Reid stands by previous statement on mosque near ground zero

Sen. Harry Reid on Wednesday morning stuck with his position that Muslims have the First Amendment right to build a mosque near ground zero, but that the project should not go ahead because its construction could further divide the nation.

“I’ve said what I’m going to on that,” Reid responded when asked by a reporter whether he wanted to clarify why he took a position counter to that of President Obama, who said an Islamic center could be built on the site.

"I've said that there's a freedom of religion," Reid said. "It's time to bring people together and it's not a time for polarization. And I think that everyone would be better off if it were built somewhere else.”

Asked if he was disappointed by the rifts in the party on the topic, Reid quipped, "Which party?"

Reid refused to answer a question about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s call for an investigation into who might be funding opposition to the mosque.

Reid’s comments came after a news conference announcing the opening in November of a USO lounge at McCarran International Airport.