House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a radio station in San Francisco yesterday that she supports calls to investigate the conservative opposition to Cordoba House, a proposed Muslim center to be built a few blocks from Ground Zero in New York City.
“There is no question that there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some, and I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque being funded,” she told KCBS. “How is this being ginned up?”
Pelosi’s comments on Tuesday came a day after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed a desire for the project to built “some place else.” Pelosi said she thought the decision should be a local one.
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Welcome To The Neighborhood? A Look At The Area Around The ‘Ground Zero Mosque’]
“In New York, I’m sure the New Yorkers would like to make their own urban development decisions themselves,” Pelosi said.
Listen:
(h/t Politico)
Late Update: Greg Sargent has obtained a statement from Pelosi’s office where she clarifies, sort of, her comments:
The freedom of religion is a Constitutional right. Where a place of worship is located is a local decision.
I support the statement made by the Interfaith Alliance that ‘We agree with the ADL that there is a need for transparency about who is funding the effort to build this Islamic center. At the same time, we should also ask who is funding the attacks against the construction of the center.’
For all of those expressing concern about the 9/11 families, we call upon them to join us in support of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act when Congress returns in September.
