New Obama on Iran: “We stand behind those who are seeking justice in a peaceful way”
posted at 7:54 pm on June 19, 2009 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
As far as I know, this is his first unequivocal statement of support for the protesters — and yet, incredibly, CBS actually cut it from the clip of the interview they aired on the Evening News, choosing instead to devote time to his point about the U.S. not wanting to interfere in Iranian affairs. It’s worth reading along with the extended transcript while you watch the vid to see what they omitted. Quote:
What you’re seeing in Iran are hundreds of thousands of people who believe their voices were not heard and who are peacefully protesting and – and seeking justice. And the world is watching. And we stand behind those who are seeking justice in a peaceful way. And, you know, already we’ve seen violence out there. I think I’ve said this throughout the week. I want to repeat it that we stand with those who would look to peaceful resolution of conflict, and we believe that the voices of people have to be heard, that that’s a universal value that the American people stand for and this administration stands for…
But the last point I want to make on this – this is not an issue of the United States or the West versus Iran. This is an issue of the Iranian people. The fact that they are on the streets under pretty severe duress, at great risk to themselves, is a sign that there’s something in that society that wants to open up.
I can’t believe CBS would suppress this for any political reason. Can it be that they really don’t know a scoop when they see it?
As noted earlier, it looks like tomorrow at 4 p.m. is zero hour in Iran. If Mousavi and the reformists go through with the rally, the regime basically has to crack down or it’ll look cowed in the face of the popular uprising. The Basij are already sharpening their axes. Literally.
Watch CBS Videos Online
Update (Ed): Thank you, President Obama — and it’s about time.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
He stands “behind” them, not in front, or beside.
There’s a telling turn of phrase. Better than “present” but not by a lot.
And who is to say the PR machine doesn’t make out the protestors as violent?
Harry Schell on June 19, 2009 at 7:58 PM
He needs to take that American flag off his lapel and put on the white flag of cowardice in its place.
elduende on June 19, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Yeah, sure we do. Way, way, behind. Like, back at the starting gate while the lead horse is finishing the first lap behind. Too little, too late, Bambi.
TheQuestion on June 19, 2009 at 7:59 PM
He finally says something in support of the protesters and you guys dump on him anyway?
Allahpundit on June 19, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Too little, too late. Barry failed, yet again.
Christien on June 19, 2009 at 8:01 PM
How can you “repeat” something you’ve never said before?
AbeFroman on June 19, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Standing,and watching,as blood flows through the
streets of Tehran,in a robust debate,through
the use of Chicago gangland type persuasion!!
canopfor on June 19, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Is it just me or does Hussein looks tired and maybe aged a couple to 5 years ?
redrock on June 19, 2009 at 8:01 PM
“And, you know, already we’ve seen violence out there”
by WHOM, Mr. President?
C’mon…you can say it! But he won’t. Hiding behind ambiguity that implies it COULD be the protesters who have been “violent”.
Coward, miscreant, pretender!
Justrand on June 19, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Um, yep. There’s a pattern. Remember his silence on Georgia whilst he stuck his pinkee in the air to see how the polls were going?
Dingbat63 on June 19, 2009 at 8:06 PM
I’m not going to. But why does everything take this guy days to figure out? It’s as though he doesn’t have an intrinsic sense of right and wrong, and he just waits to see what develops before he can bring himself to choose a side.
capitalist piglet on June 19, 2009 at 8:06 PM
HE HAD TO POLL IT BEFORE MAKING A LUKEWARM RESPONSE. That’s not leading, that’s called following.
marklmail on June 19, 2009 at 8:06 PM
He took days to come up with that bunch of pussified crap?
Yep, dump on him and dump on him some more.
single stack on June 19, 2009 at 8:06 PM
This seems to be as much as to say, “As long as the protesters confine themselves to ineffectual means, we support what they’re doing.”
Kralizec on June 19, 2009 at 8:07 PM
Allah is that 4 p.m. our time or would you give the equivalent? You really can’t expect everyone to jump up and down with joy over this declaration. After so many days it sounds calculated to say the very least. What we stand for doesn’t spring readily to the lips of our president. Why is that?
Cindy Munford on June 19, 2009 at 8:09 PM
A day late and a dollar short. This guy is pathetic.
