Video: Obama now “very concerned” about Iranian regime’s tone
posted at 5:35 pm on June 19, 2009 by Allahpundit
Mind you, this comes on a day when he used the words “rise up” in a plea to, um, America’s dads. Is this a step up or a step down from the “deep concerns” he expressed earlier this week? Doesn’t matter, really. Even at 40 seconds, this bit of diplomatic Obamaspeak feels like an eternity, but the gist of it is that the “international community” — i.e. Russia and China, the swing votes on the Security Council — is supposedly getting a hard lesson about just how brutal and corrupt Iran’s regime is, as if (a) that was ever in doubt, (b) Russia and China aren’t just as bad, and (c) there are any remaining sanctions that could still be imposed that would get Iran to give up its nuke program. Even reliable Obama fans like David Ignatius are now calling for firmer support for the protesters, but I have a hunch The One’s biding his time to see how things shake out tomorrow. There’s a massive rally planned for 4 p.m. to be led by Mousavi; maybe the reformists will back down, in which case encouragement now from Obama will look like an epic fail, or maybe they’ll follow through and end up in a de facto civil war with Iranian security (it’s not as unlikely as you think), in which case encouragement now from Obama will look like proximate cause. If the protests drag on through the weekend, in open defiance of Khamenei’s warning at prayers this morning — and it sure sounds like they will — The One will have to start taking them seriously and recalibrate accordingly.
In case Ed hasn’t mentioned it elsewhere today, the House passed a resolution supporting the protesters 405-1, with our libertarian Pope the lone no vote against liberty. See, he’s against commenting on the affairs of other sovereign nations as a matter of principle — except when it involves intercountry adoptions in Romania or jihadist attacks in Egypt. Or, of course, Israel.
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Is it just me, or does Barack Obama look awful in this clip? He looks like he’s aged 5 years in a month.
Ed Morrissey on June 19, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Looks the same to me.
redrock on June 19, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Your right Ed. O-bey looks very haggard.
Interesting that he is so concerned with “Tone” as he has proven to be the most tone deaf politico is years.
portlandon on June 19, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Does he think that being president is just a matter of choosing the right adjectives?
Cicero43 on June 19, 2009 at 5:38 PM
He is SOOOO far in over his head.
Cicero43 on June 19, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Could be the new hair color did not turn out so well?
Or it could be the color of his suit?
Or it could be talking about freedom just makes him feel all icky inside.
freeus on June 19, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Yo Barry? U outta Just for Men?
JiangxiDad on June 19, 2009 at 5:40 PM
heh…Well, that could be said about almost every POTUS, certainly the last few. Stressless, that job ain’t.
But yeah…Obama’s “concerned” again. Concerned about oil prices. Concerned about home foreclosures. Concerned about N. Korea. Concerned about Iran.
As always, it’s action that speaks…not concern.
Now, what’s he gonna DO about it?
JetBoy on June 19, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Weak.
myrenovations on June 19, 2009 at 5:40 PM
ron paul is such a crank on foreign policy. total waste of a good libertarian on many other issues. shame…
homesickamerican on June 19, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Is it just the light or do I see some graying around the temples?
Ha, and I wrote that before I saw your comment, Ed. Yes he does look the worse for wear.
Dusty on June 19, 2009 at 5:41 PM
He really does. It’s starting to show. He is out of his element. Did O-bey really think that being President was just being a figure head for “change”? I really think this job is just too much for someone who has had little experience with governance. On the job training indeed.
portlandon on June 19, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Same clueless look. No passion for anything except himself.
izoneguy on June 19, 2009 at 5:41 PM
He was really gray the day the South Korean PM was here. It looked like it had snowed on Barry’s head.
freeus on June 19, 2009 at 5:41 PM
For gods sake; How many polls does it take?
Cybergeezer on June 19, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Barack Obama gets concerned.
George Bush, with all his faults, got pissed, and did something about it.
MadisonConservative on June 19, 2009 at 5:42 PM
The quarrel in the ME has escalated into a scuffle. Time to get serious and write a strongly worded letter.
kirkill on June 19, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Trying to implement fascism in a country specifically designed to thwart it IS very taxing, Ed.
