Posted on 08/16/2010 9:05:16 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
CBS's Schieffer: Obama Right 'Intellectually' on Mosque, Just Bad Politics By Kyle Drennen Created 08/16/2010 - 11:40
Bob Schieffer, CBS Appearing on Monday's CBS Early Show to discuss President Obama showing support for a controversial mosque being built near Ground Zero, Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer agreed with the President's sentiment but lamented the political fallout: "The President said and made the right intellectual argument, but I'm not sure that it was great politics for him to say it at this particular time."
Schieffer began by outlining White House talking points on the issue to substitute co-host Erica Hill: "The story they tell is the President thought this Ramadan dinner – these were dinners that were started after 9/11 by President Bush as an outreach to demonstrate that our problems are with terrorists, not with people who are Muslims – he thought this was an appropriate place to say what all Americans believe, in that everyone has a right to practice their religion in this country." Schieffer later added: "I would agree with the White House."
At the same time, both Hill and Schieffer fretted over the political fallout, particularly Republican criticism. Hill teased the segment at the top of show by declaring that Obama's "apparent defense of the proposed mosque at Ground Zero has Republicans howling." Schieffer remarked: "Republicans are trying to take every advantage of this they can."
Continuing to worry about the political impact of the President's comments, Hill asked: "And this could feed into the criticism of this current administration, that this is an administration that is out of touch, that is, in many ways, seen by folks across the country as being elitist. Is that what you're hearing?" Schieffer replied: "Yes. Well, that's exactly the spin that Republicans are trying to put on it, is that – you know, that the President's not paying attention."
Earlier, Schieffer described the anxiety of Democratic candidates: "But the response to this has, even from some Democrats, has been, 'why did he have to say it at this particular time and about this particular site?' 'Yes, intellectually that is the correct argument,' they say, 'but is it entirely appropriate at this very special place, to try to link a Muslim worship center with this 9/11 ground?'" He later added: "...a lot of candidates around the country are saying, 'look, with the economy in the shape it's in, we need all the help we can get. And we really wish the President had not said this.'"
Here is a full transcript of the August 16 segment:
7:00AM ET TEASE
ERICA HILL: Political firestorm. President Obama launches a five-state political blitz today but his apparent defense of the proposed mosque at Ground Zero has Republicans howling.
ED ROLLINS: First, Bob, it was probably the dumbest thing that any president has said or candidate has said since Michael Dukakis said it was okay to burn the flag.
7:01AM ET SEGMENT
ERICA HILL: First, though, we do want to get you to this. President Obama heading to Wisconsin this morning. The purpose of his trip, though, could end up taking a backseat to the controversy over the building of a mosque in New York City. CBS News chief White House correspondent Chip Reid has the details.
CHIP REID: The President heads out this morning on a three-day cross-country trip. He'll be talking about the economy and raising money for fellow Democrats. The White House hopes this trip will help change the topic after a weekend of controversy over the President's comments about building a mosque near Ground Zero.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Obama & The Mosque; President's Comments Could Derail Economic Message]
The First Family spent a quick weekend on the Gulf coast of Florida, swimming, mini-golfing and boating. The visit was intended to highlight the fact that on most of the Gulf Coast, the water is clean and the beaches are open. But the President's own comments over the weekend overshadowed the trip. Speaking at a White House dinner Friday celebrating Ramadan, the President waded into the already deepening political controversy over whether to build a mosque two blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks in New York City.
BARACK OBAMA: Let me be clear, as a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country.
REID: Saturday, the President seemed to back off from his initial comments, saying that while Muslims have the right to build the mosque, that doesn't mean they should.
OBAMA: I was not commenting, and I will not comment, on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there.
REID: White House officials insist the President is not backing down from his original statement, but some Republicans say the White House is trying to have it both ways.
PETER KING [REP. R-NY]: The inference or the clear impression everyone came away with is that he was saying he was supporting the mosque at Ground Zero. And he can parse it later on, and sort of back away, but the fact is, that is clearly the impression, I believe, he wanted to leave.
REID: The White House says the President has no regrets about his comments even though they turned a local issue into a national debate. Traveling with the President, Chip Reid, CBS News, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
HILL: And joining us from Washington now is CBS News chief Washington correspondent and host of Face the Nation, Bob Schieffer. Bob, always good to have you with us.
BOB SCHIEFFER: Thank you, Erica.
HILL: We know and you know, of course, from talking about this on your show yesterday morning, the firestorm that these comments have ignited, and really, shots coming from both sides. So, why would the President, especially in this time when Democrats are really fighting to hold control of Congress in November, why make these comments at this point?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Obama & The Mosque; Will Comments Impact Midterm Elections?]
SCHIEFFER: Well, that's just the question I asked White House officials and some people in the administration last night. The story they tell is the President thought this Ramadan dinner – these were dinners that were started after 9/11 by President Bush as an outreach to demonstrate that our problems are with terrorists, not with people who are Muslims – he thought this was an appropriate place to say what all Americans believe, in that everyone has a right to practice their religion in this country.
But the response to this has, even from some Democrats, has been, 'why did he have to say it at this particular time and about this particular site?' 'Yes, intellectually that is the correct argument,' they say, 'but is it entirely appropriate at this very special place, to try to link a Muslim worship center with this 9/11 ground?' And clearly, Republicans are trying to take every advantage of this they can.
Now, what White House officials say is, 'look, this next election is going to be about the economy. It's not going to be about whether they should build a mosque at Ground Zero.' But a lot of – a lot of candidates around the country are saying, 'look, with the economy in the shape it's in, we need all the help we can get. And we really wish the President had not said this.' The White House will say, 'if you do the right thing, the politics will take care of itself.' Clearly, there are some Democrats who are worried about that, though.
