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Giannoulias Supports Islamic Cultural Center Near Ground Zero
IL-SEN candidate Alexi Giannoulias
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Democratic Illinois Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias has come out in support of the Cordoba House project near Ground Zero in New York City, the Associated Press reports.
"Are we going to talk about tolerance, talk about freedom of religion or are we actually going to practice it?" Giannoulias said today at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.
Giannoulias said Tuesday during a visit to the Illinois State Fair in Springfield that Americans must stand up for freedom of religion even when it's difficult.He says he sympathizes with those who lost loved ones in the attacks, but pointed out that includes Muslims and some emergency personnel at the disaster were Muslim.
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[TPM SLIDESHOW: Welcome To The Neighborhood? A Look At The Area Around The 'Ground Zero Mosque']
Giannoulias is in a close race with Republican Rep. Mark Kirk for the Senate seat once held by President Obama. The TPM Poll Average for the head-to-head match-up in the race shows Kirk barely ahead, 40.6%-40.5%.
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ogliberal
August 17, 2010 1:50 PM
"Are we going to talk about tolerance, talk about freedom of religion or are we actually going to practice it?"
Ex-fucking-zactly. It's that goddamned simple and that's all any Democrat should have to say - not fucking qualifiers, not "just not her"...just say what he said.
He's just doing the right thing, of course. But other Dems should take notice - it's not as if Giannoulias isn't in a tight race and you can be sure Kirk is going to go full on wingnut with this issue.
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ogliberal
August 17, 2010 1:55 PM in reply to ogliberal
Oh, wait. I gave Giannoulias too much credit. He's tied to Tony Rezko - that's where he got all his money. He doesn't want to offend his Muslim financial backers.
Wait, what's that you say? Tony Rezko is a Syrian Catholic. Ah, no matter...all of those Ay-rabs are the same anyway - stab you in the back first chance they get no matter what religion they follow.
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It's Pat
August 17, 2010 2:05 PM in reply to ogliberal
I got this.
In third grade, Guillianos was good friends with a kid of Muslim descent. I heard Alexi even went to this kid's house after school, played football, traded baseball cards and and Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Dreamcast.
However, some are asking was that all there was...? Alexi spent time in a Muslim-American's living room. What did they talk about? Were they plotting terrorist acts???
Now I'm not saying Alexi was involved in the 911 attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. However those are questions that need to be asked. Why hasn't Alexi addressed these accusations?
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Joekuh
August 17, 2010 3:11 PM in reply to It's Pat
Because Faux News hasn't brought them up. YET.
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tytester
August 17, 2010 4:03 PM in reply to It's Pat
And, yes, we need a hearing in the Senate sub-committee on homeland security.
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mcc
August 17, 2010 1:57 PM
This may lead to mosques being built near ground zero in Illinois
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chimpale
August 17, 2010 1:57 PM
Gutsy move, Giannoulias. And absolutely the right thing to do. He should be getting some positive feedback in the way of contributions for this.
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It's Pat
August 17, 2010 2:06 PM
Fantastic response.
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Tamim
August 17, 2010 2:54 PM
I posted this elsewhere because I want everyone to read it.
I recommend everyone watch Keith Olbermann's exceptional special comment, quoting Neimoller.
What is happening to Muslims in America by the intolerant right-wingers is JUST, PLAIN WRONG.
Tolerance and appeal to American Constitutional values of freedom to worship is one thing, but that shouldn't even be said...IT IS WRONG plain and simple to DEMAGOGUE, DEFAME, DEHUMANIZE an entire religion and its followers.
Eerily reminiscent of Nazis did to the Jews (in the dehumanizing aspect not outright genocide of course) before launching their pogram, justifying their wars against THOSE FILTHY OTHERS.
No they're not fully German, they have their own parallel religious laws (read Sharia), they want to take over the country, check out their "finances."
The Republican cowards who feed on hate, rely on division, appeal to fear and bigotry aren't any different from the great demagogues of history. These are the same "pro-life" neocons who supported the invasion and butchering of Muslim Iraq, support Israel at all circumstances, and want to launch a third front against Muslim Iran.
Anyone who would support them should surely realize although Muslim Americans may not be as powerful politically to hurt their lust for power-grab, history will not be so kind.
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georgecs
August 17, 2010 4:14 PM
The fake conservative outrage over this issue can best be summed up as:
"If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none."
-- Ray Bradbury, "Fahrenheit 451"
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August 18, 2010 10:24 AM
I hesitate to bring the Nazi word into this, but I just finished watching "The Mortal Storm" about the rise of Nazi Germany and some who stood up to it. You wouldn't think watching a 1940 movie about Nazis would be frightening, but I was scared witless by the end. Interesting times we live in.
Good for Alexi - it was the right thing to do.
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