Democrats' craven silence on Ground Zero mosque continues

Steve Benen, Matthew Yglesias, and Kevin Drum all have posts up blasting Republicans for their unwillingness to step forward and condemn bigoted criticism of plans to build an Islamic center near Ground Zero.

Drum asks whether there are any Republicans who are "willing to just quietly and frankly defend traditional American notions of religious freedom and traditional American notions of tolerance and decency."

It's a good question, and by all means, pressure Republicans. But what about the Democrats who are refusing to condemn the opposition and call it out for what it is? What about Dems who won't stand up for the aforementioned traditional American notions of religious freedom and tolerance and decency?

I asked Chuck Schumer's office for his position on the Islamic center this morning. All his spokesman would say is that he "not opposed" to the plan. Asked for Schumer's views of the opposition, and asked if he actively supports the right of the center's builders to put it two blocks from Ground Zero, Schumer's spokesman declined to elaborate and said Schumer was declining an interview.

Schumer is also refusing to answer direct questions from reporters about this topic. This isn't good enough.

That's not all. As I noted here yesterday, Dem Rep. Anthony Weiner, who's been widely hailed as a hero on the left for his supposed willingness to engage the opposition, is also refusing to say word boo about his position on the Islamic center.

Weiner wants to be mayor of New York. Last I checked, that city is home to a few Muslims, all of whom would become his constituents. Yet he can't bring himself to stand up for their right to worship two blocks from Ground Zero. The guy he wants to replace, Michael Bloomberg, had the guts to do this very eloquently yesterday. Where's Weiner?

Other members of Congress, such as Jerrold Nadler, have stood up and done the right thing, vocally condemning the opposition for what it is. Yes, Nadler's district includes Ground Zero. But again, Weiner wants to represent the whole city, and Schumer already represents the whole state.

No question: It would probably do the opposition's case more damage if Republicans stood up and condemned them. But Dems are complicit here, too. By remaining silent on this issue, they are ceding the fight to those who are actively engaged in an effort to make defending the rights of Muslims too politically toxic an enterprise even for Democrats. By staying silent, Dems are enabling this effort.

I don't see why Dems should get a pass on this.

UPDATE, 11:54 a.m.: Here's another Dem who has done the right thing: Reshma Saujani, an attorney and activist who is running against Dem Rep. Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan.

Also: Adam Serwer made this case very well.