HILL: They are a little worried. And this could feed into the criticism of this current administration, that this is an administration that is out of touch, that is, in many ways, seen by folks across the country as being elitist. Is that what you're hearing?
SCHIEFFER: Yes. Well, that's exactly the spin that Republicans are trying to put on it, is that – you know, that the President's not paying attention. What really bothers some Democrats, though, is that when the President gets into something like this, when he makes a statement like this, it elevates it to a national issue and every single Democratic candidate running for office is now going to be asked about it and will now have to take a position on something that they were hoping they would be able to say, 'this is just a local issue. It's up to the folks in New York to decide what to do about this.' Yes, I would agree with the White House. The President said and made the right intellectual argument, but I'm not sure that it was great politics for him to say it at this particular time.
HILL: Bob Schieffer, always good to have you here. Thanks.
SCHIEFFER: Thanks, Erica.
Another tired, old lib who should be put out to pasture.
Another senile old coot.
The MSM's disconnect from outside the beltway sentiment may be what saves us ultimately.
The above bit is meant to show Republicans as "politicizing" an issue. What it ACTUALLY does is show that Republicans are in touch with the average American's sentiment on this issue, while the MSM and White House are doing their bloodless Vulcan thing.
Dems and MSM are completely disconnected from their humanity, and live in this world where what they THINK they should believe controls them.
It AINT JUST REPUBLICANS howling!
The Left is basically down to sadism towards “real America” to maintain the illusion of power. But also going for them is the “Respectable Conservative” faction who makes a living cowtowing to the crazy Left.
Perhaps we need to put the debate in a context the Progressive Fascists Media machine can understand.
What would be your reaction Democrat Party activists pretending to be Journalists, if the Aryan Nation wanted to build and office for their organization next door to the hotel in Memphis where MLK Jr was assassinated?
Schieffer and his crowd can't see that. They are stuck in a Nixon-era mindset, where Republicans were rich overweight white guys, and the independents were more liberal. They've been insulated in DC for so long they think that the ONLY people who could possibly be against their progressive BS are cliched Republicans. Couldn't possibly be moderates or even Democrats.
Miserable ruling class Libtard.
And its pinning ignorant americans against each other...us vs. them.
That's the ENTIRE problem - Obama and the left are making intellectual arguments in a situation that screams out for hard-nosed pragmatism - they refuse to face the reality that Islam as commonly practised is not compatible with our Constitutional Republic.
But then again, that's the core problem with the far left anyway - they engage in intellectual arguments that exist in defiance of real-world experiences.
Since the Left has no grounded sense of morality or values, they understandably get this wrong.
My religion teaches me to weep with those who weep. It also teaches me to be truthful, not to steal, and not to plot for the destruction or oppression of others.
Legally, Muslims have every right in the world to build the mosque. Schieffer, my Mother and Dad taught me very clearly that, just because something is legal, that does not make it right. Did your Mother and Dad not teach you the same thing?
It is the wrong thing to do because it offensive to so many in our country, it taunts, ridicules and insults those who lost loved ones and friends in the attack (as well as those who were injured and traumatized), it is deceptive in its intent (feigning the intent for encouraging brotherhood and good will while heralding their incremental triumph in destroying and conquering our nation and culture).
My friends, they do have the right. But building the mosque so close to the attack site is every bit as evil as the attack itself.
LOL.
As long as we let the left define the terms used in any debate we are going to lose. They milk every dishonest tactic from Saul Alinsky (may his maggot ridden body never be at rest) such that the debate is rigged from the get go.
Only religions get religious protections from the 1st Amendment and that protection is freedom OF religion not FROM religion HOWEVER we automatically just accept the left’s assumption that Is-Slime is a religion.
Is a cult which DEMANDS you kill or enslave non-believers a religion or a hate cult like the KKK? (other religions have discarded their savage past yet Is-Slime basks in the evil that is in the comic book for retards the koran.
Is a cult which DEMANDS you kill someone who leaves the cult a religion or a hate cult?
Is a cult which DEMANDS you behead those who speak, write, draw anything negative regarding the “religion of filth” a religion or hate cult?
There is no HATE CULT protection in the first amendment.
Note to CBS’s advertisers and affiliates: Y’all really need your collective heads examined.
You could almost respect Obama’s desire to hilight religious tolerance, IF there was a single example since he has been President of him EVER making a comment about ANY Christian or Jewish religious group which was being discriminated against.
I have NEVER heard Obama stand up for Christian values, for Christian tolerance, or to defend Christian or Jewish rights.
You can find Schieffer in any dictionary under “clueless”.
Most people do not recognize that what happens in a mosque is sedition. Pure and simple. Islam is not just a “religion”, it is a cult, it is it’s own government, its judicial...is in its sharia, and its military (jihadis) all rolled into one with one intent ...and that is to rule wherever they take root. It is a invasive, systemic infection looking to take over the host once it has quantum.
This is not just a “religion”, but something that cloaks itself in those terms so it should not be given the same treatment contemplated under the first amendment. It’s rules are to consume whatever government is wherever it goes. To supplant and replace.
The sooner America learns this , the better.
Obama? Obama and Company? Should be tried for treason in this issue for promoting the establishment of a foreign government on our soils.
If NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) tried to build a recruiting center at 9/11 would Obama be for the homosexual center? Yet, Obama is all for an organization that rapes 6 year old girls.
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