Republicans pledge to make Ground Zero mosque an election issue

Republicans are chomping at the bit over the controversial proposal to build a mosque a few blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks, especially now that Barack Obama has indicated his support for the community center’s construction. Senator John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, says the president’s remarks defending the religious freedom of Muslims at a White House dinner on Friday show that he is “disconnected from the mainstream of America.” Meantime, Republican Senator David Vitter of Louisiana has come out claiming Obama is “thumbing his nose at the American people.” Representatives of their party are now promising to make the mosque an issue during the upcoming mid-term elections, with experts saying every democratic candidate is now going to have to answer for Obama’s remarks.

CBS News