By , ,
Published December 23, 2015
At a speech Wednesday focused on foreign relations, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ignored a question about any impact the debate surrounding a proposed mosque near Ground Zero has had on the State Department, laughing with the audience when asked how it might "complicate her life."
Clinton instead decided to address only the second part of the question referencing a Florida pastor's threat to burn a Koran, saying if the congregation carries through with the action it would be "regrettable."
"It's not who we are," Clinton told the audience. "We want to be judged by who we are as a nation not by something that is so aberrational, and we'll make that case as strongly as possible."
Clinton is not the first New Yorker in government to dodge the weighty issue surrounding the mosque. Usual camera-loving politicians Rep. Anthony Weiner (D) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D) have also been mum on the hot-button topic.
Weiner has no problem talking about the issue generally, telling Don Imus Wednesday morning on the Fox Business Network, "It's clear that they have a right, it's clear that it's caused a lot of debate and controversy, and people should debate it, but I don't think politicians should."
But when Imus pressed Weiner about how he personally feels about the mosque, Weiner refused to answer the question.
Schumer, the senior Senator from New York, has only said that he's "not opposed to it" and won't elaborate any further. Fox reached out to his office again Wednesday, but calls were not returned.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/clinton-sidesteps-question-on-ground-zero-mosque