Well that was fast.
President Barack Obama on Saturday sought to defuse the controversy over his remarks on plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero, insisting that he wasn’t endorsing the specific project but making a general plea for religious tolerance toward all.
"In this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion,” Obama told reporters Saturday when asked about his remarks at a White House dinner marking the start of Ramadan.
“I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there,” Obama continued. “I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding.
In other words, “I’m not sayin’ it’s right. I’m not sayin’ it’s wrong. I’m just sayin’…” Kind of like he did on the issue of Officer Crowley arresting Professor Ga…er…ahem. Yes, well.
For the 4,267th time, nobody is debating whether or not people can build houses of worship on their private property. The question is whether a mosque belongs at the 9/11 graveyard. President Obama’s answer?
“Next question, please.”
Thank you, O Fearless Leader.
UPDATE: How do you know a politician has done something incredibly stupid? When they defend it like this:
"This is more important than candidates and elections," said one senior White House official.
"The truth is something [Warren] probably prefers not to confront. Harvard doesn’t come calling just because you’re a smart lawyer and a terrific teacher — not with Warren’s modest, Oklahoma upbringing and non-Ivy League education. She is not your typical Harvard professor. At a certain point, when the law school was under pressure to promote diversity, she represented a three-fer: a great lawyer with a national profile, a woman, and a minority, at least by virtue of family lore. "
-- Joan Vennochi
