Does Obama's Endorsement Of The Ground Zero Mega-Mosque Become A Harbinger Of Defeat For Democrats?

From Bare Naked Islam:

Does Obama’s endorsement of the Ground Zero Victory Mosque become a Waterloo for Democrats?


As if their prospects for re-election in November weren’t grim enough…Democrats are reeling from Obama’s highly insensitive Ramadan endorsement of the 9/11 Victory Mosque at Ground Zero which more than 70% of the country opposes.

Once a Muslim always a Muslim.



Obama’s comments on the Ground Zero mosque have transformed an emotion-laden local dispute in New York into a nationwide debate overnight, setting nervous Democrats on edge and creating potentially dramatic political implications in the upcoming midterm elections.



Key Republicans had leapt to criticize Obama over his comments on the controversial plan, with House Republican leader John Boehner calling them “deeply troubling.”



And Democrats — at least the ones willing to comment at all — could barely contain their frustration over Obama’s remarks Friday night, saying they would further complicate campaign efforts by candidates struggling in an anti-Democratic year, particularly moderates in conservative-leaning districts who already are 2010’s most vulnerable contenders.



“I would prefer the president be a little more of a politician and a little less of a college professor,” former Rep. Martin Frost (D-Texas), who once ran the House Democratic campaign arm, wrote in POLITICO’s Arena. “While a defensible position, it will not play well in the parts of the country where Democrats need the most help.”







Obama has put Democrats from coast to coast in the tough position of having to weigh in on an issue they would rather duck. Prior to his speech, a few candidates tried with limited success to make the proposed mosque an issue outside of the tri-state area around New York City. Now any Democrat facing an election — less than three months away — can be put in the uncomfortable position of being asked to reject the president’s unpopular stand or side with him.







Few national Democrats rushed to embrace the president. An aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for instance, said she wasn’t immediately reachable for comment. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s spokesman also didn’t immediately offer a comment.



Empire State Democrats, known for being outspoken, stayed notably mute in response to Obama’s comments at the Iftar dinner, a community meal to break the fast during Ramadan. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is expected to handily win reelection, has not taken a firm stand on the issue despite weeks of prodding from reporters. There also was no statement from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, running for governor. (He has already endorsed the mosque)







Several New York Democrats either involved with members of Congress or strategists said privately that they are not happy about the speech because it puts them in a bind. A recent CNN polls found two-thirds of Americans oppose building the mosque in the neighborhood around Ground Zero.







Democratic aides say that the president has again knocked his party’s candidates off local messages and forced them to talk about a national issue that doesn’t appear likely to play well with important swing voters. The chief of staff to one politically vulnerable House Democrat said it “probably alienates a lot of independent voters,” and “it’s not a good issue to be talking about right now.”







He said he suspects “there are a lot of (Democrats) who are spooked in tough districts today” and “a lot of Republicans licking their chops right now.” POLITICO