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Al Franken: Conservative Criticism To Mosque 'Disgraceful,'

by nanute | August 19, 2010 at 10:35 am

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Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said on Wednesday that conservative criticism of plans to develop a mosque and Islamic community center in close proximity to "Ground Zero" in New York City is "one of the most disgraceful things that I've heard."

"I don't know how many of you have been to New York, but if a building is two blocks away from anything, you can't see it," he said, according to the State Journal-Register.

Franken saved his harshest criticism for Newt Gingrich: "The most offensive thing I've heard is from Newt Gingrich." 'We can't let the Nazis put up a building next to the Holocaust Museum," asserted the Democratic Senator. "That's equating all Muslims with Al Quaida. George W. Bush said Al Quaida is 'a perversion of Islam.'"

Franken added a little levity to the occasion by pointing out that the proposed community center would have a basketball court with "Muslim point guards." Critics will surely not be amused.

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YankeeJim

at 12:56 on August 19th, 2010

It is poor judgment for Muslims to build a mosque near ground zero. It surely does nothing to gain favor and brings out the worst of the worst of us.

nanute

at 13:22 on August 19th, 2010

It might be poor judgment. As a commentator on The Daily Show pointed out the other night, it would not be a good idea for the Catholic Church to build next to a playground. (It's too soon.)

Seriously though, if bullies are successful in forcing the owners of private property to give up their rights, where does it stop? The only way I would agree to moving the site was if I got public support from the every critic of my constitutional rights. Even then, I'm not sure I'd succumb to what I consider, borderline fascist behavior. Some people will never be satisfied, and there have been calls to ban all building of mosques in America. Xenophobia has a rich and sad history here at home.