Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who represents Lower Manhattan and Ground Zero released the following statement in regard to President Obama’s statement on the Cordoba House at the Iftar Dinner at the White House yesterday:

“As the Member of Congress who represents Lower Manhattan and Ground Zero, I commend President Obama’s statement on the Cordoba House and his support of our First Amendment rights of freedom of religion and separation of church and state. As I previously stated, government has no business deciding whether there should or should not be a Muslim house of worship near Ground Zero. The United States was founded on the principle of religious liberty and tolerance, and it is equally important 234 years later that we uphold this principle. Hate should have no place in America.”