[Arab News] He is also not dismayed that the Senate's top Democrat, Majority Leader Harry Reid, now opposes the idea, deputy Information Minister Bill Burton said."This is an issue people are going to come to with strongly held convictions," Burton told reporters aboard Air Force One as Obama flew to an appearance in Seattle.
"He's happy our thriving democracy is continuing to produce vigorous debate."
On Monday, Reid became the highest profile Democrat to call for the mosque to be built someplace else. Current plans are to locate it two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks.
On Friday, at a White House dinner marking the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Obama declared Mohammedans "have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. 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." A day later, however, he told reporters that was not an endorsement of the specifics of the mosque plan.
Burton told reporters that Obama "respects the right of anybody ... to disagree with his opinion on this." As to Reid's view, Burton said the senator is a "fiercely independent individual," and that's one of his strengths as a leader of his fellow Democrats.
A number of Republicans have portrayed Obama as out of touch with Americans' feelings on the issue, and some Democratic strategists have said they wish he hadn't spoken.
However, Burton said Obama did not consider the politics of his remarks, and felt he had to speak out in defense of key US constitutional values that include freedom of religion.