President Obama must be frustrated. No matter what position he takes on the 13-story mega-mosque to be built next to the hallowed ground of the 9/11 terrorist attack (and he’s taken as many positions as possible), none of them seems to satisfy everyone.
Obama first came out four-square behind the mosque and the rights of the radical imam who wishes to build a monument to radical islam at the site of its greatest desecration.
Later, Obama clarified that he was only defending the constitutional right to freedom of religion, not the wisdom of building the mosque.
Then White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton, in a Saturday evening statement, said that this backpedaling should not be seen as backpedaling. Now even Harry Reid, a man desperately in need of political allies, has broken with the president’s position (whatever it currently is) to say that no mosque should be built at Ground Zero.
It prompts one to wonder what might have happened if all our presidents possessed Obama’s unwavering commitment to a principle.
Ronald Reagan hastened the end of Soviet domination of Europe with his challenge, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” Obama’s version might have added, “And we’ll use American taxpayer money to help you build a better wall.”
John F. Kennedy challenged a generation with, “We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and success of liberty.” Obama’s version might have added, “unless that means irritating state sponsors of terrorism or radical islamists, in which case we will roll over and abandon our long time allies.”
Franklin Roosevelt, to help Great Britain during the harrowing, early days of World War II, established the Lend-Lease program to supply aid to the Brits in their struggle against Nazi Germany. FDR said America must become “the great arsenal of democracy.” Obama might have added, “unless the Nazis win another battle, in which case we’ll plan a summit with Hitler and discuss plans for redecorating Buckingham Palace.”
Abraham Lincoln identified the purpose of the Civil War as ensuring that “this government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth.” Obama’s version would have added, “But we’d settle for a socialist utopia that will plunge us into unsustainable debt and worldwide ridicule.”
These amendments to famous presidential pronouncements are unthinkable to Americans who treasure their heritage and take pride in what this country stands for. President Obama will never understand such feelings, for he does not share them. He will never understand such people, for he is not one of them. And he will not be re-elected by such people, because, increasingly, they understand him all too well.
