Where Do Politicians Stand on the Ground Zero Mosque?
Wondering which of your political representatives is for or against the construction of the mosque close to Ground Zero? Here's a list of some of the notable politicians who have taken a stance one way or the other:
AGAINST:
- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R): On Monday, he compared the mosque planned to go up blocks away from Ground Zero in New York to Nazis protesting next to the Holocaust Museum.
- Rick Lazio (Republican Candidate for Governor of New York): On the Imam: "When he says that Osama bin Laden and all that he represents, including the execution of over 3,000 Americans, was effectively made in the USA, those are not the words of a bridge-builder or a peacemaker."
- Rep. Peter King (R-NY): "It is offensive to so many people."
- Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin (R): (via Twitter) "Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing."
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R): Though he represents a relatively heavily Muslim state, he rebuffed pleas from local Muslim leaders to back off his suggestion that the mosque would "degrade and disrespect" the Trade Center site.
- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R): Cited both "the wishes of the families of the deceased and the potential for extremists to use the mosque for global recruiting and propaganda" in opposing it.
FOR:
- Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I-New York): Opponents of the proposed construction of a controversial mosque just blocks from Ground Zero "ought to be ashamed of themselves" for opposing it, Mayor Bloomberg said this morning.
- Christine C. Quinn, City Council Speaker
- Scott M. Stringer, Manhattan Borough President
NO STANCE:
- Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)












