Following President Barack Obama’s remarks at a Ramadan dinner last Friday, lots of people raised their own commentaries. Included in those who put their foot forward are politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike. Latest in the long list of those who weighed in the political debate is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Senator Reid has gone on record, saying that the mosque and Islamic center should be built elsewhere. Spokesman Jim Manley, in a written statement, encouraged more and more Republicans to be more sensitive towards the plight of September 11 survivors by backing a bill that grants rescue workers health benefits. He also said that though Reid opposes the idea of building the mosque in the September 11 grounds, Reid respects the right to freedom of religion.

Obama said on Saturday that his comments were directed merely on religious freedoms and not specifically on the mosque project. Shortly after that, White House spokesperson Bill Burton pointed that this is not the president’s way of backing down on his original remarks.

Obama’s comments and the following explanations have since given way to heated debates from both Republicans and Democrats, both throwing “insensitive” comments at each other. On Monday, White House reiterated that Obama did not intend to heat up the discussion and politics was never the reason for making his decision.

Spokesperson Burton says, “The president didn’t do this because of the politics. He spoke about it because he feels he has an obligation as the president to address this.”

Another politician who is on the spotlight right now is Senator Charles Schumer. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has pointed out that the once talkative senator chose the wrong time to be silent. NSRC further says that if Senator Schumer can make comments on caffeinated malt beverages, then he should also make a stand on the issue at hand.

On Monday, Representative Peter King also made comments that White House may have mellowed down Obama’s comments because of the negative feedback from other Democrats.

FOX News released a survey regarding the project and 64% of those who answered said that it will be wrong to build the mosque. They also agree, though, that those behind the plan have a plan to build the mosque and Islamic center.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and supporters of the mosque project say that allowing the building of the mosque will prove how tolerant America is of religious differences. Besides, Al Qaeda and their practices should never be equated to Islam as whole. This is also what Obama put in mind when he made his decision, says Burton.