# Dear Media, Obama did not "walk back" his Mosque comments **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 16, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448 "2010-08-16T20:16:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/1 "2010-08-16T20:16:51Z")
Dear Media, Obama did not “walk back” his Mosque comments. His original comments were tha he supported the consitutional right of them to build a Mosque. You folks mis-reresented that as saying he supported the Mosque. He re-iterated that he did not say that, he said he affirmed their right, but had no opinion on the 'wisdom" of it. This is not a reversal at all. You fucking idiots. Sincerely, Someone with critical reading skills. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/2 "2010-08-16T20:23:32Z")
I must be naive, because I don’t understand how this is even a thing. Don’t ever let anybody tell you that ignorance and prejudice is confined to the Deep South, we apparently have it up here in oh-so-sophisticated and cosmopolitan New York City too. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/3 "2010-08-16T20:27:13Z")
What the fuck. Isn’t taking a ‘walkabout’ an _Australian_ thing? You know who else was from Austria? WHERE’S THE BARF CERTIFICATE?! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/4 "2010-08-16T20:35:53Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > You know who else was from Austria? Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/5 "2010-08-16T20:56:30Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > I must be naive, because I don’t understand how this is even a thing. Don’t ever let anybody tell you that ignorance and prejudice is confined to the Deep South, we apparently have it up here in oh-so-sophisticated and cosmopolitan New York City too. Most New Yorkers support the mosque, or so I’ve read. I can’t believe the idiocy I’ve been reading on this today, though, on Facebook and a certain blog I can’t look away from. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/6 "2010-08-16T21:24:19Z")
I’m completely baffled as to why an otherwise savvy guy with a lot of political astuteness, who is surrounded by people even more savvy than he is would come within a hundred yards of the subject. What the fuck was he thinking? The righties must be stunned by their good fortune. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/7 "2010-08-16T21:31:48Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Most New Yorkers support the mosque, or so I’ve read. I’d have to see a cite before I believed that. But yeah, Obama should STFU about this subject. It’s a no win for him. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/8 "2010-08-16T21:33:41Z")
It’s just the 24 hour news cycle. Where news is not reported so much as it is manufactured. Lots of time that has to be filled by the talking heads, with something. If you can get a controversy going they can feed off it for days. Which they have, all saying variations of the same thing then arguing about the details among themselves. Every statement by a president, doesn’t matter who is president, is dissected for every tone, inflection, wavering, partial statement, to see if they can get a story out of it. Obama probably would have been better to not have readdressed the issue to clarify his statement. To the media that was a sign of weakness and they jumped on it. The clarification becomes a new story that can go on for more days. Lack of a clarification would have become another story to explore. Usually some new story pushes the issue aside and it disappears. During a slow news week the media will feed on the issue until the carcass is leather. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/9 "2010-08-16T21:35:08Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m completely baffled as to why an otherwise savvy guy with a lot of political astuteness, who is surrounded by people even more savvy than he is would come within a hundred yards of the subject. What the fuck was he thinking? The righties must be stunned by their good fortune. Who knew that the First Amendment was so controversial? I’m baffled that anyone can argue with the constitutional right of any religion to build a temple/church/etc. anywhere that they own the land and the zoning allows the building. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/10 "2010-08-16T21:41:10Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m completely baffled as to why an otherwise savvy guy with a lot of political astuteness, who is surrounded by people even more savvy than he is would come within a hundred yards of the subject. What the fuck was he thinking? The righties must be stunned by their good fortune. I’m not an expert on politics or the media, but Nate Silver’s [column on the subject](http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/08/obama-defense-of-ground-zero-mosque.html) on FiveThirtyEight seems to make a fair amount of sense. The upshot is that a majority (61%, according to a _Fox_ poll) agree with him that they have a right to build there. The people most likely to froth at the mouth about it happen to be in the same group that thinks he’s an evil alien Communazi from Kenya, which is an evil black planet somewhere near Rigel. On the other hand, he’s lost a certain amount of steam among some of the farther bits of the left, and this scores points with them. > [@Giles](#): > > Who knew that the First Amendment was so controversial? I’m baffled that anyone can argue with the constitutional right of any religion to build a temple/church/etc. anywhere that they own the land and the zoning allows the building. The question is not whether or not he was correct. (He clearly is.) The question is whether or not it was politically advantageous to him to address the matter himself. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/11 "2010-08-16T21:42:55Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m completely baffled as to why an otherwise savvy guy with a lot of political astuteness, who is surrounded by people even more savvy than he is would come within a hundred yards of the subject. What the fuck was he thinking? Because he is also a leader. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/12 "2010-08-16T21:46:27Z")
