Obama backs away from earlier heroic defense of Islamic Center near Ground Zero

I was shocked when I read this morning that President Obama had defended the Islamic Center. I was proud as hell of him, but for the life of me I couldn't understand why he did it. As I wrote to a friend earlier today, "this President doesn't do 'controversial.'" Sadly, I was right. The President has now backed away from his comments of last night, claiming that they weren't intended to show support for the Islamic Center. When they clearly were.

First, we had the President's amazing comments in defense of the Islamic Center, last night:

Now, that's not to say that religion is without controversy. Recently, attention has been focused on the construction of mosques in certain communities -– particularly New York. Now, we must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of Lower Manhattan. The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. And the pain and the experience of suffering by those who lost loved ones is just unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. And Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground.

But let me be clear. As a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. (Applause.) And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are. The writ of the Founders must endure.

Then, this afternoon, we had the President seemingly backing away a bit - claiming that his remarks weren't specifically about the specific Islamic Center in NYC. (Then what were they about?) From today's Pool Report:

Asked about his mosque comments by reporters as he left after his remarks, POTUS said:

"In this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion. I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about.

"And I think it's very important as difficult as some of these issues are that we stay focused on who we are as a people and what our values are all about."

Then we get another clarification from White House spokesman Bill Burton. In this statement, the White House says the President did not intend to back away from his earlier comments, then they say that it's not the President's job to pass judgment on every "local project." Okay, but he just did. And now you're not backing away from it, even though you say it's not his job to do it?:

"Just to be clear, the President is not backing off in any way from the comments he made last night. It is not his role as President to pass judgment on every local project.

"But it is his responsibility to stand up for the Constitutional principle of religious freedom and equal treatment for all Americans.

What he said last night, and reaffirmed today, is that If a church, a synagogue or a Hindu temple can be built on a site, you simply cannot deny that right to those who want to build a Mosque.

"The World Trade Center site is hallowed ground, where 3000 Americans-Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims were the victims of a cold-blooded massacre. We are still at war with the small band of terrorists who planned and executed that attack.

But that does not give government the right to deny law-abiding Americans of one faith the same rights you would accord anyone else."

Sure sounds like he's taking a position on a "local project."