ORrighty on June 19, 2009 at 8:09 PM
P.S. Why does he constantly tell us that he “said it before”? “As I’ve said”. “As I’ve stated”. Watch for this. He does it EVERY TIME. Must be a technique like the ubiquitous word “clear”.
marklmail on June 19, 2009 at 8:09 PM
The problem is that he flushed his credibility down the toilet by first claiming victory last Friday, then his silence, then his prevarications, and now at the point where his Iran policy is about to be very dramatically eviscerated at the hands of the Basij he comes out to support the dissidents…it looks even faker than usual.
elduende on June 19, 2009 at 8:10 PM
So does this mean if the people of Iran are forces to take up arms against their oppressors and fight for their God given rights to be free that the US will not support them? With zero as our president, I will not be surprised.
Spectreman on June 19, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Again, invertebrate eunuch poser. Shame on him.
doctormom on June 19, 2009 at 8:10 PM
So, we could pretty well kiss off an Obama administration supporting Sam Adams, Thomas Jefferson, george Washington, etc, eh?
Obama is a maroon, with Wile E. Coyote for a vice President, and a whole slew of Looney Toon characters supporting them.
AW1 Tim on June 19, 2009 at 8:11 PM
He’s a pragmatist. That means “unprincipled opportunist”. Right and wrong are foreign concepts to him.
single stack on June 19, 2009 at 8:11 PM
Oh goody, they did a Palin on him.
promachus on June 19, 2009 at 8:11 PM
Yes.
Kralizec on June 19, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Ya, inspiring huh? I mean, will the MSM mark that one as one of his best speeches too? Which great past speech will the MSM compare it with? Cairo? The “Race” speech? The “I can no longer disown Rev.Wrong” speech?
It was weak AP, but I will admit, maybe I’m missing something you see here that I don’t.
javamartini on June 19, 2009 at 8:13 PM
If he is truly supporting protesters in a meaningful way, why isn’t he putting it out in an official statement from the White House Why is it deep in a CBS interview, at the mercy of their editors? The dissidents in Iran NEED to know he supports them. He should say so from the podium and it would be shouted from the rooftops all over Iran.
Obama has the bully pulpit. If this is what he truly believes, he needs to make it clear for the world to hear.
Missy on June 19, 2009 at 8:13 PM
Uh…and…uh…and…uh I lost count.
To me, it was just more platitudes. He had to mention “the old way.” I will say he looked awful in that clip and the tie didn’t help. Maybe it was the feed, but it looked like multi colored polka dots. Bleah. It also reminded me of why I don’t like to listen to him. You’d think if he meant what he was saying it would show in his voice. It sounded like a bedtime story.
Aside: Do they deliberately try to match their ties on this news show? Both the anchor (don’t know his name) and Harry Smith were wearing ties that looked like salt water taffy.
Beaglemom on June 19, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Worries me about the “seeking justice in a peaceful way.” Obviously we all support that, but if the mullahs can trump up (or create) some violent subset in the protests to justify a crackdown, Obama’s “peaceful” proviso seems to give him an escape hatch to work with the oppressing regime.
Patrick on June 19, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Oops, sorry, forgot a ? at the end there.
Missy on June 19, 2009 at 8:14 PM
+
the_nile on June 19, 2009 at 8:14 PM
So, AP, you’re satisfied with “finally” as the standard for the President? The US used to lead, not follow. Disgusting that you are satisfied with “finally”!
Dingbat63 on June 19, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Er, um , uh, unless they’re tea baggers, then universal values are flushed down the toilet.
Oblahblah is such a freakin liar.
fogw on June 19, 2009 at 8:15 PM
CBS had a point in editing it the way they did. Maybe they didn’t want him to look like ChimpyMcHalliburtonHitlerBush?
I heard earlier that Mousavi is asking all people to march on Sunday. Is that true?
PattyJ on June 19, 2009 at 8:15 PM
AAhhhh. a moment of illumination. Thank you Mr. Pundit.
Now I understand why Obama can say, “as I’ve always said, so many times before”. He can say that because he has said everything, been on every side, on every issue. But most of what he says never gets reported.
What does get reported is subject to interpretation; what do the words actually mean, and do those words he speaks mean the same thing to him that they do to the audience.
Skandia Recluse on June 19, 2009 at 8:16 PM
“as I’ve stated” has to be the clue for the history rewriters in the Whitehouse and MSM to work their magic on old texts and insert what he is saying now so that when you look back on it it was “always” there.
