"The discussions within Moncler Women's T-shirts each party underscored how the mosque debate had emerged as a national political flashpoint in the wake of President Barack Obama's initial comments at a Ramadan dinner Friday, in which he seemed to fully back the project. The president over the weekend appeared to step back, saying that he was defending religious freedom, not commenting on the ""wisdom"" of building the center so close to Ground Zero. Moncler Women's Vests Many Republicans, too, said the developers had a legal right to build the center and mosque at their chosen location, but that they should defer to public opinion and build somewhere else. Still, the issue has surged to the forefront this week in a number of political battlegrounds, fueled in part by leading conservatives such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. All are potential 2012 presidential contenders who argue the mosque's proximity to Ground Zero is an affront to victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. ""It's about being sensitive, being respectful,Moncler Vests and having good judgment about not putting a mosque within two blocks of Ground Zero,"" Mr. Pawlenty told Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity Monday night. Moncler Boots Mr. Gingrich, in an email, said he was ""in favor of religious liberty'' but called the proposal ""deliberately provocative."" He suggested the project be built ""in the South Bronx (which needs the jobs) or many other sites."" Moncler HandbagsStrategists in both parties said Tuesday that Mr. Obama's decision to thrust himself into the debate put Democrats at risk just as the general election season was set to begin in earnest. Several surveys this week showed that as many as two-thirds of Americans opposed the mosque. But a Fox News poll also found that 61% believed that the Muslim group had a right to build at the site, regardless of whether it was appropriate. Karl Rove, Moncler the chief political strategist for former President George W. Bush, said he was ""baffled"" by Mr. Obama's decision to weigh in on the mosque and that his efforts to tweak his position will help ""shape and deepen people's antipathy"" toward Washington. But some Republicans expressed concern about the long-term political effects of the debate. Grover Norquist, president of the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, called the issue a distraction from the Republicans' ""winning message"" for the November elections about federal overspending. Mr. Norquist, who has pushed the GOP to court Muslim voters, said religious minorities ""have to wonder if some politicians are deciding that their First Amendment rights are subject to political winds."" "