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Gillespie: Obama ‘Has A Very Disdainful View Of The American People’ On Muslim Center
Appearing on Face The Nation, former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie criticized President Obama’s remarks in support of the Muslim community center in New York. “I thought it was a revealing comment by the president. He said that the 70% of Americans who are opposed to this controversial imam building this mosque at ground zero are denying the freedom of Muslims in this country. That’s how he cast it,” Gillespie said. “It was said in the reporting this morning that he made a conscious decision to weigh in on it in that regard. I think it tells you that he has a very disdainful view of the American people. I think that’s why his favorability ratings have come down. People see that in him. There’s a kind of condescension towards them they don’t like.”

Kaine: Religious Freedom Is In The Constitution For A Reason
Also appearing on Face The Nation, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine stood by Obama’s remarks on the Muslim center. “I’m going with my Virginian, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson on this one. They put the religious freedom to worship in the First Amendment of the Constitution for a reason,” Kaine said. “This wouldn’t be a controversial if it was to build a synagogue or church. I’m not the New York zoning commissioner, don’t know the reason for this decision, but we can’t stop people from doing something that others could do because of the religion they practice.”

Nadler: ‘You Can’t Blame An Entire Religion’ For 9/11
Appearing on State of the Union, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), whose district includes Ground Zero, defended the right of Muslims to build a community center near Ground Zero, against attacks from conservatives. “The fallacy is that al Qaeda attacked us. Islam did not attack us,” said Nadler. He also added: “It is only insensitive if you regard Islam as the culprit as opposed to Al Qaeda as the culprit…Objecting to the mosque would be as objectionable if you wouldn’t object to a church or synagogue in the same place because that’s blaming all Islam and you can’t blame an entire religion.”

Peter King: 9/11 ‘Was Carried Out In The Name Of Islam’
Also on State of the Union, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) said that the 9/11 attacks were “carried out in the name of Islam,” and that 9/11 families have objected to the building of the Muslim community center. “The overwhelming majority of the 9/11 families are opposed to it, and they are good people, they are not bigoted, they are not biased … These people-the wounds are just being torn apart for them now and they are heartbroken over this,” King said. “And that is what I think the imam and the Muslim leadership should take this into account.”

Petraeus: ‘I’m Not Bowed Over’ By July 2011 Deadline
Appearing on Meet The Press, Gen. David Petraeus said that he “certainly” would tell President Obama if he believed the deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan by July 2011 should be dropped. “I’m not bowed over by the knowledge that July 2011 is out there,” said Petraeus, also adding that the date helped to provide a “message of increased urgency” to allies and Afghan leaders.

Jack Reed: No ‘Dramatic Pell Mell Withdrawal’ From Afghanistan
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) also predicted a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan, rather than a quick one. “I believe that you’ll see people moving out, missions changing, but I don’t sense immediately a dramatic pell mell withdrawal,” said Reed. “I think you’ll see a change based on conditions.”

Corker: Legislation Has ‘Created An Air Of Unpredictability’ For Business
Appearing on This Week, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) said that the rapid pace of legislation has disrupted businesses:: “At the same time, I think much of what we’ve done over this last year is create an air of unpredictability. And what’s happening is businesses are sitting on the sideline. They don’t know exactly what the lay of the land is. And I think the best thing we can do in Washington at this time is really just to calm down and quit changing sweeping — making sweeping changes.

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