BKennedy on June 19, 2009 at 5:42 PM
I think he looks tired and a little afraid.
myrenovations on June 19, 2009 at 5:42 PM
I got it! Barry ate a bowl of Cheerios right before this interview! He was drugged!
freeus on June 19, 2009 at 5:42 PM
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” Reagan
“Mr. Gorbachev, nice wall.” BHO
ICBM on June 19, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Take no action unless the polls say its OK. Wait until a real crisis….. Oh my,,,,,
PaCadle on June 19, 2009 at 5:43 PM
So sweet. The President of the United States makes a statement, and all he gets is mocked. Looks like our divine dude is blinking too. Better watch out Captain Queeg, that could easily become a nervous tic. And keep ur eye on the strawberries :)
JiangxiDad on June 19, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Maybe he should get a complete physical, and cc the results to the Am. people. Or better yet, be the first to post it online, to save money
JiangxiDad on June 19, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Yup, that’s what I meant.
redrock on June 19, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Hmmm…Obambi must have Rahm monitoring the popularity meter to determine what’s best for Obambi’s continued popularity, e.g., should Obambi actually announce his support for the Iranian people in their quest for freedom or just do nothing!
What a POS he is, Clintoon and Peanut Picker part due all rolled into one crap samich…how lucky for us!
Liberty or Death on June 19, 2009 at 5:45 PM
LEADERSHIP!
COURAGE!
STRENGTH!
HE`S GOT NONE OF IT!
ThePrez on June 19, 2009 at 5:46 PM
He’s a good man. He has the weight of the world on him to try and create world peace overnight while fixing all of Dubya’s financial messes here at home. It’s a tough job and millions of prayers are going up for him everyday for wisdom and strength.
dcwvu on June 19, 2009 at 5:46 PM
My first impression too. The make-up looks funky.
On a different note, there is no conviction here. They’re “just words.”
conservative pilgrim on June 19, 2009 at 5:46 PM
He has got to give up that smoking and Cheerios…
right2bright on June 19, 2009 at 5:47 PM
‘Basiji hunting’
Lets roll.
the_nile on June 19, 2009 at 5:47 PM
“As you know, the West has much to our to walls. Every room in our homes has traditionally had four of them.”
You just don’t respect greatness./sarc
emailnuevo on June 19, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Looks like he needs a smoke really bad.
Dire Straits on June 19, 2009 at 5:47 PM
…to owe to our walls. Whoops.
emailnuevo on June 19, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Actually, sounds quite fun. It’s nice to know that the girls are getting into the act as well.
Illinidiva on June 19, 2009 at 5:48 PM
He looks depressed about having to lecture fellow totalitarians that they ought to consider the bad “international community” (xoymoron) affect of thug-visuals.
clorensen on June 19, 2009 at 5:48 PM
OT a little. But they still worship The One;
http://www.wsc.ma.edu/Spotlights/Obaminoes.html
-Love the obligatory Lincoln and MLK comparisons. Ya, right!
This is where I chose to go back to school after the army and 20 years since my last college experience.
Talk about Indoctrinate U. I could go on for days….
reaganaut on June 19, 2009 at 5:48 PM
LOL. That was a good one.
Dusty on June 19, 2009 at 5:48 PM
WHAT
A
PUTZ!!!
Ragspierre on June 19, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Nice work. I think we have a winner.
Missy on June 19, 2009 at 5:49 PM
How could this man be stressed? He hasn’t done anything but pose for pictures and overload the American people with his sermons.
txag92 on June 19, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Not to single him out because he’s Muslim, but why did Keith Ellison vote present on the resolution?
Okay, I guess I’m singling him out because he’s Muslim.
frankj on June 19, 2009 at 5:49 PM
I was just thinking what Thatcher would have said …
Hope on June 19, 2009 at 5:50 PM
ED,I think your right!
Heres what it looks like to me,
A top Military official had a discussion with President Obama,and in no certain terms,proceeded to use a No.#9
Reamer,and explained to Obama that he should of spoke up,
a long time ago,and now his words towards the Iranian
peoples are empty,and he basically threw the Iranian’s
under da bus!!
Then the top Military official shook his head walking away!!
canopfor on June 19, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Leader of the free world ? not much.
the_nile on June 19, 2009 at 5:50 PM
[txag92 on June 19, 2009 at 5:49 PM]
Maybe TOTUS threatened him.
Dusty on June 19, 2009 at 5:51 PM
I cannot keep comparing his actions now regarding Iran, to those in the past when he was globe trotting, and asserting he was a citizen of the world. He could identify with those in Germany, France and Great Britain. He goes to Cairo, and he can identify with all in the ME but Israel.
Who does he identify with in this particular Iranian situation? Yeah, the mullahs. It is definitely not the people. He cannot identify with freedom. That is not how he rolls. Hence, he does not know what to do with the Iranian people.
freeus on June 19, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Obama totally screwed the pooch on Iran. Anything he says about it from here on out looks utterly meaningless and phony.
Emily M. on June 19, 2009 at 5:51 PM
With Barack at the helm, that is all we have, a prayer.
He can’t fill an appointment without appointing a tax evader.
