Obama and the Mosque Near Ground Zero.

Sometimes I have to wonder just how much common sense President Barack Obama actually has. In many ways he acts as if his situation - viz a viz the attention he gets for the things he says and does - hasn't changed since the days before he became a household name. There was once a time when he could say one thing to one particular group while saying something different for another group. When he was Barry Obama, no one noticed, now, as President, the media latches on to every word he says no matter the venue. His recent comments on the mosque near ground zero tells me he hasn't caught on to that yet.

On Saturday, the New York Times reported that "President Obama delivered a strong defense on Friday night of a proposed Muslim community center and mosque near ground zero in Manhattan........"

During Friday's White House Iftar dinner, Obama used the argument of "religious freedom" to give Muslims the impression that he, as the NY Times headline read, "strongly backs Islam Center near 9/11 site".

On Saturday, after receiving criticism from all sides on this issue, Obama "clarified his statement" by saying that, of course, Muslims have the right to build a mosque where ever they like, but he said he didn't necessarily think building a mosque so close to Ground Zero was a wise thing to do.

Being a typical politician, the President does the typical CYA.

Michael Gerson opines that Obama may have been "hapless" but was right in his assessment.

According to their website, the programs at the Cordoba Initiative (the group behind the build of the mosque) "are designed to cultivate multi-cultural and multi-faith understanding across minds and borders. In the ten years since our founding, the necessity to strengthen the bridge between Islam and the West continues to prevail. Cordoba Initiative seeks to actively promote engagement through a myriad of programs, by reinforcing similarities and addressing differences".

Is building a mosque so close to where Muslim extremists killed thousands of people a way to "cultivate multi-cultural and multi-faith understanding across minds and borders"?

I have to agree with National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman who wrote,
"The better way for Muslims seeking reconciliation and moderation would have been for them to reach out to the families of the victims, who we are sure could have recommended any number of actions to achieve those goals other than the present plan."

In an effort to stir up the pot, so to speak, the NY Daily News points out that "Mosque gets all the press, but area near Ground Zero full of bars, porn, liquor stores, salons."

My fear is that, in the not so distant future, after the Muslim mosque and community center is built, some wacko, American terrorist will attempt to blow up the mosque. Then all Hell will break loose.