Democratic Sen. Harry Reid has come out against the mosque at Ground Zero, noting the “right” to build a mosque there, but arguing that it is not prudent.
Lawmakers are not in the business of counseling prudence to religious organizations; they are in the business of upholding the Constitution.
In contrast, Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey has warned his fellow Republicans not to fall into anti-Islamic bigotry: “On the other hand, we cannot paint all of Islam with that brush [of terrorism]. ...We have to bring people together.”
A Bronx cheer for Reid. A round of Broadway-quality applause for Christie.