Michael Bloomberg...

[WillyT]

“Whatever you may think of the proposed mosque and community center, lost in the heat of the debate has been a basic question: Should government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on their particular religion? That may happen in other countries, but we should never allow it to happen here.

“This nation was founded on the principle that the government must never choose between religions or favor one over another. The World Trade Center site will forever hold a special place in our city, in our hearts. But we would be untrue to the best part of ourselves and who we are as New Yorkers and Americans if we said no to a mosque in lower Manhattan.

“Let us not forget that Muslims were among those murdered on 9/11, and that our Muslim neighbors grieved with us as New Yorkers and as Americans. We would betray our values and play into our enemies' hands if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else. In fact, to cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists, and we should not stand for that.

"For that reason, I believe that this is an important test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetimes, as important a test. And it is critically important that we get it right.

"On Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of first responders heroically rushed to the scene and saved tens of thousands of lives. More than 400 of those first responders did not make it out alive. In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked, 'What God do you pray to?' (Bloomberg's voice cracks here a little as he gets choked up.) 'What beliefs do you hold?'

"The attack was an act of war, and our first responders defended not only our city, but our country and our constitution. We do not honor their lives by denying the very constitutional rights they died protecting. We honor their lives by defending those rights and the freedoms that the terrorists attacked.

Link: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/08/03/mayor_bloomberg_on_mosque/index.html

:applause::applause::applause:

:kick:

[elleng]

1. Thanks for this, WillyT and Mayor B.

:thumbsup:

[WillyT]

2. You Are Quite Welcome !!!

:bounce:

:hi:

[BootinUp]

3. There were some intelligent Republicans once. nt

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Ironically, he switched from Dem to Rep to run for Mayor of NYC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg
A lifelong Democrat before seeking elective office, Bloomberg switched his registration in 2001 and ran for mayor as a Republican, winning the election that year and a second term in 2005. He was frequently mentioned as a possible independent candidate for the 2008 presidential election and fueled that speculation when he left the Republican Party in June 2007 to become an independent.<6> There was also speculation that he would run as a vice-presidential candidate.<7> Bloomberg did not, however, seek the presidency nor was he selected as a running mate by any of the presidential candidates.



but way back in the dim past...there were some really moderate repukes in NY politics...Charles Goodell, Kenneth Keating, Jacob Javits, John Lindsay

Of course by today's standards, James Buckley and even Rockefeller might be considered moderate.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. In general, I am not a huge fanof the Mayor..but in this instance, I am thrilled and impressed with

his stance. I agree with him 110% and am very proud that he and share this attitude.

[saltpoint]

6. Agree with others here that Bloomberg got this one

right and has done a lot of good.

When New York City's mayor says it's ok to build this building then the building should be built, not for the sake of putting something up but because of the reasons he offers.

[tilsammans]

7. I'm with Mike Bloomberg on this one n/t

[Historic NY]

8. This is a NY issue and outsiders should just butt out...its not even at Ground Zero.

Bloomberg is right on the issue.