Barack Obama

President Barack Obama released a statement defending the mosque plan on Ground Zero. In a passionate defense of religious freedom, Obama on Friday waded into a bitter controversy, stating that the American Muslims has the same right as everyone else to build a worship place and community center.

"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," Obama said.

But the proposed location, two blocks from the gaping Ground Zero hole, where the Twin Towers were destroyed on September 11, has touched raw nerves.

The opposed reaction comes from the Republicans Sarah Palin who openly offending the plan. The Republicans see the mosque plans as an act of insensitive and intolerance by the Muslims, abusing their right to offend others who have suffer from the September 11 tragedy.