Ground Zero Mosque a Perfect Weapon for Republicans

President Obama's endorsement of the Cordoba House offers Republicans a crucial weapon for the midterm elections, writes Mark Halperin for Time. Conservatives are wisely hammering away at the "Obama-Pelosi-Reid" record on the economy, but Obama's skill has so far flummoxed attempts to add a national-security dimension to the Republican's rhetorical assault. This weekend, he gave that to them by going against public opinion on an issue charged with the powerful emotions of 9/11.

But Republicans shouldn't pick up the loaded pistol Obama has offered, because it carries a very real national security risk. With talk radio declaring war on Islam, and a misinformation campaign about the nature of Cordoba House, fanning the flames for political gain would create just the kind of instability that the real jihadists want.
(More Cordoba Initiative stories.)