This is the least surprising thing you will read all month:
We now have clear evidence that there’s a direct link between public anti-Islam sentiment and public opposition to the construction of Cordoba House, a.k.a. the “Ground Zero mosque.”
The evidence can be found in the internals of the new Washington Post poll on Islam and the planned center, and it was provided to me by Post polling director Jon Cohen. The numbers directly contradict the claim by opponents that public opposition to the project is not linked to broader anti-Islam sentiment, and is only rooted in a desire to be sensitive to 9/11 families or to respect Ground Zero as hallowed ground.
The poll’s toplines show that 66 percent of Americans oppose the Islamic center. Separately, a plurality, 49 percent, has generally unfavorable views of Islam.
But it’s the intersection of these numbers revealed in the internals that proves the point.
In other words, bigotry is the motivating force behind the anti-mosque sentiment. I’m shocked to learn this.
The Republic of Stupidity
Well… duuuuuuuuuh.
cleek
now i have to revise the totality of my thinking on this matter.
crap.
Violet
I’m glad they polled it, though. It’s good to have some concrete proof of the relationship. The media should do their job and publicize this info. Shine a light on it. Not holding my breath of course.
Duwamps
Partisan political advantage (for Republicans) is the prime motivator for the opposition. Widespread bigotry is simply something that can be exploited to that end. Palin made this into the headlines, not Geller.
PhoenixRising
The best argument against democracy is 5 minutes with the average voter.
Do we really need evidence for the claim, “Screaming morons who want to assault a principle so important it was enshrined in the very first damn amendment are bigots”?
I think not. Please reject pollster’s invoice.
Linda Featheringill
@The Republic of Stupidity:
You beat me to it. But I’m going to say it anyway.
Duuuuuhhhh!
Gebghis
I’m not surprised anymore when the truth is obscured, only sadder and sadder. Mose Allison: I’m not down hearted, I’m not down hearted…I’m not downhearted but I’m gettin’ there.
Best…H
kommrade reproductive vigor
Other things that will shock no one:
1. fReichtard skree-fest about the liberal doody heads at WaPoo.
2. Cartoon-character caliber, legs twirling, flight from the cited article by the WaPoo.
3. Very Serious discussion about whether we should pay any attention to polls at all, ever. (Conclusion: Only when they show the Dems are down.)
ItAintEazy
Well, I didn’t think it was possible, but Howard Dean is even more dead to me.
The Republic of Stupidity
@Linda Featheringill:
Thas all right…
It’s a big world… always room for one more duuuuuuuuuh…
sukabi
if they did similar polling on opposition to Obama they’d find the same thing at play, which is another huge duhhhhhhhhhh.
Corner Stone
@The Republic of Stupidity:
Kryptik
@kommrade reproductive vigor:
Don’t forget the next step.
4) Discussion about whether we, as a country, should consider codifying a ‘War on Islam’, per majority rule.
Corner Stone
@ItAintEazy:
Really not one of his finer moments. I hope it is brought up to him with high frequency.
debbie
It seems to me that those who are angriest about Muslim intolerance are also the ones who are the least tolerant of Muslims. Irony or just outright bigotry?
I thought this was a really good post. Take this, Newtie:
http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/77381/leon-wieseltier-mosque-notes?passthru=MzZhYmRjMTgwNDI5NmRhNzcxZDI5MTViNzU4ZjQzOTk
Frank
The opposition to the community center/mosque never made any sense in the first place. There ALREADY is a fricking mosque just four blocks from Ground Zero. Why was that never a problem but this one was?
It just appalls me that the media literally never brought this fact up.
NobodySpecial
Shorter GOP: Brown people suck.
Ash Can
@Violet: Exactly. This connection may be laughably obvious to the likes of us, but far too many people need to have the facts pounded into their heads before they wake up and realize what’s going on. If something self-evident like this helps in that regard, so much the better.
Bob L
Worth pointing out as an atheist I consider Islam, even in its most moderate forum, as group of godbotherers who absurdly worship a magical house in the desert and this mosque as another waste of real estate that could be put to better use. Unfavorable views on Islam don’t automatically mean a REAL American tea-tard. The real question is do they think Islam sucks because of its ideas or do they think Muslims suck because they are brown?