The bank bail outs are a complete failure
The auto bail outs are even worse
He has so many czars you can’t keep count
His promise, HIS PROMISE, that we won’t reach the levels of unemplyoyment we have reached, and still climbing…is just one of many promises he has failed keeping.
But he did promise to continue killing healthy baby’s, so he has that going for him…
You are so right, all we have is a prayer that he will wake up and realize, he just can’t lead…he should resign.
We would be better off with Biden.
right2bright on June 19, 2009 at 5:52 PM
What the hell — still not “miffed?” What’s with this guy, anyway? Democrats are supposed to go from “concerned” to “troubled” to “very concerned” to “distressed” to “miffed” to “perturbed.” It’s as if he came into this thing with no experience or something. Get with the program, O. Listen to your Secretary of State. She’s probably already “uneasy” by now.
Ronnie on June 19, 2009 at 5:53 PM
We will soon be saying “It depends on what the definition of free is”…
right2bright on June 19, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Tidied that up for you.
Dusty on June 19, 2009 at 5:53 PM
I think you are 100% right. He rarely (ever?) uses the word “freedom” at all and there is a reason for that.
Missy on June 19, 2009 at 5:54 PM
He’s doing the “Me to”, as the Georgian invasion.
the_nile on June 19, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Your right. The call to prayer is sounded 3 times a day all over the muslim world.
portlandon on June 19, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Hey Michelle…I think BO needs changing.
HoustonRight on June 19, 2009 at 5:54 PM
I think he is just stressed that the Destroyer thats moving to intercept the NKorean boat is the USS John McCain. That is fate and irony hard at work!
wuesteblitz on June 19, 2009 at 5:54 PM
“Very concerned”? What is he, the UN now? Obama’s concern and three bucks will get you a gallon of gas.
Kevin M on June 19, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Lol, thanks.
Emily M. on June 19, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Dubya bailed out the banks last fall, not Obama. I’m so glad we have a competent President now, and yes I will continue to pray for him everyday until he leaves office in 2017. I have a President for the first time in 9 years and am so very proud of everything he’s done in a short time and everything he will do in the future. God bless you, Mr. President!
dcwvu on June 19, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Snort!
Insert eye rolling here.
freeus on June 19, 2009 at 5:56 PM
He’s entitled to look tired. What’s bothersome is the “uh”s. You’d think experience in the office would have broken this odious habit by now.
RushBaby on June 19, 2009 at 5:56 PM
He looks the same to me, but I can only view his evil self for a few seconds before my gag reflex kicks in, so I could be wrong. I hope he’s aging in his “experience” and his education. The guy is so far in over his head it’s scary.
UnEasyRider on June 19, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Barack Obama: The Ultimate “Concern” Troll.
TheUnrepentantGeek on June 19, 2009 at 5:57 PM
So,’Ron Paul’ has no use for Liberty or freedom!
The lone NO VOTE!
canopfor on June 19, 2009 at 5:57 PM
PRESENT!
omnipotent on June 19, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Sure he does. Remember this excerpt from a radio interview in 2001:
WashJeff on June 19, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Is there some prize for comedic comments today? “dcwvu” is going all out to win it!
Master Shake on June 19, 2009 at 5:58 PM
right2bright on June 19, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Don’t both praying for Obama. Considering his stand on killing babies, I believe your words are better off directed to the other team.
Jeff from WI on June 19, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Fixed.
Hawkins1701 on June 19, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Sir, step away from the crack pipe..NOW!!!
HoustonRight on June 19, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Good God this man can find a way to Vote “Present” on anything.
Dopavash on June 19, 2009 at 6:01 PM
That is so sappy. I sure hope you are not a statists and are just having fun trying to provoke reactions.
WashJeff on June 19, 2009 at 6:01 PM
He thought everything and everyone would bend to his will after 1-20-09, so he doesn’t even need to comment on this, just lift a finger and they will be enlightened. Not so much.
Ron Paul voting against the resolution is reason number 1,458,333,829 why I will never EVER vote for him.
thebrokenrattle on June 19, 2009 at 6:01 PM
ALERT! ALERT! BDS!
Okay. So, if some of us say Obama is not our President, and for the past 5 months we have not had a President; your head is not going to explode, or anything right? And you are then not going to call us unpatriotic right?
freeus on June 19, 2009 at 6:01 PM
He inherited that from Bush.
Del Dolemonte on June 19, 2009 at 6:01 PM
This is not your daddy’s Democratic party. John Kennedy said:
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.”
Obama is such a disgrace.
Terrye on June 19, 2009 at 6:02 PM
*gag*
JetBoy on June 19, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Maybe it’s because of all the sleep he’s reportedly losing over the astronomical debt he’s saddled the nation with.
AZCoyote on June 19, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Obama is now “very concerned”???
