8/18/10 - UPDATE 1: Speaker Pelosi has sent out a statement regarding her comments on investigating those who she believes may be funding the opposition to the mosque:
SEE RELATED:“The freedom of religion is a Constitutional right. Where a place of worship is located is a local decision.
“I support the statement made by the Interfaith Alliance that ‘We agree with the ADL that there is a need for transparency about who is funding the effort to build this Islamic center. At the same time, we should also ask who is funding the attacks against the construction of the center.’
“For all of those expressing concern about the 9/11 families, we call upon them to join us in support of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act when Congress returns in September.”
“I support the statement made by the Interfaith Alliance that ‘We agree with the ADL that there is a need for transparency about who is funding the effort to build this Islamic center. At the same time, we should also ask who is funding the attacks against the construction of the center.’
“For all of those expressing concern about the 9/11 families, we call upon them to join us in support of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act when Congress returns in September.”
———
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, called for an investigation of those who are protesting the building of the ground zero mosque on Tuesday. She told San Francisco’s KCBS radio:
“There is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how … this opposition to the mosque is being funded,” she said. “How is this being ginned up that here we are talking about Treasure Island, something we’ve been working on for decades, something of great interest to our community, as we go forward to an election about the future of our country and two of the first three questions are about a zoning issue in New York City?” (h/t Kristinn)
Calls to investigate the funding for those proposing the $100 million “Cordoba House” have fallen on deaf ears, though, as New York’s Mayor Mike Bloomberg has described such an investigation as “un-American.”
Ms. Pelosi called the ground zero mosque an “urban development decision” for New Yorkers to work through. Her remarks happened on the heels of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, parting ways with President Barack Obama on the issue. Mr. Reid suggested the mosque should be built somewhere else.
In the meantime, Ms. Pelosi is hitting the ball back to New Yorkers to deal with.
“I think everybody respects the right of everyone in the country to express their religious beliefs. ..The decision, though, as to how to go forward in New York, is up to New York,” Ms. Pelosi explained. “I look to my colleagues in New York. Some of them have different views on the subject. It’s up to them to work it out.”
New York Governor David Paterson, a Democrat, is offering to speak with mosque proponents about finding another site for the mosque, but the mosque developer has rejected that meeting with the governor, according to reports. The 13-story planned Islamic center would sit about two blocks from where the World Trade Center buildings once stood.
Follow me on Twitter: @KerryPicket
Please read our comment policy before commenting.