Anti-ground zero mosque TV ad planned by New York Conservative Party
The hypocritical jingoism of these people is disgusting. They call themselves “patriotic Americans” while trying to make an end run around the First Amendment by pressuring ConEd.
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ALBANY, N.Y. — New York’s Conservative Party is planning a television ad campaign to pressure a New York City utility to use its power to block a proposed mosque near ground zero that the ad says is planned by an “un-American” Muslim leader.
The ad states “patriotic Americans” want “real answers” about the cultural center proposed for lower Manhattan in a building partly owned by Consolidated Edison. Plans call for the Muslim center to include a mosque in the building about two blocks from the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.
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The utility has said it is legally bound to accept the plans to sell the building under an agreement with its tenant.
“My hope is Con Ed would be civic minded and not participate in the sale,” New York Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long told The Associated Press. “Our little twist is creating a grass-roots effort to put pressure on Con Ed.”
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Con Edison said Friday in a statement that its action is “consistent with the law and our core beliefs.” If an independent appraiser approves of the price, the property will be sold, the company said.
“We will not allow other considerations to enter into this transaction,” the utility said. “This is New York, a rich diverse city. Con Edison’s values call for respecting people without regard to their racial, ethnic, or religious orientation. They are all our customers.”