Saga Continues For Cordoba House Proposal

Politicians continue weighing in on the Cordoba House proposal. Former Tea Party member (before he was kicked out for racist emails by fellow racist Mark Williams) and upstart GOP candidate Carl Paladino seems to think that eminent domain should be used to block the project. Paladino had fought to get on the primary ballot against Rick Lazio, who also opposes the Cordoba House proposal.

A number of Republican politicians have criticized plans by a Muslim charity to build a community center and mosque near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks. Paladino says that if he wins, he would use eminent domain to block the mosque and make the site a war memorial.

The mosque is a project of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative, which promotes understanding between Islam and the West.

Rick Lazio -- who faces Paladino in a September primary -- has called for an investigation into the funding for the mosque.

Meanwhile, Rassmussen has released a poll on the proposed mosque and community center. The wording of the poll is generally neutral, although I suspect the results would change significantly if you swap out mosque and put in community center or combine community center with mosque - which is a more accurate representation of what the proposed site would become.
he actual text of the poll's results is here. The questions and topline is here.

1* How closely have you followed recent news reports about plans to build a mosque near the site of the 9/11 attacks in New York City? 22% Very closely
29% Somewhat closely
31% Not very closely
16% Not at all
3% Not sure
2* Do you favor or oppose the building of a mosque near the 9/11 Ground Zero site in New York City?
20% Favor
54% Oppose
26% Not sure
3* Those who are building the mosque say they are doing it to honor those who died on 9/11. How confident are you that the mosque is being built near the Ground Zero site to honor those who died in the terrorist attacks?
15% Very confident
15% Somewhat confident
26% Not very confident
32% Not at all confident
12% Not sure

Unlike many of the opponents to the site, the poll gets it right - the Cordoba House proposal isn't going to be in Ground Zero, but it will be near it.