Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has added his voice to those who are speaking out against the construction of a Muslim community center in downtown New York, close to Ground Zero, an issue that has become a major cause on the right.
During an interview on the Don Imus show today, Lieberman was asked what he thought of the project. “Well, I guess I’d say I’m troubled by it. But I don’t know enough to say it ought to be prohibited. But frankly I’ve heard enough about it, and read enough about it, that I wish someone in New York would just put the brakes on it for a while and take a look at this.
“If — obviously in our country we give a special status to people wanting to build houses or worship. And we don’t consider what religion it is. So that’s what we start with, and what makes this an awkward conversation. On the other hand, if the people building this large Islamic center are just looking to build a large facility and house of worship and center in New York, why so close to 9/11, with all the sensitivity associated with that? If they’re doing it so close 9/11 to try to bridge the gap and do outreach, as some have said, it obviously hasn’t worked, as a lot of the people who lost family and friends on 9/11 are unhappy with it and troubled by it.
“You know, I’ve also read some things about some of the people involved that make me wonder about what they’re involved in building this — make me wonder about their motivations. I don’t know enough to reach a conclusion, but as I said I know enough to believe that this thing is only gonna create more division in our society, and somebody ought to put the brakes on it, as I say. Give these people a chance to come out and explain who they are, where their money’s coming from, and see if they can reach out to some of the families of 9/11 victims, to see if they can put their minds at ease, because right now they’re not.
Lieberman’s remarks came shortly before the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to deny landmark status to the building currently on the site, giving the green light for the project to go forward.
(Via The Hill)
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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