Obama Slammed, Praised For Backing NYC Mosque

President Barack Obama hosts an iftar dinner, the meal that breaks the dawn-to-dusk fast for Muslims

 during the holy month of Ramadan, Friday in the White House State Dining Room.

 Obama said the American tenet of religious freedom means the freedom of 

Muslims to build a mosque near ground zero in New York City.

President Barack Obama was compared favorably Thurs America's first president and castigated as uncaring on Friday Defending Plans to Create a mosque two blocks from New York's ground zero.

"Muslims not have the right to practice Their religion as anyone else in this country," Obama Told a White House dinner Crowd Celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Friday.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Ken has defended the 13-story, $ 100 million Islamic center, Said Obama's remarks reminded him of George Washington.

"Two hundred and twenty years ago this week, the Father of Our Country penned at his famous letter to the Jewish Community of Newport Rhode Island or, as they called the Them," the Children of the Stock of Abraham. " President Obama's words tonight evoked President Washington's own August reminder That 'posses all alike liberty,' "Bloomberg said.

But Bloomberg wasn't speaking for all New Yorkers.

Rick A. Lazio, a Republican Candidate for governor and a former member of the House of Representatives, issued a statement late Friday That the president was still "not listening to New Yorkers," The New York Times Reported.

"With over 100 mosques in New York City, this IS NOT an issue of religion, but their one of safety and security," he said.