It seems like everyone is talking about the Ground Zero mosque. Everyone, that is, except for the host state’s Democratic leadership.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D., N.Y.) — neither of them known for media-shyness — issued vague statements weeks ago and, if anything, have gotten only vaguer. Neither will comment directly on the mosque, nor reply to requests for their opinions. The Gawker headline was spot on: “New York’s Two Loudest Democrats Dead Silent on Ground Zero Mosque.”

It’s a telling change. On August 5th — two days after Michael Bloomberg’s speech on the Ground Zero mosque — Weiner had sent the mayor a gushing letter. He began, “Mayor Bloomberg, I honor you for your powerful statement,” and continued, “the constitutional protection of religion…means that elected officials should stay out of the business of deciding where houses of worship may or may not be.”

The Constitution wisely forbids the legal coercion of religion, though it hardly prevents politicians from morally judging anyone’s decisions. But Weiner seems confused on that point. On MSNBC last week, he avoided commenting directly on the mosque by saying, “I don’t believe a member of Congress should be weighing in on this stuff. How is that not a violation of the clear separation of church and state?” He posed the rhetorical question, but did not elaborate.

Andrew Cuomo, New York State attorney general and gubernatorial candidate, has kept six weeks of silence. At a July 7th press conference he said, “If there is a central premise to the founding of this nation, it is religious freedom.” That doesn’t tell us what he thinks about the Cordoba Initiative’s choice for a location, but it does insinuate that those preferring the selection of a better location don’t respect our founding principles.

As Dorothy Rabinowitz quipped, in the intervening period after this “resort to pious battle cries, this claim that antagonists of the plan stand against religious freedom,” Mr. Cuomo has “had less to say.” Given that his opponents — Republican gubernatorial candidates Rick Lazio and Carl Paladino — have made it a campaign issue, and given that Cuomo’s own gubernatorial running-mate — Rochester mayor Bob Duffy — has come out against the mosque, Cuomo’s sudden gag is telling.

New York’s senators are equally evasive. Schumer’s spokesman said that the senator “is not opposed to the plan to build it.” But what does that mean? Just that Schumer won’t legally or politically oppose the building? Or that he morally approves of their choice for a locale? Senator Schumer has not been eager to clarify. John McCormack recounts,

Schumer himself was mum this afternoon following the Senate Democrats’ weekly luncheon. Asked by the Weekly Standard to elaborate on his position (is the mosque good for interfaith relations? insensitive to 9/11 families?), Schumer didn’t reply and ducked into a senators-only elevator, staring blankly ahead while waiting for the elevator doors to close. A call this afternoon to Schumer’s office was not returned.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) has issued only one statement, through her spokeswoman: “The community board…overwhelmingly voted to approve this proposal and the senator supports the board’s decision.” This tells us what Gillibrand thinks of the community board, but not of what she thinks of the Cordoba Initiative or their mosque’s intended location. She will not respond to requests for comment.

Who knew that New York Democrats could suddenly become so reticent?