Clinton condemns Quran-burning plan as 'disrespectful, disgraceful'

Posted By P.J. Aroon Wednesday, September 8, 2010 - 6:03 AM Share

Secretary Clinton has condemned a Florida pastor's plan to burn the Quran on September 11 as "disrespectful, disgraceful." She made the remark at yesterday's iftar dinner in Washington, telling a room full of Muslims who were breaking their Ramadam fast (as seen above): 

We sit down together for this meal on a day when the news is carrying reports that a pastor down in Gainesville, Florida, plans to burn the Holy Quran on September 11th. I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths, from evangelical Christians to Jewish rabbis, as well as secular U.S. leaders and opinion-makers. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. Many of you know that in 1790, George Washington wrote to a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, that this country will give "to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." 

Update, 12:10 p.m, Sept. 8, 2010: You can listen to the quote above at 9:23 in the video below.

U.S. State Department/Flickr

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PUBLICUS

5:42 PM ET

September 9, 2010

Unfortunate fortunate distraction

The Florida pastor, no doubt a Protestant, is a crackpot publicity seeker in the vein of David Koresh and the Rev Jim Jones thought not (yet) quite as severe as either, or one who is like or the same as super-Christians such as evangelicals to identify one group.

This is a excellent occasion for people such as US Rep Peter King (R-NY), Newt Gingrich and others to speak out against this Florida wingnut zealot. The two and their political pals who have spoken against the mosque near Ground Zero must be consistent with the Constitution by speaking out against this pastor and his 15 minutes of grossly bigoted notoriety.

This distracts from the Ground Zero flap in that it provides the leaders of the US government, the leaders of civil society, other Christians among many others in the US to demonstrate their faithfulness to the Constitution, thereby further confirming to the world the moral authority of the United States as a global leader of human rights, societal diversity and responsible freedom.

This stands in start contrast to the Communist Party of China leaders of the People's Republic of China who have been shooting and torturing Turkic speaking Muslims in the conquered and incorporated far western PRC province of Xinjiang.

Pres Obama is absolutely right when he says this nutcase pastor (my words of course) endangers civilian lives in the West, the lives of US military and Foreign Service personnel abroad and the lives of US expats abroad.

The mission to US Christians is clear: stop a crackpot for the love of Christ.

 

PUBLICUS

11:03 PM ET

September 10, 2010

Sanity prevails

It's excellent to see that the Constitution and those who defend and preserve it have won the day against this wingnut pastor who would endanger American lives abroad and is doing all he can to impose intolerance wherever he treads.

POTUS Obama, SECSTATE Clinton and the American people have again impressed the world with our morality and leadership.

 

Madam Secretary is an obsessive blog about all things Hillary Clinton. From her policies to her pantsuits, Madam Secretary delivers up-to-the-minute news, analysis, and gossip about America's top diplomat.