Progress Illinois

This one's for the hardcore political junkies. Politicos can't talk about elections for too long before the conversation inevitably turns to religion and its impact on the nation's major political contest: electing a President of the United States.

Here is a comprehensive analysis of how religion impacts U.S. elections that also provides some insight into trends that are unfolding as the nation's population ages. It also offers compelling answers to a few pressing questions like: Will Christian conservatives embrace Mitt Romney, a Mormon? Is the American population becoming less Protestant? What impact could that have on our nation's electoral politics? Read on for some answers provided by Anzalone Liszt Research. Read more »

GOP Congressman Peter Roskam appeared on WIND Radio's Big John & Amy yesterday and was asked for his comment on the proposal to build an Islamic cultural center (including a mosque) two blocks from ground zero in New York City.  In response, he vehemently opposed the plan and equated it with "a conquering sort of act." Listen:

ROSKAM: No, it should not be built.  This is a very, very provocative thing that the proponents of this mosque are doing. And it's not meant in a spirit of reconciliation. It's meant in a spirit of provocation. ... I don't think anyone can say, really, that it's just meant as an innocent house of worship without the symbolism of almost a conquering sort of act.

Many elected officials -- including Roskam's buddy Eric Cantor (R-VA) -- have couched their opposition to the project in terms of "sensitivity" and "respect" for the families of 9-11 victims.  But Roskam goes a step further in these comments and taps into the disturbing pattern of Islamophobia in this country. For him to characterize the construction of the center as a "provocative," "conquering sort of act" puts him in the ranks of the most extreme, right-wing bloggers and conspiracy theorists.

The uproar over a proposal to build an Islamic center (including a mosque) near the site of ground zero in New York City has to be one of the most infuriating political controversies in recent memory.  As Republicans have fought to keep the facility from being built -- and as President Obama has stuck his neck out in favor of the plan -- many Democrats have remained silent.  Thankfully, Illinois' own Alexi Giannoulias isn't one of them.  "Are we going to talk about tolerance, talk about freedom of religion or are we actually going to practice it?" he said yesterday at the state fair.  (By contrast, his GOP U.S. Senate opponent, Mark Kirk, predictably opposed the site.)

Meanwhile, downstate Democratic Congressman Jerry Costello also joined the opposition.  "The proponents of this project need to listen to the concerns of the families of those who died on that spot almost nine years ago," he said in a statement yesterday. Costello -- and others Dems taking this stance -- would do well to read Glenn Greenwald's new piece on the New York Times website: "It's true that polls reflect majority opposition to the project, but what Democrats fail to understand, as usual, is that courageously defending an unpopular view is far superior to stand for nothing, to be afraid of one's own beliefs."