“Let me be clear” is the erasing function. The history rewriters go back over texts and clear up his “misspokes”
This way he is always seen as perfect and not the very flawed President that we know him as at HA.
journeyintothewhirlwind on June 19, 2009 at 8:17 PM
I’ll repost here what I had posted on my Facebook page today:
I heard on the radio (740 KTRH) today that that House passed a resolution supporting the peaceful protests in Iran, while here at home, the DoD considered protester low-level terrorists. I’m still waiting to hear from any member of Congress on the irony of this.
madmonkphotog on June 19, 2009 at 8:17 PM
What do you expect? They want him to fail, just so they can be vindicated. Disgusting.
Grow Fins on June 19, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Hey Barry, send ACORN over there to show them how to protest in a peaceful way?
BobK on June 19, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Its about time! WTF? How long has this been going on, and the dude waits until now during some crappy interview on CBS to announce this previously unknown support for the protesters? Absolutely, beyond the pale, pathetic. This man is no leader…
changer1701 on June 19, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Barry first decided it didn’t really matter who led Iran.
Now that he sees the people of Iran totally without dejection that he’s not involved in their moment of destiny, he decides another measured feign of support is required.
Sorry, BO, the train left the station long ago without you. Maybe someday Barry will look back on this lost opportunity with a sigh, “I could have been a Bush!”
T J Green on June 19, 2009 at 8:19 PM
My Speech at the FPA
Lots of video at the site.
TheBigOldDog on June 19, 2009 at 8:19 PM
Obama couldnt figure out what to say for 4 days..
Now he is SUPPOSED to be the LEADER of the FREE world..
You know
FREEDOM
that little thing that liberals hate so much..
It seems obama is actually hoping the demonstrators would FAIL..
You know liberals hate anyone who doesnt like what they are doing..
veteranoutrage on June 19, 2009 at 8:19 PM
Considering the hurt that’s about to unfold in Iran, Barry and his stupid posturing are NOTHING. He had his chance to man up. He blew it.
Christien on June 19, 2009 at 8:19 PM
Perhaps, but I’d awfully careful about throwing stones given the glass house your side occupies on that account.
Allahpundit on June 19, 2009 at 8:20 PM
No , we want him to fail cause he got crazy ideas.
the_nile on June 19, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Heres a cartoon,I ripped from Ace’s site!!
http://www.drybonesproject.com/blog/D09621_1.gif
canopfor on June 19, 2009 at 8:20 PM
That’s not the reason they want him to fail.
Kralizec on June 19, 2009 at 8:21 PM
He is not standing with the protesters, AP. Listen more carefully.
doctormom on June 19, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Grow Fins
I dont want him to fail, I want him to resign!
javamartini on June 19, 2009 at 8:24 PM
As predicted.
The poll testing and the triangulations all concluded what we knew several days ago. Now he will attempt to take credit.
Here’s a tip Barack, when millions of people take to the street in the face of guns and violence, there’s something going on and it ain’t good for the powers that be. You have been depending on losers.
patrick neid on June 19, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Slightly off topic, but doesn’t the still image of the Big 0 in the video look like he just might cry from all the strain he is under?
glennbo on June 19, 2009 at 8:24 PM
The last thing he wants to do is vote anything othere than “present”.
ORrighty on June 19, 2009 at 8:24 PM
And just what was his strategy, Fins? What was he trying to win here, exactly? He refuses to support the people getting beaten in the streets for fear that it’d be seen as meddling…the Iranian gov’t blamed America anyway. I honestly believe he just wanted it all to go away; he was scared of pissing Ahmadinejad off fearing that it might scuttle his glorious peacemaking skills with that abysmal regime. He was thinking of the worldwide pronouncements exalting him for halting their nuke building (just as Clinton got praised over the deal with the Norks…we see how that worked). Mousavi and Co got in the way, though.
changer1701 on June 19, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Reagan came out hard to support Poland when they were rising up against the Soviet union , Iran is tiny.
the_nile on June 19, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Dump on him no matter what he says now. He took forever, and is only saying something due to pressure from: the Congress, the Senate, the Europeans, the Iranians, the left, the right, and shortly the polls.
He’s irritated this is keeping him off the center of the world stage, Flyswatter/Cipher in Chief.
