hey, just go on vacation and have a ball. That's his answer to everything.

Rome is not burning down.

[George Sarkisian]

President Obama has repeatedly shown he cares little for what the majority of Americans wish for. He is advancing his socialist agenda and Islamic leanings. Barack is a one termer and he knows it. Therefore he must create as much chaos and destruction before he is either voted out or impeached.

[Gaius Baltar]

This blog post is misleading. It strongly implies that most, if not all, of the 9/11 families oppose building the mosque. Yet AP reports otherwise from Asbury Park, NJ--home to many of the families. AP reports that--

"Some relatives of people killed in the Sept. 11 attacks say they are glad to hear President Barack Obama saying that America's commitment to religious freedom must protect plans to build a mosque near grand zero.

"Colleen Kelly lost her brother Bill Kelly Jr. in the attacks. The Bronx resident
says Obama's statements Friday are in line with America's values.

Kelly is Catholic, but on Saturday she called the mosque 'in many ways ... a
fitting tribute.' 'This is the voice of Islam that I believe needs a wider audience. This is what moderate Islam is all about,' she said.

Opinions are mixed among family members of Sept. 11 victims.

Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son was killed at the World Trade Center,
has said the president's comments show 'a gross lack of sensitivity to the
9/11 families and to the people who were lost.'"

9/11 Families Divided Over Mosque Near WTC (AP, August 14, 2010).

Further, the organization cited in the article, 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America, appears to be associated with the worst of the far right. Right on its home page is a link to the notorious SS defender Michelle Malkin.

Other associations of the families of 9/11 victims have either taken no position on the mosque, or support it. This includes Families of September 11 and the September 11 Families Association. The September 11th Families for a Peaceful Tomorrow, supports building the mosque.

"May 20th, 2010

"New York – Today, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a nationwide group founded by family members of those killed on 9/11 issued the following statement, which may be attributed to their spokesperson, Donna Marsh O’Connor:

"September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows strongly supports efforts to bring an Islamic Cultural Center to lower Manhattan, near the Ground Zero site. We believe that welcoming the Center, which is intended to promote interfaith tolerance and respect, is consistent with fundamental American values of freedom and justice for all.

"We believe, too, that this building will serve as an emblem for the rest of the world that Americans stand against violence, intolerance and overt acts of racism and that we recognize that the evil acts of a few must never damn the innocent."

Is this article and its insinuation that one group linked to the far right yet another example, as if Shirley Sherrod wasn't enough, of the media falling for the hype the conservative noise machine?

[Wesley]

I wish the media would ask the same questions Sarah Palin just asked. Americans have a right to know!

Do you job, media!!!!!

[tom brady]

let them build a mosque, or islamic "community center", when they allow a catholic church to be built in mecca

[Jana Peterson]

Palin is a racist idiot. First of all, terrorists come cloaked in all kinds of religion . Timothy McVey was a CHRISTIAN. 62 Muslims died on 911, they had families and places of worship that loved them too. The hate mongering C should also remember that Jesus, her Lord and Savior came from the same place as all those "terrorists" who have the nerve to build a place to observe their religion in a country built on the backs of foreigners.

[smokehouse]

Obama is a despicable human being and I use the word human being lightly. He continues to poke his muslim finger in our eye every day, even having his corrupt AG file suit against American citizens. Is there nothing this piece of filth won't do?

[Z]

america no longer stands for democracy or freedom - it stands for HYPOCRISY.

and we wonder why the world doesn't like us.

[gerry]

In “Audacity of Hope” he writes: “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” The quote comes from page 261 of the paperback edition of “The Audacity of Hope.

[Peteyk]

Obama is an illegal muslim alien. He should be deported, along with his overweight wife. Where is Vera Baker now?

[Advocating for illegals and in your face Muslims]

Gov. Palin ,in a few simple sentences has surely put our dogmatic pres. check
mate.When the good people ask that feds stop the flow of illegal immigrants, through his attorney gen.he sues the state of Arizona and equates a state law just
about identical to fed. law to racial profiling...the worst accusation you can
hurl at your political ennemies.And then invoking religious tolerance he sides with the'' agents provocateurs''against the legitimate opposition of everyday
americans to an unbecoming establishment of an islamic complex that has no
place on ground zero.The subliminal message beeing that opponents are
religious bigots.The ultimate aim is to depict all opposition to the current
admin. and democrat congress as racist and bigoted.

[John]

Can't wait until November. Time to turn this jerk into a lame duck, then finish him off in 2012.

[Age Giranagya]

ground zero is a monument to all those who suffered and endurd the hardships of 9/11 to take it away is one thing but obama is pretty much spitting on the faces of all Americans who waved the AMERICAN flag to honor those who were victims that day. This is the outcome of America's mistake but America we should have learned by now. Everyone makes mistakes lets not make this one again. this so called AMERICAN president needs to reevaluate his morals.

