How much will this "Not-a-Mosque" *Controversy factor into the midterms?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

I apologize in advance for adding to the glut of threads about this particular (non-)issue but how much, if any, is this going to HELP the GOP come November?
John Cornyn and other Republican *leaders* have been crowing that they will use this to bludgeon the Democrats in the midterm elections but, assuming that this even remains an "issue" then, how effective is it going to be? I know that a few Democrats have been sweating over it and some have even folded on it but how easy is this going to be for the GOP to demagogue with their own party appears to be split on this issue as well?
People like Palin, Gingrich, et. al are getting the most attention on this issue but there are several Muslims in the GOP dissenting and/or threatening to withhold donations, as well as people like Mayor Bloomberg, Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist and former Bush Solicitor General Ted Olsen supporting Obama's position on the mosque. We don't know what George W. Bush thinks about this but, as much as I loathe the guy, his silence on this matter seems to suggest that he might not agree with his own party on this one and his (mis-)administration did try to reach out to the Muslim community post-9/11 and tried to draw a distinction between Muslims whom supported and/or engaged in terrorism and those who did not. Of course, he basically end up negating his more noble post-9/11 efforts by invading/occupying Iraq and allowing for the torture of detainees in his global "war on terror" but I still have the feeling that he doesn't quite support the GOP position on this but probably knows that he should keep his mouth shut on it.
There have, of course, been some Democrats like Reid and Dean taking the opposite position, however, I would suspect that it is going to be VERY difficult for the GOP to keep the heat on the Democrats over this when several prominent members of their own party are splitting with them and supporting Obama's position and that's even assuming that it remains an "issue" until then.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. Until the last two days I thought it would matter very little

But it is shaping up to be a factor.

Call it 1 house seats worth.

[bigdarryl]

2. NONE!!! next story

[JoePhilly]

3. Will energize the Tea Party ... the left won't care.

[emulatorloo]

5. Nor will the middle.

The last polling I saw was

2/3 of people thought they had a right to have the center there.

2/3 said it wasn't "appropriate".

Does not sound like frothing outrage to me.

Sorry no link, it was cited by some one from Truthout on Countdown the other night.

[JoePhilly]

6. That 2/3 who say it wasn't "appropriate" are a problem ...

There are folks in the middle who will say yes they had the right, no they should not do it ... Obama gave them the green light.

The left cheered Obama on this, but won't care come November. Some in the middle (that 2/3 number) will "drift" to the right.

Hating Islam is too easy.

(I recall the survey you mention.)

[dhill926]

4. old news, I think.....

Americans have the attention span of a flea....there will certainly be more current outrages......

[rasputin1952]

7. Zero...

those that would vote against D's are already set in their ways; this is a local issue in NY& NYC, what does someone from KS, VA, WY WA or anywhere else have to say or complain about.

The majority of Americans, (not a scientific poll, just good old knowledge), believe that the First Amendment to practice one's religion or not to, shall not be infringed upon.

Those that say they want to "return to the Constitution",after giving up Rights an Privileges under bush suddenly find the First Amendment does count for anything anymore?
If they believe that some religions are "more equal" than others under the Constitution are, quite literally committing treason. Throughout my years in the Army and a few jobs I've since then, I never believed that my oath to protect and defend the Constitution had a date/time stamp attached to it. I took that oath many years ago, I stand by it today as if I had just taken it again...and these maniacs who would despoil this document and it's amendments need to shut up and get the hell out of the way.

[Aramchek]

8. It's not going to change any votes.

It just makes the crazies act crazier.

[Hansel]

9. It's a ginned up controversy to get the right wingers to show up at the polls.

"Oh no, Al Qaeda's coming for us cussing that Muslim in the WH is helping them build mosques so they can kill Americans."

That will be the motivation to get them off their bar stools long enough to go pull the lever to "save Amurika from the terrorists"!

If we show up to counter their bigotry it won't make a damn bit of difference.

[bigwillq]

10. Not at all

That's my opinion. *They* will say it was a factor, but don't think it really will be.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. Since this is my own thread, I'm going to "hijack" it and ask......

Does anybody think that this might have the opposite effect and "backfire" on the Republicans?!!

[MikeW]

17. sure if Dems own the message but so far thats been a losing battle in the press

Like it or not there are only (3) options for Dems ...
1 - Turn the economy around before the election ... highly unlikely
2 - Show and or create at least the perception that they have or can shortly create many many new jobs
3 - Or come up with a well formulated message, well thought out, well laid out, and well presented - not soundbites a plan and message. Right now not even the WH has the ability to control message and that's not good news.

And I'll go this far against some of my fellow DU members:
I see a consistent message here that if voters dont vote Dem they are dumb, stupid, idiots, on drugs, morons and every other name
in the book. That attitude is fine on DU but that doesnt work in politics, calling voters names is the best way to lose in an
election cycle.

Unofort. I believe that the average voter "votes in the moment". They vote on what are my conditions now, what are they like when I get into the booth, and what's my future with the current party in power. The reality is that people's lives are too busy, complicated and sometimes hectic to sit and ruminate about history, politics etc.

I believe a careful well thought out debate on issues (in some detail) will win at least on the economy, sound bites and
simple attempts to demonize republicans will not work.

[MikeW]

12. not much ... it'll be jobs and economy

[Proud Liberal Dem]

13. Which the Republicans have a *clear* advantage on, right?

After all, they get to smear people who are actually trying to do something and then never have to present any solutions. :puke: Anybody thinking that having Republicans in charge will solve our economic problems needs to be drug tested!

[MikeW]

16. no .. wouldn't say clear advantage

but lets face it they do have one advantage ... they arnt in the majority they can claim that and unfort. I believe thats all
that matters to voters.

[depakid]

14. Much as guns, god & gays have in the past

These wedge issues all have similar dynamics- and they've tended not to favor Democrats when they've taken center stage.

[AtomicKitten]

15. The GOP has nothing to run on so they're seeing what sticks to the wall. nt