The well known Obama scale of concern begins as follows:
Level 1: “Very concerned”… he was this on golf course last Sunday
Level 2: “Troubled” …in comments last Monday
Level 3: “Deeply concerned”…Tuesday-Thursday
I had expected that now that the Iranians are threatening to kill anyone who protests tomorrow he might have ESCALATED to
Level 4: Gives a rat’s ass (though rats have tiny asses)
instead he has fallen back to ““very concerned”. I’m “troubled”.
Justrand on June 19, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Julio…is that you?
JetBoy on June 19, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Amazing.
the_nile on June 19, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Who else among us is so well equipped to see which way the wind blows?
Lonetown on June 19, 2009 at 6:04 PM
I am here to help the Mullahs build a new wall – BHO
izoneguy on June 19, 2009 at 6:04 PM
He’s
agood for nothingman. He has the weight of the world on him to try andcreateapologize to the worldpeace overnightwhilefixingexacerbating all of Dubya’s financial messes here at home. It’s a tough job turning America into a totalitarian socialist state and millions of prayers are going upfor himeveryday forwisdom and strengthhis defeat in 2012.dcwvu on June 19, 2009 at 5:46 PM
FIFY
Disturb the Universe on June 19, 2009 at 6:04 PM
I think Barry being “very concerned” is an unnecessary escalation of tensions with the Iranian leadership. He should have opted for a more moderate “puzzled” or “confounded”, which leaves the door open to a later satisfactory explanation by the mullahs.
What’s with the people advising The Zero? Don’t they have a thesaurus?
Cicero43 on June 19, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Are these replacing the Homeland security color system? Should I close my blinds or anything?
JiangxiDad on June 19, 2009 at 6:05 PM
This is what happens,when their is nobody behind the rudder
of Freedom!
This is what happens when thier is NO LEADER OF THE FREE
WORLD!
It sends a clear message to the enemy’s of the WEST,that
hey,there is no Leader at the helm of the U.S.S Freedom!!
Obama’s 3,4,5,days of silence=APPROVAL to the Mullahs!!
And now,on Atlas Shrugs,Hesbollah and Hamas goons are
either heading on route or already in IRAN,for death
squad roaming!!
ELECTIONS do have consequences,don`t they!!!!!
canopfor on June 19, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Hey now. I’m actually a fan of yours and expect something at least a little more creative. Don’t disappoint me!
dcwvu on June 19, 2009 at 6:06 PM
B,B,B,Bwaak Bwaak.
Hey, hows that play’n fer yer moral down at the fort there Chief?
Troops pretty excited about about yer rhetoric are they?
And what exactly is difference between your’s and the first Carter term?
Speakup on June 19, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Affirmative action at it’s finest!
faol on June 19, 2009 at 6:06 PM
FIFY
canditaylor68 on June 19, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Please try again, kid.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/business/economy/11bailout.html
Don’t see the name “Bush” anywhere there. But thanks for playing!
Del Dolemonte on June 19, 2009 at 6:07 PM
You can keep him. Maybe you can move to Iran together.
I am not at all proud what Obummer has done. None of it.
Worst president evah!!
Obama does not believe in God so please don’t bless him with our God.
And we won’t have a future if Obama has his way.
izoneguy on June 19, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Morale, in too much of a hurry.
Speakup on June 19, 2009 at 6:08 PM
By the end of 0bama’s administration, Carter will look like Richard the Lionheart by comparison.
Cicero43 on June 19, 2009 at 6:08 PM
dcwu:
Bush’s mess??And where were the Democrats in Congress for the last two years? What did they do or not do that might have impacted on that so called mess.
Bush was president for 8 years and for most of that time, until the last two years when the Democrats took control of Congress the economy did pretty damn well.
The Democrats supported going into Afghanistan. They supported removing Saddam from power. They supported lending money to people who could not pay it back. They did nothing to bring down oil prices. So the whole Bush screwed it all up and now Saint Obama has to fix it shtick is way out of line.
Terrye on June 19, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Not concerned about Iranian freedom fighters marching in the streets: check
Not concerned about possible missile strike on California: check
faraway on June 19, 2009 at 6:09 PM
What I heard from that clip is that Obama is “very concerned… that the government of Iran recognize that the world is watching.” And how the Iranian government approaches the demonstrations will “send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is and is not.”
This is total gobbledygook. Where is there any support for liberty, freedom, or the rights of Iranians to anything? He’s not even saying he is “very concerned” about the lives and safety of the demonstrators.
And where is there any threat to the Iranian government? Like the mullahs care if they get a “strongly worded statement” from the international community?
More Mush from the Wimp!
Loxodonta on June 19, 2009 at 6:09 PM
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