[Sylvester Perone]

John Boehner, Debra Burlingame and the gorgeous Sarah Palin have collectively articulated in clear, lucid language the voice of the people which is the voice of God Himself. Only their love for this land of the free and home of the brave that we call America could have motivated them. Only God in His infinite wisdom could have inspired them to demonstrate such courage without fear or favor. Please include also the statement of Congressman King (when the Republicans give us back our government as per the results of this upcoming November elections, King should replace Slavish Pelosi as Speaker of the House).
Yes, Dubya, We'll always remember. We'll never forget! God bless America!

[Rod]

Jana: No. Terrorists don't generally come from all religions. During the week of the Fort Hood murders by a Muslim US Army officer turned terrorist, 21 other islamic terrorist incidents happened around the world killing over 70 innocent people that you never heard about---just another weeks work for them. No, the majority of muslims aren't terrorists, but the vast majority of terrorists are muslims---that's a FACT! You need to do your homework on Islam and the Koran so you can get in touch with reality about that ideology---it's not a religion like we know religion. They don't think like we do, they don't have the same base values that we do and they don't mean what they say--they're trained that way. Check it out for yourself.

[Jim Nagle]

Jana, Timmy McVeigh was in no sense a Christian, and clearly and repeatedly denied being one. He was an atheist, who said "Science is my god." Time to drop the McVeigh-as-Christian canard.

[ucfengr]

If "patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel", what are baseless cries of racism?

[Del]

I am appalled that so few politicians are willing to reveal their thoughts on this issue whether in opposition to the building of the mosque or in support of it. It is no wonder that our countryis being destroyed from within . . . . the majority of our elected officials have no guts, no courage, and no principles they are willing to defend if doing so increases the risk of defeat at the next election. What cowards! Someone referred to this as the "Victory Mosque". How appropriate.

[Estarcatus]

>Palin is a racist idiot.

One wonders *why* she is a racist idiot for asking these questions.

>First of all, terrorists come cloaked in all kinds of religion . Timothy McVey >was a CHRISTIAN

Oh. Did Mr. "McVey" kill those federal workers to advance the radical Christian agenda? If you believe this, please explain why.

>The hate mongering C...

So *she* is the "hate mongering C". You don't say?

[Jerry]

Liberals spat on our vets when they returned from Vietnam, cheered when the Islamic terrorists flew planes into the Twin Towers, and now support the Ground Zero Mosque.

I hate liberals.

[Kevin Ryan]

This article is false.

Many 9/11 families support the renovation of the mosque.

The LA Times should be ashamed of this propaganda and religious bigotry.

[BobinFL]

Jana: Timothy McVeigh was an atheist. Stop spreading the lies that he was a Christian. Plus, you're missing the point. Suppose you were right, and McVeigh was a "christian". Suppose further that "christians" -- up to 10% of them -- believed in the violent overthrow of the US government, subjugation of non-"christians" under onerous and religion-specific taxation called jizya, and the imposition of barbaric codes of justice including amputations for petty theft, stoning for the merest accusation of adultery, and the relegation of women to the status of chattel slaves. Now, suppose those "christians" had celebrated in massive demonstrations of support worldwide for the Murrah Building bombing.

These "christians" would have a right to build a new church on the site of the Murrah Building, if someone were foolish enough to sell it to them. But would it be RIGHT? Would doing so encourage "understanding" and "cross-cultural dialogue"? Especially when these "christians" had a 1000-year history of building new churches deliberate on the holy sites of displaced religions and secular victories, as a symbol of their conquest of the subjugated and defeated peoples?

Hell no.

[harkin]

The left who drooled all over Obama's support for the ground zero victory center on Friday now are strangely silent when on Saturday he did the DC two-step and said he would not offer any opinion on the wisdom of the obvious islamic provacation.

In other words, Barry said "hey I didn't endorse it, I only voted present"

[R.I.P. GOP]

My heart goes out to all the right winged extremist republicans who are finding it increasingly difficult to opress the minority of their choice . Times are becoming hard. From limiting their ability to harrass and detain non-anglo Americans to subjecting their highly fragile marriage foundations with the acceptance of equall rights for same sex couples. And now this, freedom of religon. What in God's name are people thinking? Please, we must stop the insanity! There must be some group, some collection of peoples whose rights they can trample.

[Al]

This bit pretty much says it all:

" Those who continue to target and kill American civilians and U.S. troops will see it as a symbol of their historic progress at the site of their most bloody victory."

Does anyone really, truly dispute this?

