President Obama: America's enemy is al-Qaida, not Islam

story by MSNBC
photo by Getty Images

WASHINGTON — In a White House news conference focused largely on the sour economy and upcoming election, President Barack Obama also spoke passionately about the mosque and Quran controversies that are threatening to politicize this year's commemoration of the 9/11 terror attacks.

President Obama appealed to the American people to stand by the nation's belief in religious tolerance.

His comments come as a Florida pastor threatened to burn the Muslim holy book on Saturday. A debate is also raging over whether an Islamic center should be built near ground zero in New York City.

The President said the public must remember that the country's enemy is not Islam — it's al-Qaida. He added that Americans cannot turn on each other and let their fears lead to division.

President Obama said he always admired former President George W. Bush for being "crystal clear" that America was never at war with Islam.

Read the live blog of President Obama's press conference: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/10/5085254-live-blogging-obamas-press-conference

He said he will do all he can "to remind the American people that we are one nation under God. And we might call that God different names, but we remain one nation."