Are there "racist" arguments in favor of the proposed Park51 Islamic rabat/mosque at Ground Zero? There are, indeed. This one comes from Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts.


Governor Candidates Debate Mosque
GLEN JOHNSON, AP Political Writer

BOSTON (AP) ― Gov. Deval Patrick recalled Thursday being harassed by police officers as he bought candy as a youngster in Milton, saying it buttresses his belief in racial tolerance and religious freedom that extends to supporting the construction of a mosque near ground zero.

GROUND ZERO MOSQUE

In the second Massachusetts gubernatorial debate of the week, Republican Charles Baker and independent candidate Timothy Cahill disagreed with the governor, saying the area around the focus of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is sacred territory and should not become a rallying ground for extremist Muslims.

"I don't want to put them through what I went through," Patrick said of common Muslims, after recalling his experiences as a 14-year-old transplant from Chicago's rough South Side to the tony grounds of Milton Academy.

He said he was stopped regularly by Milton police as he walked to a local convenience store in a community where blacks were then rare.

The governor later said the officers wanted to know what he was doing in the neighborhood and requested identification, a demand he could not satisfy until he got a school identification card as a sophomore or junior.


What other interpretation but racial resentment and a wish to "get even" can be put on this inane statement? Governor Patrick is not generally considered the brightest street light on the block here in Taxachusetts, but this response is stuck-on-stupid even for him. As noted below by Independent candidate Tim Cahill, Patrick already has a track record of pandering to the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center and mega-mosque (see earlier post on this mosque's role in indoctrinating children in MA public schools), and while he is perhaps careful about how much he allows himself to understand about the true nature of Islam it is unlikely that he is ignorant of the basics or that he really thinks the issue in New York City is one of "racial tolerance" or people being able to walk down the street without being "harassed".


[Republican candidate] Baker said that with the "raw emotion of the attack" still lingering, all parties have to be flexible.

He said building the mosque in New York, as well as its community center, will contribute to building anti-Muslim anger sparked by continued terror attacks or attempts.

Cahill previously criticized Patrick for meeting with 1,000 Massachusetts Muslim leaders, accusing the governor of pandering by pledging to urge employers to allow practitioners of Islam to leave work early on Friday nights so they could pray.

Cahill noted Jews begin the Sabbath on Friday nights, yet most do not get dismissed from work early to attend services.

Asked about Cahill's pandering accusation, Patrick responded: "I think it's a very unfortunate comment. It's something I'm sorry about. I think Tim is better than that comment."

Actually, it appears Cahill has a clearer grasp of the issues surrounding Islam and the stealth jihad than does the usual run-0f-the-mill political candidate. If there is any justice in the universe either Cahill or, more likely, Baker, will be chosen to replace Dhimmi Deval come November. Meanwhile, anyone who accuses opponents of the Park51 rabat of "racism" deserve a two-word response: Pot. Kettle.