Obama Implores Minister To Call Off Quran Burning (VIDEO)

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is exhorting a Florida minister to "listen to those better angels" and call off his plan to engage in a Quran-burning protest this weekend.

Obama told ABC's "Good Morning America" in an interview aired Thursday that he hopes the Rev. Terry Jones of Florida listens to the pleas of people who have asked him to call off the plan. The president called it a "stunt."

"If he's listening, I hope he understands that what he's proposing to do is completely contrary to our values as Americans," Obama said. "That this country has been built on the notion of freedom and religious tolerance."

"And as a very practical matter, I just want him to understand that this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women who are in uniform," the president added.

Said Obama: "Look, this is a recruitment bonanza for Al Qaida. You could have serious violence in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan." The president also said Jones' plan, if carried out, could serve as an incentive for terrorist-minded individuals "to blow themselves up" to kill others.

"I hope he listens to those better angels and understands that this is a destructive act that he's engaging in," the president said of Jones.

WATCH:

Comments

[Red Crow]

07:58 PM on 09/10/2010

Many Americans say they speak to god every day, and christians love them for it. However, If they said they spoke to god through their hair dryer, people would think they were mad. I fail to see how the addition of a hair dryer makes it any more absurd.

[Richard Pearce]

03:43 PM on 09/10/2010

A BOOBer asked 'Where are the Imam's calling for calm?' (echoed by BOOBers on other sites, naturally)

A senior Islamic leader in France on Thursday urged Muslims to resist being provoked by a US church's plan to burn Korans on September 11, amid fears that the act would spark rage in the Muslim world.
"I call on my fellow faithful not to succumb to provocation, and to respond wisely by expressing their compassion" in reaction to the plan, the rector of Paris's Grand Mosque, Dalil Boubakeur, said on RMC radio.

http://europenews.dk/en/node/35249

Of course, unlike the BOOBers, there isn't an echo chamber to get this out to the public, and it is not the sort of story that fits in the narrative, so it doesn't get much play in the press either.

[whirledgonecrazy]

12:50 PM on 09/10/2010

I've seen a lot of people dogging the president for making a "big deal" out of this.... Watch the video! George asked him a direct question and the president answered. It's that simple.

[Willie12345]

08:16 AM on 09/10/2010

It seems there are two stunts taking place here. Both of them are just plain foolish and hurtful.

[Riham005]

12:45 AM on 09/10/2010

"Look, this is a recruitment bonanza for Al Qaida." Occupying Muslim countries is.

[whirledgonecrazy]

12:51 PM on 09/10/2010

We have George W. Bush to thank for that don't we?

[orwell2112]

11:22 PM on 09/09/2010

UNICEF, Salvation Army and other charities outsource fundraising to Islamic radicals

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -Impressed by the worldwide capitulation to Islamic extremists who are threatening to burn, loot and kill Westerners if a small-time Florida pastor goes ahead with his threat to exercise his First Amendment rights by burning the Quran, some traditionally peace-loving nonprofits are turning to Al Qaeda and other firebrand Islamic groups in a bid to boost fund raising during a difficult and persistent recession.

Organizations ranging from respected Christian charities like the Salvation Army to hopelessly naive environmental groups such as PETA and Greenpeace are embracing the trend.

Most of the organizations said the use of Islamic fanatics will often be as simple as dispatching them door to door with donor forms and small arms but will also include more sophisticated missions, such as mobilizing large groups of them to terrorize underperforming businesses or even entire communities ...

http://wineandexcrement.com/unicef-salvation-army-and-other-charities-outsource-fundraising-to-islamic-radicals/2648/

[123anon]

10:29 PM on 09/09/2010

So what is this deal about certain verse numbers of the Quran can't be posted?

[FACTISFACT]

06:17 PM on 09/09/2010

The President has done his duty as per the constitutional provision and has warned the nation of the worldwide backlash and danger. His every step to tackle the situation excellently has stunned the Political Observers and opined the Republicans should apologies to the worldwide living Americans for endangering their lives being the country's responsible public leader behaving so irresponsibly. The Americans have taken a serious note of the irresponsible act of the Republicans.

The Political Observers also spoke about his concern of lives of Americans all over the world and questioned how could such a insane and irrational movement be sponsored by some Republicans Leaders of responsibilities with the hope of winning the election by inciting American citizens to hate Muslims.

The provocative move sponsored by Republicans which now has been condemned wide world, because that the entire world would now be confronted with Muslim backlash just because of the stupidity of some irrational so called Political Leader desiring to become Public Representative, that would result by Muslim bashing to make the Americans happy.

They never considered that they would be inviting the terrorists or the radicals home grown and outsiders to devastate life of the American citizens when the election days would be over and to who the citizens would ask for help which they themselves invited under the leadership of the Republicans..

[ChaseRocker]

06:10 PM on 09/09/2010

There's another Imam in Florida talking to Jones...he's the one who committed to the deal.

uh oh...dueling Imams now...

[gloriab]

06:10 PM on 09/09/2010

I would like to announce my "event". I intend to hold my HS students hostage until they can read on grade level.
I will be praying on this, and will accept any and all calls from MSNBC, CNN, Fox, Arne Duncan.

Then I will write a book and retire.

[JtownesquireAgain]

08:54 AM on 09/10/2010

Be careful what you say..even jokingly....you have just made a threat of committing a felony involving students. That could get you arrested.

[bong-o-boy]

05:49 PM on 09/09/2010

This pastor claims all muslims are evil, of the devvil. so why would a christian cut a deal with the devil???

[tmf945]

06:06 PM on 09/09/2010

Publicity and money from like minded loonies....

[whirledgonecrazy]

12:53 PM on 09/10/2010

He's not a true Christian, plain and simple.

[bong-o-boy]

05:42 PM on 09/09/2010

proof the fake pastor is a liar

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6885BK20100909

[Orwellian]

05:55 PM on 09/09/2010

I read somewhere that moving the mosque may have been erroneously (or maybe even purposely? troll?) tweeted, so maybe he isn't exactly a liar on this.

[ancientmarinader]

06:32 PM on 09/10/2010

He had a discussion with another Imam, who does want the mosque moved and who is going to speak with Imam Rauf. But a deal had not been reached and Rauf says he won't move it.

So this guy is confusing what the first Imam wants with the Park51 policy.

[UpFromLiberalism]

05:38 PM on 09/09/2010

dang

bet dear leader gets another deserved peace prize

[holyheretic]

05:42 PM on 09/09/2010

Eat your heart out, UpFromLiberalism.

[JaxReader]

05:52 PM on 09/09/2010

Ahhh, those grapes are pretty sour huh?

[gramma61]

05:33 PM on 09/09/2010

CNN...This story is getting bigger.

[bong-o-boy]

05:39 PM on 09/09/2010

the pastor is lying; IMAM SAYS NO DEAL i wonder whats REALLY going on...

[AmigaMan]

05:39 PM on 09/09/2010

Like a cancer the MSM perpetuates the stupid in this country.

[bong-o-boy]

05:47 PM on 09/09/2010

simple mistake; you meant to say Faux News, right?

[Doug Sandlin]

05:32 PM on 09/09/2010

Regarding all the (mostly negative) things that have said about both Islam and Christianity, as well as religion in general, in conjunction with this overall discussion, in multiple threads:

"You can't judge a car by its driver."

[holyheretic]

05:43 PM on 09/09/2010

A person can be a good person, regarded of which sect, cult or voodoo he is addicted to.