His moment of potential glory on topic passed several days ago. Don’t feel guilty. Dump. He deserves a sh*tload of dumping, because for freedom/liberty for those who risk their lives on the streets in Iran he wasn’t when it mattered the most. Anything else is Gibbs-like.
Schadenfreude on June 19, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Fail at what? Talking?
Cindy Munford on June 19, 2009 at 8:26 PM
When you say “finally”…………
………… you answer your own question.
Seven Percent Solution on June 19, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Maybe this never happened the first time around and Obama called CBS to re-interview and add this “cut” only to look as if he was supporting the protestors all along.
jeridhill on June 19, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Wow, what a strong endorsement of freedom and liberty.
If that impresses anyone, that’s pretty sad.
He looked weak and emaciated.
A lot of what he said he’s already said btw.
The thing is, a lot of Iraninans will hear that and think he’s definately on their side.
As long as it’s peaceful.
Obama better be hoping BIG time the regime fails now.
Even tho that statement was profundly weak, it still manages to put his hat at least half way in the protestors ring.
Personally I wouldn’t want him on my team; It looks like he’s an unwilling reluctant supporter of the people.
If the regime withstands this, tehy won’t be liking Obama very much.
O looks like he’s had a BAD week.
B Man on June 19, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Forgot the spell check.
B Man on June 19, 2009 at 8:30 PM
we want leadership.
some are born with it. some are not. wanna guess which bambi is?
kelley in virginia on June 19, 2009 at 8:30 PM
This is not about Barack Obama.
This is about supporting democracy worldwide, and undermining a terrorist sponsor, and having a majority of Americans reject appeasement.
So yeah, we’ll reiterate how wrong he was to hesitate in the first place.
Chris_Balsz on June 19, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Wow, what a beautiful lukewarm sentiment about a bunch of people risking their LIVES in protest in a country lead by a bunch of f*cking psychotics.
Give him a Nobel prize. Oh, wait, just take the one given to Arafat. It’ll be just as pointless.
mjk on June 19, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Hey, dumbass? We wanted him to comment days ago in support of the protesters. He failed because he decided not to comment in support of freedom and democracy until now. He takes days and then gives this wimpy statement. He’s a pansy.
Oh, and I don’t recall you rooting for Bush to succeed. In fact, I remember lefties hoping for him to fail just so they can be vindicated. Disgusting.
amerpundit on June 19, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Finally being the operative word there. As in, it took him only five hours to respond to Dr. Tiller’s shooting, but almost a whole week to make up his mind about something that will turn out to have a lot more impact on American policy, in the long run.
TheQuestion on June 19, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Everywhere I look my American brothers and sisters of all races, religions, creeds and political persuasions are coming out in support of the Iranian people. It is as if the one thing that unites us all is the recognition of the oppressed Iranian people yearning to be free. The 1979 revolution and hostage taking aftermath is somehow a touchstone to which all Americans can relate. Why can’t Obama?
jimboslice on June 19, 2009 at 8:33 PM
that wasn’t unequivocal. That is double speak.
tomas on June 19, 2009 at 8:35 PM
“Present” not working as well as it used to Barry?
Fitting he has to be forced into taking a stand. Usual last act of a coward.
Hog Wild on June 19, 2009 at 8:35 PM
I’m sure over the past 8 years you wanted Bush to fail so you could do the exact same thing.
Thanks for playing!
Del Dolemonte on June 19, 2009 at 8:36 PM
It has been like pulling teeth though and it’s still basically just platitudes and CYA from Obama. His “I want to repeat it that we stand with those who would look to peaceful resolution of conflict” is vacuous as the only “peaceful resolution of conflict” there is for the people to submit to the tyrants. Just ask his fellow tyrants there.
MB4 on June 19, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Does anybody think that Obama told them to edit this bit? They’d first air his usual timid guff but if the going got too rough, they’ll air this CYA clip.
promachus on June 19, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Yes, he finally gathers up the courage to express support for people seeking freedom and democracy. After days, growing fatalities, and Congress upstaging him with resolutions of support. I’m not about to throw him a party.
amerpundit on June 19, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Then we get Plugs Biden (with Speaker Botox in the warm-up circle). Which is worse. I truly don’t know.
Dingbat63 on June 19, 2009 at 8:37 PM
A day late and a dollar short, crapmaster.
Ten bucks that a poll was taken before this asshat made a decision on which side to ’support’.
HornetSting on June 19, 2009 at 8:38 PM
Where were you when I was burned and broken?
