Will Mosque Cast Shadow On Sestak’s Celebrity Endorsement?

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg came to town to endorse Joe Sestak’s US Senate candidacy. He did, and the two later had lunch at the new Fresh Grocer in Sullivan Progress Plaza at Broad & Cecil B. Moore Avenue.

The luncheon and endorsement might be creating some “agita” in Sestak’s tummy now.

Bloomberg has been identified as the guardian angel of a mosque proposed to be built near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan, the site of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. His is a highly controversial position and it has elevated him to more national attention. That reputation, some Sestak supporters worry, could rub off on Sestak, who, until Bloomberg endorsement, could not even remotely be involved in the controversy surrounding the mosque construction.

Sestak’s campaign team must think it is a good idea. Otherwise, why would they allow Sestak to possibly get caught up in the mosque-building controversy at the center of 9/11, which Bloomberg has approved and publicly supports?

They could have calculated the distance between New York and Philadelphia would have mitigated the association with the mosque controversy, which, however, continues to have a life of its own.

That controversy grew into a national conversation following President Barack Obama’s decision to support the construction of the mosque. Countless individuals have stepped forward and shared their position on this issue, including Hamas’ co-founder, Mahmoud al-Zahar, who said Muslims “have to build” the mosque.

The contentious issue has splintered national leaders of President Obama’s party, including Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman US Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who suggested those who oppose the construction of this mosque don’t understand “what the Constitution is all about.”

Facing an uphill reelection battle in November, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sought to distance himself from Obama and Menendez as his campaign issued a statement asserting, “The mosque should be built some place else.”

Reid’s political maneuvering comes on the heels of statements from the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Tim Kaine, who claimed Democrats who distance themselves from the President are “crazy.”

With more and more polls showing more and more Americans are being caught up in the controversy, the Democrat Senate hopeful needs to make his position known. The Allentown Morning Call commented this week, “US Senate candidate Republican Pat Toomey’s campaign made clear his opposition to it.”

Especially riled by Bloomberg’s support of the mosque construction are New York and local Greeks, who point out New York City government has made it impossible for a Greek Orthodox church to be rebuilt on the site it occupied when the twin towers collapsed and crushed it. Despite multi-million dollar grant approval from the Feds, Bloomberg’s administration has held back its approval.

Notably missing from the event, which drew about 70, were local political figures who were normally expected to attend. Only State Sen. Shirley Kitchen was seen in the audience.

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