This really infuriates me. CNN's Political Ticker is reporting that New York Governor David Paterson Called Rep. Peter King on Tuesday to tell him about his plans to meet with leadership of the planned midtown Islamic center "to discuss plans to move to an alternate site."
I had hoped that Harry Reid's declaration that the center should be build elsewhere was an aberration among prominent Democrats. I had hoped that, following the lead of President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg, they would say and do the right thing. Barring that, I had hoped that they would shut up.
This situation is not really that complicated. Building an Islamic center in midtown Manhattan, despite virulent opposition from people all around the country, is why there is a United States of America. The First Amendment means very little if we, as a society, spend more time figuring out ways to ensure that it does not apply to people we don't like than we do in defending its underlying principles.
Please consider contacting the Governor's office and reminding him about this.
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