While the days slipped by from my window watching
Where were you when I was hurt and helpless?
Because the things you say and the things you do surround me
While you were hanging yourself on someone else’s words
Dying to believe in what you heard
I was staring straight into the shining sun
Christien on June 19, 2009 at 8:39 PM
When Iranians have been killed for seeking justice in a peaceful way, why should they be required to remain peaceful to obtain our support?
Loxodonta on June 19, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Thinking it’s always all about Obama. Disgusting.
MB4 on June 19, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Darn, I hadn’t even seen this when I first commented, above.
Here are the polls. It’s not like 75% of Americans agree with him.
Schadenfreude on June 19, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Glad Hussein Obama was not president of France during our revolution.
Wade on June 19, 2009 at 8:43 PM
reminds me of letterman’s first apology
BPD on June 19, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Given the brutality of the Iran regime, I don’t find the president’s statement supportive. The American president should not be telling Iranian civilians they must peacefully submit to being slaughtered.
Loxodonta on June 19, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Well , it’s all from the axelrod script.
the_nile on June 19, 2009 at 8:45 PM
incidentally, notice that he said “in a peaceful way.” If it comes to conflict, he can always walk it back… “These are not the Iranian protesters I thought I knew.”
BPD on June 19, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Ah..um..some ah..people..are talking..ah..about..um..
me..um..not..ah..ah..talking ah enough..and um..ah..and
I um..ah..am..here ah..to..um..say to..ah..my ..aah..ah..
critics..um.ah.that I..um..will ah..assure them ah..that
I..ah..only..um..intend to ah talk only,and ah um..just..
to ah be um..ah..clear,ah it..um..will.ah..be ah..with..um
words only!—————————(Snark).
canopfor on June 19, 2009 at 8:45 PM
I want the president to fail in appeasement of the Iranian regime so the Iranian people can be free and Israel and the world can be a safer place.
Loxodonta on June 19, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Grow Fins, you’re all running around nakid in there. True liberals would be for freedom for all people in the world, at all times, no matter what. Don’t even bother. Most of you are sheep, and comfortable being them. Equal misery is all you’re for.
On “failure”, yes, I want him to fail, because if he does, my country is better off, and so is the world, from the standpoints of freedom, liberty, rewarded individual effort, constitutionality, justice, etc.
Schadenfreude on June 19, 2009 at 8:46 PM
I want him to fail because his goals are evil.
I want him hounded out of office in disgrace, his name forever a curse.
single stack on June 19, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Aw
Wade on June 19, 2009 at 8:47 PM
since none of the islamic jihadists would like us anyway (i’m speaking of the mullahs here), why the wait?
leadership. some are born with it. some are not.
kelley in virginia on June 19, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Wrong, and wrong again. We actually want him to pursue policies that champion freedom and liberty.
We want him to proclaim America’s leadership positions in the world.
We want him to remind the world that we will pay any price, bear any burden, support any friend, oppose any foe…
Got it, now?
massrighty on June 19, 2009 at 8:49 PM
This president is a Friday Morning Quarterback in the league of No-Balls. What a disgrace!
Michelle Dubois on June 19, 2009 at 8:50 PM
into the sun.
Christien on June 19,2009 at 8:39PM.
Christien:Me likey!:)
canopfor on June 19, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Thank you for that.
Loxodonta on June 19, 2009 at 8:52 PM
What do you expect? They want him to fail, just so they can be vindicated. Disgusting.
This is not about Barack Obama.
Bassackwards, guy. I don’t decide what to think about Iran, because of my contempt for Obama. I have contempt for Obama because of how I think about issues like a terrorist neofascism about to erupt in a popular uprising.
I’m in favor of the uprising, btw. Yourself?
Chris_Balsz on June 19, 2009 at 8:53 PM
http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/hes_barack_obama
Just to lighten to load a bit. Hilarious.
Magnus on June 19, 2009 at 8:53 PM
The reason I won’t give him a hearty Kazza! is because he looks more as if he was pressured into it rather than from his heart. The smirk on his face when the question is posed about his critics is telling. My impression is that he thinks that whatever he says should never be questioned and his hesitancy to take a stand when the students were begging him for some sort of support makes his newest response anticlimactic.
On the other hand he swats flies with focus and commitment.
Miss Molly on June 19, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Best of the day! Kudos
HoustonRight on June 19, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »