Wisconsin mayor resists calls to resign after Pres. Obama remark

MILWAUKEE — A mayor in northern Wisconsin says he won't accede to calls for him to resign or back down from comments he posted on Facebook that President Barack Obama is a Muslim who has "destroyed the fabric of democracy."

Superior Mayor Bruce Hagen said Tuesday he stands by his statement on a photo of Michelle Obama that "she and her Muslim partner have destroyed the fabric of democracy that was so very hard fought for." He said it's a matter of free speech.

Several council members called for Hagen to retract his remark. City Councilor Graham Garfield says one problem is that Hagen used "Muslim" as a slur. He said that's offensive to Wisconsin Muslims, and untrue about Obama's religion.

Obama has long maintained the importance of his Christian faith.