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AMP Report – July 8, 2010
The planned Ground Zero Mosque
is now a campaign issue
The planned ground zero mosque – the Cordoba House - has become a full-fledged campaign issue — just days after a Quinnipiac University survey of 1,183 New York City registered voters found that most New Yorkers are opposed to it.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio, languishing far behind Democratic front-runner Andrew Cuomo, was first to seize it as a campaign issue. He is calling out his Democratic opponent about the Ground Zero mosque proposal.
In a letter he sent to Cuomo, Lazio cited press accounts that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who's spearheading the mosque's construction, is a "key figure" in an organization that funded the flotilla that sought to break Israel's Gaza blockade.
He also cited New York Post as reporting that Imam Feisal refused to acknowledge that Hamas is a terrorist organization.
Lazio demanded that state Attorney General Cuomo check the legality of the funding sources for the $100 million Cordoba House Islamic center planned near the site of the 9/11 terror attacks. He said that the background of funding sources for the construction of the Mosque is questionable.
The mosque has made headlines in the New York tabloids, with some vocal opponents but also some supporters who say it has a right to be at the site of the terror attack.
Cuomo, who has come out in favor of letting the project proceed, as have numerous city officials, put out this statement via AG's office spokesman Richard Bamberger: "Anyone who has evidence of wrongdoing should send it to us and we will review it."
Ironically, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has said there are no security concerns about this project.
"New York enjoys a reputation as one of the most tolerant places in America, but New Yorkers are opposed to a proposal to build a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero. Is it because we're still nursing the wounds from the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center or is it more like bigotry?" asks Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
There were some other interesting results of the poll conducted between June 21-28:
Opposition to the mosque is 56 - 31 percent among white voters, 45 - 34 percent among black voters and 60 - 19 percent among Hispanic voters. Opposition among religious groups is 66 - 22 percent among Jews, 66 - 24 percent among white Catholics and 46 - 36 percent among white Protestants.
Mainstream Islam is a "peaceful religion," 55 percent of New York City voters say, while 22 percent say Islam "encourages violence against non-Muslims." Another 23 percent are undecided.
A mosque near Ground Zero would "foster understanding and teach people that not all Muslims are terrorists," 42 percent of New York City voters say. Of this group, 68 percent support the mosque.
Another 42 percent of voters say the mosque "is an insult to the memory and families of 9/11 victims." Of this group, 93 percent oppose the mosque.
Here are some of the survey questions:
- Do you personally know anyone who is a Muslim, or not?
- Would you say you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of Islam, the Muslim religion?
- Every religion has mainstream beliefs, and also fringe elements or extremists. Thinking of mainstream Islam, do you think mainstream Islam encourages violence against non-Muslims, or is it a peaceful religion?
- How much of a basic understanding do you think you have of the teachings and beliefs of Islam, the Muslim religion? Would you say that you understand it - very well, fairly well, or not very well?
- How much have you heard or read about a proposal by a Muslim group to build a Muslim mosque and cultural center two blocks from Ground Zero - a lot, some, not much, or nothing at all? Do you support or oppose this proposal?
- Some people say that building a Muslim mosque and cultural center near Ground Zero will foster understanding and teach people that not all Muslims are terrorists; others say that it is an insult to the memory and families of the 9/11 victims - which comes closer to your point of view?
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