Poll: More Republicans Support Strip Club Over Mosque Near Ground Zero

A new survey from the Democratic-affiliated firm Public Policy Polling finds that more Republicans support constructing a strip club than a mosque near Ground Zero.

Just four percent of Republican respondents said they support building a mosque two blocks from the site, whereas 21 percent said they would be fine with a strip club. Forty-nine percent of Democrats said they supported the mosque and 33 for the strip club. Among Independents, it was 34 percent for the mosque and 28 percent for the strip club.

"This shows the extent and impact of the recent rise in anti-Islam rhetoric in our society that people would rather have some kind of establishment perpetuating immoral behavior over a house of worship [run] by people who are trying to promote morality and ethics and righteous behavior," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesperson for Council on American-Islamic Relations.

During the debate over whether to build a planned Islamic cultural center near the memorial site, many media outlets noted that the "sacred" ground surrounding the area is home to all sorts of less-than sacred outlets.

"In a walk of the streets within three blocks of Ground Zero, the Daily News counted 17 pizza shops, 18 bank branches, 11 bars, 10 shoe stores and 17 separate salons where a girl can get her lady parts groomed," reported the paper in August. It also pointed to a strip club called "Pussycat Lounge" just two blocks from where the World Trade Center once stood, as well as a place called "Thunder Lingerie."

Comments

[Christopher Bullivant]

05:02 PM on 10/11/2010

I have a better idea.

Build the Community Center (It's not a mosque people, you'd think HuffPo would realize that -.-), and then build a strip club next door.

[MED1025]

01:25 PM on 10/11/2010

Who do you think patronizes those places? I can always tell when I am in a red part of astate by the number of adult book stores and t|tty bars in the area. They need something to do after they have gone and worshiped at ground zero.

[wee weed up]

12:20 PM on 10/12/2010

Larry Flynt is a Dem.

[Adrian Rodriguez21]

12:47 PM on 10/11/2010

Taliban not respnsible for 911 http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/16-no-hard-evidence-connecting-bin-laden-to-9-11/ ....... Stop the madness!

[americles]

02:51 PM on 10/11/2010

Moderators, the HuffPo FAQ clearly states that this website "does not allow the promotion and propagation of conspiracy theories, including those about 9/11."

With all due respect, please enforce HP's policy and remove the above comment.

[Puncastle]

04:54 PM on 10/11/2010

Yes, well Fox News has officially upgraded it from Conspiracy Theory to Conspiracy Fact:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6n2FgwWg7A

[Linda Casey]

12:29 PM on 10/11/2010

So much for "sacred ground" or "hallowed ground" huh? Hypocrites, the whole bunch of them!

[isaidit]

11:52 AM on 10/11/2010

Well, as much as I hate to be on the GOP side of this issue, I cannot deny that I see a certain sense in thinking that strippers would be hard pressed to take up suicide bombing as a side venture. .

[KWHOO]

12:59 PM on 10/11/2010

Islam didn't bomb the WTC, radical muslims did. Strippers on the other hand are often young women exploited by mean who are seamy. How many young girls lives have been compromised or ruined by the stripper trade. Try the US constitution some time; it's really a very well written document.

[Puncastle]

04:56 PM on 10/11/2010

And I'm quite certain that any radical elements involved in Ground Zero were not Sufis and were not affiliated with Park 51. Grouping all Muslims together is like grouping all Asians together.

[calltoaction]

11:51 AM on 10/11/2010

freedom to get your freak-on to replace freedom of religion.

[0311SaltDog]

11:24 AM on 10/11/2010

Boners or bombs? You decide.

[isaidit]

11:57 AM on 10/11/2010

If you are going to risk being blown away, bodacious ta-tas are the way to go.

[KWHOO]

01:00 PM on 10/11/2010

I suspect you are both.

[GiveUsFree]

10:55 AM on 10/11/2010

The only Republicans left are the really, really stupid ones.

[Eric4969]

10:07 AM on 10/11/2010

What if the Strippers we're Muslim would it still OK LOL HYPOCRITE REPUBLICANS

[isaidit]

11:53 AM on 10/11/2010

That's a special novelty draw, actually. I reckon it will go over big.

[Gary James]

12:05 AM on 10/20/2010

A muslim stripper now that's rich.

[Itsy]

08:51 AM on 10/11/2010

I think putting a strip club over the mosque is a good idea. A gay strip club would be the best.

[Blufftonian]

11:35 AM on 10/11/2010

"Suspicious Packages"

[isaidit]

11:53 AM on 10/11/2010

Bulky for sure.

[Blufftonian]

12:00 PM on 10/11/2010

"Al Gayda"
"Jihard"
"Ba’ath House"

[chonus]

02:34 PM on 10/11/2010

Those are pretty good.

[riverhouse]

08:41 AM on 10/11/2010

Well, of course they do. Strip clubs couldn't survive without all those family values GOPers' support and patronage.

[Hamza Rehman]

04:43 AM on 10/11/2010

Thunder Lingerie?

[schildpad]

02:02 AM on 10/11/2010

Republibaggers picking a strip club over a mosque isn't necessarily anti-Islamic in their case -more like showing their true regard for women as real people.

Oink.

[GonzoLoungeLizard]

10:13 AM on 10/11/2010

A higher percentage of Dems actually support the strip club idea than Repubs. 33 to 21 - I guess you missed that part.

[chevy706]

11:16 AM on 10/11/2010

There you go, pointing out facts to a liberal again. They're not interested in those.

[Maxims and Arrows]

11:52 AM on 10/11/2010

The likelier scenario is that Democrats actually support that as a matter of freedom of expression: i.e., the same 1st amendment rights that protect building a mosque.

[the964kid]

01:29 AM on 10/11/2010

I don't need to see another poll to conclude that the the majority of republicans are woefully ignorant.

[chonus]

12:58 AM on 10/11/2010

I think most rational people would prefer a strip club over any religious institution's building. Seriously, think about it.

[mivogo]

01:34 AM on 10/11/2010

Exactly. Strippers didn't bomb the World Trade Center. (joke!)
But seriously folks--the problem is NYC is not the overhyped screaming match between two groups who've never heard the words sensitivity or compromise. The problem is that all small merchants and establishments, from restaurants to dry cleaners to yes, strip clubs, are being driven into bankruptcy by greedy landlords and banks.
There is a bank on virtually every corner of NYC, and neighborhoods are losing their unique character. Small businesses trying to stay afloat are being refused loans by the same bankers we bailed out.
Something is rotten--and it's not in Denmark.
www.newyorkgritty.net

[KWHOO]

01:02 PM on 10/11/2010

Whatever NYC zoning is fine by me. What I find distasteful is the republican hypocrisy on this issue. Waving the flag of family values in one hand and a wad of stripper cash in the other.