Bloomberg Defends 'Ground Zero Mosque'

Are you listening, Sarah Palin? New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered a stirring defense on Tuesday of the so-called Ground Zero Mosque that has conservatives up in arms. He said, “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.” After reminding his audience that many Muslims died on September 11, he went on to say, “Muslims are as much a part of our city and our country as the people of any faith. And they are as welcome to worship in lower Manhattan as any other group.” At The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg also offers a provocative defense: “Bin Laden wants a clash of civilizations; the opponents of the mosque project are giving him what he wants.”