Legal Commentary

The New GOP Political Trap: The "Ground Zero Mosque"

By Big Tent Democrat

Over the past few days, the "ground Zero Mosque" - as the Wingnuts have christened it (irony intended), has been the Beltway BIG STORY. President Obama has spoken on it (not poorly imo, but unnecessarily.) He has clarified statements he made on Friday on the subject. Today, Harry Reid decided to wade in:

The First Amendment protects freedom of religion. Senator Reid respects that but thinks that the mosque should be built some place else," said a statement from Reid spokesman Jim Manley.

Why Reid gave this statement is beyond me. Who cares what Harry Reid (or Barack Obama for that matter) think about where the Cordoba Center should be built? This is a matter for the owners of the property, and, if necessary, the courts. It is true that NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave a good speech in support of the Cordoba Center, but Bloomberg is the Mayor of New York and probably won't be in any more political campaigns anyway. More. . .

Other pols, like the President and Reid, will be in campaigns in the future, and being pols, they did what pols do once they decided to speak - they put their fingers in the wind. In this case, the damage done is less than usual as there is absolutely no role for the federal government on this issue and no votes will be swayed because of this issue.

Activists, on the other hand, have an important role is shaping the debate and, where necessary, defending constitutional rights. If anyone tries to stop the Cordoba Center, then the First Amendment will be violated and then it becomes a matter for the courts. The role of activists is clear here.

The role of Democratic pols, apparently, is to fall into every obvious trap the Republicans set for them. So, instead of discussing issues like GOP hatred of Latinos, GOP demands for tax cuts for the rich, and GOP indifference to the plight of working Americans, they are instead discussing the building of the Cordoba Center, an issue they have no power over and for which they have nothing worthwhile to say.

The Democrats are proving again that not only are they inept at governing, they are incompetent at politics.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 16, 2010 (boomark / email).