The real reason GOP is obssessing on the Ground Zero mosque

08.16.10 - 5:00 pm | Sarah Phelan |

(4)

Daily Kos contributing editor Jed Lewison suggests that it's because the Republican Party has nothing else to contribute to the conversation, as the election nears.

It's an interesting theory.

As Lewison writes, "Despite polling that shows most Americans -- including Democrats and even many liberals -- oppose building a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, Republicans are making a big mistake in building their fall campaign around the issue, in the process handing Democrats a big opportunity.

"GOPers obviously believe that the symbolism of the mosque issue makes it ripe of exploitation," Lewison continues. "And it might be true that the mosque is the best issue they've got going for them, even if the public debate about it has been fueled by bigotry and false characterizations of the proposal. Nonetheless, their decision to exploit it says more about the fundamental weakness of GOP than it does about their political prowess."

"Here's why: the mosque issue is far less important than the economy, and every moment that the GOP spends focusing its message on the mosque provides Democrats with the chance to point out that Republicans are fundamentally unserious about doing what it takes to get the economy going again," Lewison concludes. "Every poll shows the economy is priority #1, #2, and #3, yet Republicans haven't offered a single economic plan other than to do nothing."

Politics

Comments

the obvious question here is

As a non believer and not a political true believer,

isn't it ironic that the right and left have changed sides again and have created so many anomalies to their self righteousness.

Intolerant lefties who love state power are calling for religious tolerance and property rights while shouter right wingers are upset that some religious cranks are going to build a temple of some sort.

I was watching the 700 club weeks ago and Pat Robertson was cheering that Moonbat Newsom was banning soda, the other day Robertson was bemoaning fellow believers building a mosque.

Lefties who try to ban all sorts of things from their neighborhoods for the good of others, and their self righteous bone are upset that some people don't want a Mosque built someplace.

The two ends of the spectrum and their fluid world views are so interesting.

Posted by matlock on Aug. 16, 2010 @ 6:42 pm

Redic

I will suggest that it is because if "we" were in their country, we would not get the time of day as regards "our" religious beliefs. However we are america and we are more open minded, so when we let "them" do what they do and when they do not integrate and when they get a political majority, which may be 100's of years away, they will not give us the time of day as regards "our" religious beliefs and will impose a tarriff to practice "our" religion.... I know, what I am saying is absolutly crazy.

Posted by Guest on Aug. 16, 2010 @ 11:34 pm

No Ideas? Stoke Racism!

The mosque is a non-issue. If you've seen the photo spread on Talking Points Memo of the 3-block area around the proposed spot for the mosque, unless you have X-ray vision you can't even see any sign of Ground Zero.

The Republicans are running with Islamophobia because they feel "Aiiieee! 9/11! Fear Islamic people!" will work once again for them electorally. But Lewison is right that this non-issue is a smokescreen for the Republicans' desire to try, for example, to privatize Social Security once again.

Posted by Peter on Aug. 17, 2010 @ 2:27 pm

Who is this racism directed at?

As there are millions of Muslims of all races who would this racism be directed at?

Was that post supposed to be an ironic take on left wing cliches?

Posted by matlock on Aug. 17, 2010 @ 2:50 pm

The Guardian Clean Slate 2012

End the death penalty -- Yes on 34. Yes (sigh) on B. Rizzo and Selby for D5 supervisor, Eric Mar in D1. Print this out and take it to the polls!