Majority of Manhattanites for Mosque, So That Settles It, Right?

While yesterday's Marist poll found that 53% of New Yorkers oppose constructing the Islamic community center and mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, a closer look at the numbers reveals that Manhattan residents are solidly in support of the project. 53% of survey respondents in Manhattan—that island in elitist, unreal America where the thing will actually be built—are for the Islamic center, with 31% opposed and 16% undecided. Majority rules! And that's the last we'll hear of the mosque controversy; it's been a real blast, folks.

As a final coda, we'll note that Mayor Bloomberg distanced himself yesterday from Governor Paterson's proposal to move the Islamic center somewhere else on state property. Appearing at a press conference with the Governor by his side, Bloomberg told reporters the governor was free to offer the land but could "speak for himself. I’m just telling you, I’ve always believed the government should not be involved in deciding who you pray to, what you say, or where you say it." But in a rebuttal described as "long and meandering" by the Times, Paterson said, "We’re not talking about mixing church and state. I hope that the type of cultural understanding that they’re trying to promote when they build the center can be practiced right now."

Paterson also confirmed that he developer behind the project is not interested in building anywhere else. "I think that they would like to stay where they are," Paterson told reporters. "And I certainly respect that, and I certainly respect them. What I wanted to do is to have a conversation with them about how other people are feeling. We really are all victims, and perhaps we just need to understand each other." Spoken like a guy who's clearly not running for office this year.

Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Long Island) is campaigning for re-election, so he's joined the rest of his party in putting the substantive "Ground Zero" mosque issue front and center. The Daily News reports that he's been robo-calling voters in his district asking for their thoughts on the hot topic. The pre-recorded call begins: "This past week a vote was taken that brings us one step closer to having a mosque built in the shadows of where the world trade center once stood. But this fight is far from over..."

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By John Del Signore in News on August 12, 2010 10:34 AM

Comments [rss]

morristhewise

There are two opposing forces, one is against and the other for the construction of the mosque. The winner will be those that can wield the most power. Since the Mosque is in Democratic voting Manhattan which supported Obama in the presidential election, it will be built. Even the mayor of NYC realized this when he approved its construction. Those against it are mostly outsiders that have no influence in NYC politics.

John Del Signore

Bush didn't beat Gore, the Supreme Court gave him the crown by a 5-4 margin despite the fact that Gore won the popular vote. As for the topic at hand, I'm calling the spread between those in favor (53%) and those against (31%) solid, yes.

unretrofiedforu

I hate this f*ing shit. I say, if they dont like it, secede! CIVIL WAR.

fosiacat

sorry, im a bit late to the party... but... 3% over half is considered "solidly" ??

so you'd say that bush beating gore was a runaway victory then?

Thespis

"This past week a vote was taken that brings us one step closer to having a mosque built in the shadows of where the world trade center once stood. But this fight is far from over..."

Uh...no, it's over. At this point, the only things anyone could do to stop the center from being built are all unconstitutional.

It's over. The whining about it may not be -- particularly since a certain group of yahoos need this "issue" to help them get elected. But the "fight" is over.

blueglass

while it's true that we have gone to war, many times, to protect the freedoms in our country - with freedom comes responsibility. you cannot cry fire in a crowded theater.

the proposers of the mosque have totally disregarded the many real problems at the site. the 9/11/11 opening date, the resemblance to the now gone wtc buildings, the tremendous securitiy that will be needed 24 hours a day - and the hostility that has been generated here and will grow - that is totally ignored by the developers.

folks have a right to protest disruptive facilities in their neighborhood, including those of a religious nature if they will craete severe problems.

and where are all the moderate, peaceful moslems? are they afraid to voice their opinions because they might be killed by the funamentalist muslims that seem to have taken over?

most religions say that you must not worship any other god but they don't kill you if you have an opinion or wanat to leave that church. and, can a church or synagogue open in any islamic country?

fosiacat

i don't really even like the idea of the mosque that much.... but i still think you're an idiot, and every single "point" you make sounds like uneducated yet highly opinionated high school bullshit.

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

blah, blah, blah.

such drivel.

"we have gone to war, many times, to protect the freedoms in our country - with freedom comes responsibility"

groan. is that like what Uncle Ben said to Spiderman? I hate to tell you but wars are almost never fought for freedom or peace. you're very naive if you cant see that.

"the resemblance to the now gone wtc buildings"

you mean cause their a rectangular?

"the tremendous securitiy that will be needed 24 hours a day."

Security to protect them from who? Freedom loving Americans?

'folks have a right to protest disruptive facilities in their neighborhood"

but the people in the neighborhood SUPPORT the building.

"and where are all the moderate, peaceful moslems? are they afraid to voice their opinions because they might be killed by the funamentalist muslims that seem to have taken over?"

The only funamentalist I see are the people protesting this building. 99% of the volience in the middle east is being committed by US troops occupying two countries, or our ally occupying a third. 99% of all the wars of the last century were by non muslim countries. 99% of the crime in the world is committed in non muslim countries. Muslims countries have extremly low crime rates. Where are all these violent muslims?

"can a church or synagogue open in any islamic country. "

yes, there are churches and synagogues in almost every muslim country, save for the one, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Please for your own sakes...THINK for yourself. Stop talking and typing and THINK first. See the world as it is and not how you're being manipulated to see it.

JenChungsBaby

* With freedom comes the responsibility to tolerate others.

* The 9/11/11 date is bullshit, but no surprise you believe it.

* There will be no need for tremendous security.

* Hostility will not grow, it will die down as soon as the GOP and teabaggers move on to the next insubstantial talking point.

* Nobody's is questioning people's right to protest, so don't question other people's right to protest the protests.

* Why does it matter if there are churches in Saudi Arabia? Aren't we supposed to be better than them?

jibbly

Stop making sense! I hate when people make sense! It ruins all the fun! Graaahh!!!

hotstepper

"We really are all victims..."

gross me out. that statement really says volumes about contemporary America.

Sketto

Once again, New Yorkers send an important message to the frightened American heartland - fuck off. New York will continue to do as it wants, regardless of terrorism and regardless of opportunist politicians.

mdow

werd

JenChungsBaby

No shit, right? Go peddle your fear, hatred and ignorance elsewhere.

Julián

nearly 70% people are againts Ground Zero mosque, CNN says.

Sketto

Where are those 70% from?

Polite New Yorker

53% of Gothamist readers didn't think you guys could squeeze another post about the Ground Zero mosque so soon; they were wrong too.

thefacts

The only ones milking this are bigots, TeaBaggers, and right-wing Republican sleazoid politicians desperately seeking an issue.

This was a non-story until that motley crew made it an issue.

Polite New Yorker

Muslims have every right to build a mosque there, and attempting to use the government to stop it is wrong. But building a mosque near Ground Zero is insulting, tasteless and will not facilitate a greater understanding of moderate Islam. Smearing those who can see the foolishness of this enterprise as bigots, Republicans, etc. only exposes your own blindness.

handsomedevil

...insulting, tasteless...the foolishness of this enterprise..

How can you not see that your opinion is literally based on NOTHING but bigoted assumptions? You don't know jack about the center or the group building it. Simply saying over and over that "it's bad! foolish! impolite! pedantic! demogogic!" and any other meaningless adjective you can think of doesn't make it so. Use your brain.