**Skammer** , can you show us charming people a poll or something showing most NYers are in support of building the mosque there? I mean no snark, but I’ve been seeing polls stating that something like 70% of people are against it. Those numbers may change if focused on NYC only, though. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/13 "2010-08-16T21:46:50Z")
Oh, what? Because it’s the right thing to do? Because he gives a shit? Get real. Clearly, he’s just appealing to his Islamic base. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/14 "2010-08-16T21:51:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@Skammer](#): > > > > Most New Yorkers support the mosque, or so I’ve read. > > I’d have to see a cite before I believed that. I read in GD that it was in a New Yorker poll, but the closest I can find in the New Yorker is this: > [@](#): > > According to a recent poll, Manhattanites are mostly for it, Staten Islanders mostly against. Community Board No. 1 endorsed it, twenty-nine to one. I’ll have to dig around for something better. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/15 "2010-08-16T21:57:09Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > **Skammer** , can you show us charming people a poll or something showing most NYers are in support of building the mosque there? I mean no snark, but I’ve been seeing polls stating that something like 70% of people are against it. Those numbers may change if focused on NYC only, though. New Yorkers in general are against it. Since most of New York is full of knuckle-dragging yokels as anywhere else. [Most people from Manhattan support it](http://maristpoll.marist.edu/wp-content/misc/nycpolls/c100728/Bloomberg_RV/Construction_of_Mosque_Near_World_Trade_Center_Site.htm). Because if you live within 30 miles of ocean, you are much less likely to be insane. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/16 "2010-08-16T22:05:20Z")
Lead story on “The Ed Show” on MSNBC: OBama backtracks on mosque! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/17 "2010-08-16T22:11:11Z")
I’ve seen references to how long this project has been “in the pipeline” before this whole shit storm broke open. Anyone have a more certain cite? I’d get it myself, but I’m lazy and easily…ooh, shiny! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/18 "2010-08-16T22:26:02Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But yeah, Obama should STFU about this subject. It’s a no win for him. Sometimes even a politician has to stand up for what is right rather than what will gain a temporary political advantage. I only regret that his words were not stronger. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/19 "2010-08-16T22:34:48Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > I’m completely baffled as to why an otherwise savvy guy with a lot of political astuteness, who is surrounded by people even more savvy than he is would come within a hundred yards of the subject. What the fuck was he thinking? The righties must be stunned by their good fortune. > > I’m not an expert on politics or the media, but Nate Silver’s [column on the subject](http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/08/obama-defense-of-ground-zero-mosque.html) on FiveThirtyEight seems to make a fair amount of sense. The upshot is that a majority (61%, according to a _Fox_ poll) agree with him that they have a right to build there. The people most likely to froth at the mouth about it happen to be in the same group that thinks he’s an evil alien Communazi from Kenya, which is an evil black planet somewhere near Rigel. On the other hand, he’s lost a certain amount of steam among some of the farther bits of the left, and this scores points with them. > > > [@Giles](#): > > > > Who knew that the First Amendment was so controversial? I’m baffled that anyone can argue with the constitutional right of any religion to build a temple/church/etc. anywhere that they own the land and the zoning allows the building. > > The question is not whether or not he was correct. (He clearly is.) The question is whether or not it was politically advantageous to him to address the matter himself. Exactly. He, like all his ilk, are politicians first, with self-preservation instincts that put any wild animal to shame. This was an uncharacteristic blunder, particularly after he first said that it was a local issue and not something he would comment on. Whether he was right or wrong is irrelevant to the ranting right. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448/20 "2010-08-16T22:37:41Z")
Here’s something of a [timeline](http://muslimmatters.org/2010/08/16/salon-com-how-the-ground-zero-mosque-fear-mongering-began/). Why he said anything at this point (i) after he had already deflected the issue, (ii) now that it has pretty much been decided (pending a few frivolous court appeals), and (iii) knowing it was going to bring out all the moobats, rabid-rousers and Republicans is mystery to me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-media-obama-did-not-walk-back-his-mosque-comments/550448.md?page=2)