Right-wingers like Sarah Palin know that nothing gets Americans hot under the collar like some good old-fashioned wordplay. Take “death panels” as one recent example of fanciful rhetorical styling for political gain. Or how about this one: “Ground Zero mosque.”

The latter phrase, which (surprise!) isn’t technically correct, according to New York-based Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, has become a rallying cry for certain conservative operatives like Palin, Newt Gingrich and Carl Paladino, whom Salon colorfully references in Thursday’s headline, “Racist bestiality enthusiast joins fight against ‘Ground Zero mosque.’ ” –KA

Salon:

Paladino, who is challenging fellow mosque-opponent Rick Lazio for the GOP gubernatorial nod, is out with the following radio ad that reveals Paladino’s plan to use eminent domain to defeat the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” when he is elected governor. (Never mind that that’s probably not possible.)

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