People are going to take whatever he says and twist it to reflect what they want it to mean or how they think. I thought the whole thing was perfectly clear. It was implicit in the first statement that he thought it was a controversial decision to build the mosque there but he believes they have the right.

I find it disgusting that he is being slammed for defending the constitutional rights of citizens of this countruy and refusing to throw weight behind efforts to stop them.

I can see what people are saying only after employing some very twisty thought processes.

I prefer to just listen to what he said and take it as he said it. It was perfectly clear when you don't go straining to read between the lines.

(Having said all that I notice what the title of the video I am linking says. What it should say is "Obama Backs the Right to Build Mosque Near Ground Zero", but apparently the person was too lazy to actually listen to the speech or to add the extra word. Unbelievable.)