I’m keeping a list of bigoted statements by lawmakers and other officials recognized by the major political parties.

SEN. HARRY REID: My statement, I think, is pretty simple. Constitution gives us freedom of religion. I think that it’s very obvious that the mosque should be built someplace else, and that’s what I said.

GOV. DAVID PATERSON: “I think it’s rather clear that building a center there meets all the requirements, but it does seem to ignite an immense amount of anxiety among the citizens of New York and people everywhere, and I think not without cause,” Paterson said in a news conference in Manhattan.

LT. GOV. RON RAMSEY: Now, you know, I’m all about freedom of religion. I’ll obey the First Amendment as much as I obey the Second Amendment, as much as I’ll obey the Tenth Amendment, and on and on and on. But then you cross the line when they start trying to bring Sharia law here to the States, into the United States. We’re already in law, and we live under our Constitution, and they probably live under our Constitution. But it’s scary. Now, you could even argue whether being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life or cult, whatever you want to call it. But certainly we do protect our religions, but at the same time, this is something that we are going to have to face.

RICK LAZIO (NY GUB CANDIDATE): “This is a time when we have to ask serious questions that will keep the people of New York and the people of downtown Manhattan feeling — and actually being — safe.”

RON MCNIEL (GOP FLORDIA CANDIDATE) “I’m totally against it. If I had my way, it would pretty much be over my dead body,” “That religion is against everything America stands for. If we have to let them build it, make them build it nine stories underground, so we can walk above it as citizens and Christians.” [http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/panama-32000-america-stands.html]

GOV TIM PAWLENTY: “I’m strongly opposed to the idea of putting a mosque anywhere near Ground Zero-I think it’s inappropriate,” he said. “I believe that 3,000 of our fellow innocent citizens were killed in that area, and some ways from a patriotic standpoint, it’s hallowed ground, it’s sacred ground, and we should respect that. We shouldn’t have images or activities that degrade or disrespect that in any way.”

GOV MITT ROMNEY: “”Governor Romney opposes the construction of the mosque at Ground Zero. The wishes of the families of the deceased and the potential for extremists to use the mosque for global recruiting and propaganda compel rejection of this site.”

MIKE HUCKABEE: “Even if the Muslims have the right to build it, don’t they do more to serve the public interest by exercising the responsible judgement to not build it, given that it’s really offensive to most New Yorkers and Americans? Or is it just that we can offend Americans and Christians, but not foreigners and Muslims?”"

PALIN: “”Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. .”"

REP. ERIC CANTOR (R-VA):: Everybody knows America’s built on the rights of free expression, the rights to practice your faith, but come on.