August J. Pollak
Yeah, so an hour ago the story went out that insurance companies are going to raise their rates. And, can you believe it? They’re blaming the Affordable Care Act!
James E. Powell
Even if the corporate press/media were inclined to tell the truth about the deep-rooted bigotry of a large portion of the American population, it is a touchy thing to tell your loyal audience that they are ignorant and despicable.
It would conflict with one of the central components of their dominant narrative: America is the Greatest Country Evah! It’s people are the wisest and most virtuous people in the world, in the history of the world.
Don
I suppose it’s good enough for a basic parallel but I don’t think it would work well for me. I had to go digging in there to get to it but the exact question was “Would you say you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of Islam?”
Well shit, I’m as big a supporter of “build where you want” as you can find but I would say I have a generally unfavorable opinion of Islam. That’s about 70% my negative attitude towards any religion that presumes to make demands on the behavior of non-believers and 30% because of what I consider their sub-average attitude about women.
Which means that they’re only a few percentage points ahead of generic Christianity when it comes to my shitty attitude towards them.
Does this poll need a base-lining question about the answering person’s outlook on religion as a whole? Or are we as a nation sufficiently religious as an aggregate that only weirdos like me need that sort of distinction?
Violet
@Bob L:
Yes.
Seriously, it’s both. Christianity is the one and only true religion, all others are
badwrong, with Judaism only slightly tolerated because of the End Times stuff. Plus Muslims want to kills us, so Islam=bad and dangerous. And brown people are scary and not Real Americans and should “go home.”Paul L.
Was there ever a poll about link between public anti-Catholic sentiment and the media coverage of the Pedophile Priests?
AR
“I’m shocked, SHOCKED, that bigotry is going on here!”
“Your wedge politics, sir”
Gus
@Bob L: Well put. I was trying to find words to express the same sentiment. I don’t particularly have a favorable view of any religion. And I consider myself an agnostic, not an atheist.
ruemara
Your winnings, sir.
MattF
They’re brown, they talk funny, and they don’t believe in Jesus. And they’re not from around here.
Frank
@Paul L.:
You are comparing pedophile priests to some innocent people building a community center/mosque? Seriously?
geemoney
Yes, it’s a duh moment, but this is how you fight the nonsense. This data is a concrete piece of information that removes this fig leaf behind which all the racism and intolerance was hiding. So, yes, it’s a duh, but don’t discount it’s importance. These things need to be confronted with facts and data.
John S.
Paul L. is an idiot who believes only what he reads in the New York Post.
/Top Secret
Paul L.
No, I am not comparing them
What is the Catholic Church building to celebrate the actions of the pedophile priests?
The Cardinal Law community Center/Youth Ministry/Church?
As opposed to a Triumph Mosque for the death of 3000+ people.
Zam
I’d like to see a poll asking peoples opinion on a mosque being build a couple of blocks away from ground zero instead. You know see how much the “Ground Zero Mosque” line has warped opinions.
Frank
@Paul L.:
I know I’m wasting my time on people like you but…Please give any evidence that those behind the community center/mosque was behind 911.
And with your logic, do you also agree think that any church that has been built near the Oklahoma City bombing was a triumph church for the of the death of 180+ people?
And if you are so concerned about the community center/mosque, do you think the mosque that is currently located just four blocks from Ground Zero should be destroyed?
Do you also agree with the bigots in TN that that proposed mosque should not be allowed to be built?
Ash Can
I see Paul L has gone off his meds again.
John Cole
@Ash Can: You have any evidence he was ever on them?
Ash Can
@John Cole: Good point.
AxelFoley
@Paul L.:
Man, you come right out of a comic book.
goatchowder
For the love of FSM.
THERE IS NO MOSQUE AT GROUND ZERO!!!!!! THERE NEVER HAS BEEN, NOR WILL THERE BE, PROPOSED A MOSQUE AT GROUND ZERO!
What was proposed was a community center two blocks away, next to THREE FUCKING CHURCHES– one of which that has been there for almost 300 years now– and a goddamned titty bar!
STOP THE ZOMBIE LIES!!!! AAGGGH, YOU CAN’T KILL THEM! They keep coming back!
rikyrah
and this is supposed to be a surprise?