[skoksvalley]

We are guaranteed the right of religious freedom, not the right to limit religions. I wonder why no one was opposed to a monument of Christ being built next to the Oklahoma bombings? Tim McVey claimed to be Christian. The truth is there are radicals on all sides. Muslims also died in the Towers. Maybe the building of a mosque is offensive to some, but why promote more strife? It seems that many of my Christian brothers and sisters are on the edge of blatant racism and hatred of other religions. I am truly sorry for those who lost their loved ones, but promoting hate against other people (people who did not commit this atrocity) shows a lack of compassion and moral responsibility.

[skoksvalley]

After reading more of the posts, I must comment on how ugly the debate of political parties has become. Does anyone honestly believe that our leaders or political candidates of either party are looking out for the "peasants"? I had hoped that change would come and it hasn't. I am disallusioned with our options,I guess I will flip a coin or pick the lesser of two evils during November.
I would also like to say that Ms. Palin had nothing but negative things to say about a true patriot, Mr. McCain. I do not agree with many of his views, but he served our country and is a war hero. I have no faith that someone who promotes hate and has nothing but negative comments can save this country.If she would "cut" on him what does that say about her?
Man our politicians are pathetic!!!!!!!

[Barry Hussein]

Once again, Obozo is trying to give with one hand and take away with the other. In Saudi Arabia they would chop his hand off for such thievery. In the US they just give you a pension. I suggest he retire to Kenya early and start collecting immediately.

[Larry Linn]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.."
Case closed.

[Gary]

BHO, a real dilettante, thinks he is making a constitutional argument. The Consitution prohibits government from making laws establishing religion and does not prevent citizens from opposing the building of a structure, nor would it sanction all of the people who want to show how open-minded they are by criticizing the opponents of the mosque.

[siena browne]

What are you talking about here?

obama:
bows deeply to saudi king

As a diplomatic gester it is customary to bow, in Saudi Arabia.

gwb is on the record as having kissed on the mouth, and held hands with Saudi heads of state.

supports the Victory Mosque at Ground Zero

What is the Victory Mosque at ground zero?. There is no such thing.

is taking down America's missile defense
where do you get your information, glen beck?

and is wrecking the economy.
you mean the one that gwb already wrecked from 2006 to 2008?
Or giving tax cuts to 1% of the wealthiest including himself and his friends?
Bush started the tarp, and the bank bailouts...or did you forget OR not know that?

whose side is he on?
Obama is on my AMERICAN SIDE.

Posted by: Robert | August 14, 2010 at 03:43 PM

[Patrick]

*revised*

Hang on a second:

Is this country not founded on the fundamental separation of church and state?

As a conservative, do you WANT Obama's government involved in city, state, and local affairs? I thought you WANTED him to stop his government takeover of our freedom.

As a liberal, do you WANT to maintain the U.S. Constitution, and practice the tolerance you hold so dear?

If you answer yes, let me ask you this:

Does the president have the right to determine where buildings get built?
Does he have the right to tell someone where they can or cannot build their church?

Quite frankly, this issue is none of the business of the executive branch of the federal government.

It seems the very same conservatives that are bent on "taking back their country" and "preserving the Constitution" are the predominant force behind the idea that the President should, some how, make sure that this building doesn't get built. WOW. That's a a paradox of all sorts.

They say Obama is "taking over healthcare," they say he isn't even a citizen. They say he is a socialist and a Marxist.

I guess he would be if he came right out and said, uh, "You CANNOT build your Mosque / Community Center at the old Burlington Coat Factory. I do not like it, and it must be forbidden." But he did not say this. He said the opposite. He shouldn't have said anything. It's none of his business.

Don't you guys get it? This is none of the president's business.

Whether you, or I, or anyone else likes it or not, these people have the RIGHT to build this center. Who here suggests that the President TAKE AWAY that RIGHT???? If you DO, move to a country where there are actually dictators and give it a try. If, and when you get back, let me know how it went. Until then, I will stay here, with my religious freedom, regardless of how I feel about other religions, and regardless of how they feel about mine.

"I disagree strongly with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." -Voltaire

[Verballistic]

Moderate MUSLIMS are disagreeing with Obama too...

Two Muslim women from Muslim Canadian Congress oppose the LOCATION of the Ground Zero mosque & say it is a DIRECT PROVOCATION.

From Ottawa Citizen:

"Of course Islamic terrorist groups are endorsing the Ground Zero mosque...President CLINTON designated them as terrorist & Obama administration has NOT changed that terror designation.

Imam Rauf SUPPORTS Hamas, which is dedicated to the DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL & establishment of a GLOBAL ISLAMIC CALIPHATE, where EVERYONE will be ruled by Sharia Law.

