Wedge issues divide politicians from independents
Ed Hornick
CNN
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/POLITICS/08/19/independents.wedge.issues/t1larg.mosquesign.gi.jpg caption="There has been anger and frustration over the construction of an Islamic Center near ground zero in Manhattan" width=300 height=169]
The current ruckus over building an Islamic center and mosque near ground zero, calls to change the 14th Amendment and other so-called "wedge" issues are roiling up each party's base, but they're turning off independents, analysts say.
"This is party politics as usual with respect to all of these wedge issues," said Jacqueline Salit, president of independentvoting.org, a national strategy and organizing center for independents. "I think there's more and more of a steady recognition that these kind of wedge issues and political manipulation, sensationalism and opportunism is exactly what is degrading the American political process and our democracy."
Salit, who is also the executive editor of The Neo-Independent magazine, said that people are having a hard time understanding what's happening with the economy because of partisanship.
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Filed under: 360° Radar |
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An to be clear... I am NOT comparing the Muslims to Nazis. They have nothing in common. But if the right to free speech is gaurenteed to the nazis (personally, i think the nazis are a disgrace to humanity), then we as a country owe it to the Muslims to protect thier right to worship where and as they please.