Obama Fights Islamophobia

President Obama used Friday's press conference to make an impassioned defense of Islam against the wave of intolerance sweeping over the country. Pointing out that there are Muslims in the armed forces, he said, "They are Americans. We honor their service." He also defended the Park51 Islamic Center in Manhattan. "If you could build a church on a site, you could build a synagogue on a site, you could build a Hindu temple on a site, then you should be able to build a mosque on a site," he said. "As someone who relies heavily on my Christian faith in my job, I understand the passions that religious faith can make," he added. "We are one nation, under God. We may call that God different names, but we remain one nation." He also praised former President Bush: "One of the things that I most admired about President Bush, was after 9/11 him being crystal clear about the fact that we are not at war with Islam." Elsewhere, he seemed to indicate that he would appoint Elizabeth Warren to head the new consumer-protection agency. “The idea for this agency was Elizabeth Warren’s,” he said, adding that he’ll “have an announcement soon.”