But MODERATE MUSLIMS are ALSO OPPOSING THE LOCATION of the GZ mosque:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/story_print.html?id=3370303&sponsor=

"New York currently boasts at least 30 mosques so it's not as if there is pressing need to find space for worshippers. The fact we Muslims know the idea behind the Ground Zero mosque is meant to be a deliberate provocation to thumb our noses at the infidel. The proposal has been made in bad faith and in Islamic parlance, such an act is referred to as "Fitna," meaning "mischief-making" that is clearly forbidden in the Koran. "

"If Rauf is serious about building bridges, then he could have dedicated space in this so-called community centre to a church and synagogue, but he did not. We passed on this message to him through a mutual Saudi friend, but received no answer. He could have proposed a memorial to the 9/11 dead with a denouncement of the doctrine of armed jihad, but he chose not to."

[Mike]

Do you people here screen ANY of the comments?

Some of them are over the line hate speech. I guess that hate is the new American political currency.

(AM responds: Sure do. But then you wouldn't see the ones that don't get through.)

[Inugomontoya]

Robert and George -- for sure you are not the side of America -- we Americans are tolerant and agree with Ms. Kelly who supports the Mosque and lost relatives on 911. You need to stop disgracing your country and live our values, not those of bigots and the rest of the Teabagger America-haters.

[Svein Magnussen]

I support the President, and I think he's a good President. But he is like prior presidents, a human who can and will make mistakes. I hope he's wise enough to turn around. The right of all to practice their religion has also to include muslims.
Another case is if it is right to build a mosque so close to ground zero.
I would imagine that if it was the opposite spoken we'd have riots all over the muslim world. Think about the reaction on the danish cartoons!
After all it was muslim fundamentalists who destroyed the twin towers. I also remember the dancing in the streets in every muslim country. They celebrated. Where were the so called moderate muslims to stop the extremes? They are pretty silent.
It may be that the President spoke of the right of all to practice and if it comes too close to our feelings, then we might not like this equality. It's the price we have to pay living in democracies. But I think we have to learn to separate those things, the right to practice and the right to build religious symbols right in the wounds of others. Lets tell the muslim communities that they should back out, they should understand.. they should stay away from so close to ground zero.
Respect those who died from muslim atrocities....

[Barry Hussein]

Building such Mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero must surely place joy in the hearts of all America hating, left wing loonies who wish nothing more than to remove every sign of America's greatness. Crying "racist" and "teabagger" will only damage their campaign to remove the memory of the crime at WTC.

[Certified Public Accountant]

Have to say did not see this one coming

[Owen Byrne]

I wonder how far it is from the site of the Oklahoma City bombing to the nearest church?

[blackone]

I don't care who worships whom or how.

What I do care about is the fact that Afghans and Iraqis are now coming here and are now FULLY QUALIFIED to receive food stamps, SSI, medicare, HUD (priority, I am sure, like the Jews who come here from Eastern Europe and are immediately given available housing), and a free education, tax paid for "community centers" (according to a March, 2010 directive) like Mexicans and Africans, while veterans and AMERICAN CITIZENS risk arrest for sleeping in the parks and in their cars. Probably about 60%-70% or more of these emigrees are filching off of OUR hard-earned money.

[Cami in Portland]

Anyone calling Obama filth, an illegal muslim immigrant, ect or rudely talks about "beign done with him" is a fool. An idiot. I did not particularly like Bush as our president, but I never talked about him like that.

What happened on 9/11 was horrible, and it has created a painful wound in American history that has not yet, and never will, fully heal. But it is not the worst thing that has happened in the world, and for some reason Americans only seem to care about Americans, but not about the millions of people dying from genocide and war in third-world cuntries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There are 5 million orphans in DRC alone. Orphans who have watched their parents murderd. Orphans who have seen their father shot, their brothers stabbed, and their mother's leg sawed off with a machete. Americans are not the most important people in the world. There is harship, horror, sadness, death, evil, terrorism, and corruption all around the world, and the only way to overcome it is for all of humanity to join hands and fight together, no matter their race or religion. And building a mosque at Ground Zero is a step towards that. I do not believe that mosque will energize terrorists and make them believe they have succeeded. Instead it will show them the ALL Americans are uniting together. This mosque will show that Americans understand that Islam is not a violent religion. It is in fact an extremely peaceful religion. It will show that Americans understand that it is the people who have created a twisted interpretation of the Koran that are creating evil and destruction in the world, not all Muslims. It will show that even after the horror of 9/11 Americans are staying together. They are not alienating certain races or religions. It is a symbol of strenght. All Americans are joining together, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Jews, EVERYONE, to protect ourselves, to fight terrorism, and to show the world that we are one. Insulting Islam, burning the Koran, are acts that will energize terrorists. They feed on violence and anger, and if we continue to insult muslims, they will use it against us. Peace is the only weapon to fight them. All religions have their corruption and evil, but it does not make that religion evil. The Catholic Church definitely does not have a pretty history, but we would not object the construction of a church anywhere in the US. That is because we know that the thing that happened in our past were twisted interpretations of the Word of God and not really what the religions says. Islam is the same. So why are we being racist and objecting a mosque?