That too, caught my eye: “Without universal suffrage...”. Perhaps they would like Nancy Pelosi appointed to monitor the Papal elections.
And snidely comparing the Cardinals at the Vatican to the mullahs in Iran. Nice touch.
QUESTION: Can I just ask you: Does the United States regard the election of the Pope to that election to have met international standards for the election of a world leader? (Laughter.) He is, after all, a head of state, and a head of government. Does it follow? Does it you routinely criticize countries or governments for having elections where there is not universal suffrage, where there is not any possibility of appealing the results, where there is not where there were no monitors, for example. Im wondering if this meets the standard for a free and fair election in your mind.
MS. NULAND: Well, I think the world has watched this conclave go forward as its gone forward in history down the centuries.
QUESTION: Today, it seems like it would be the its probably the least transparent election. (Laughter.) I mean, its more opaque than an election in North Korea or Iraq under Saddam Hussein.
MS. NULAND: But it is, nonetheless, an election with designated balloting and multiple rounds of balloting. But Matt, I could perhaps recommend that the next time they do it, youre interested in being a monitor? Is that possibly —
QUESTION: Yeah. Id love that.
MS. NULAND: — an option? I dont know if you would meet their standards, right? (Laughter.)
QUESTION: I might not. I might not.
MS. NULAND: Do you —
QUESTION: But I say all this just thinking Im just being and I hope that the Holy See appreciates that Im just asking because I am a devils advocate. So thats so, but you can you —
MS. NULAND: I think you secretly aspire to some red shoes, maybe.
QUESTION: But, so you dont you think the election of the Pope was okay? It meets your the fairness, free and fairness standard?
MS. NULAND: I dont think that we have any reason to question the process.
QUESTION: Okay. More generally, whats your what does the U.S. think about theocracies?
MS. NULAND: (Laughter.)
QUESTION: No, Im curious. You seem to think I mean, and with all due respect, Im not accusing the Vatican of doing anything improper. But you seem to take issue with theocracies in places like Iran, and yet you celebrate the theocracy in the Vatican.
MS. NULAND: Matt, he is the head of the church. And as you know, the amount of —
QUESTION: And so its a private club; its different than —
MS. NULAND: It is he is the head of a church, and we will take it on that basis. I think were gone beyond our podium here.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2013/03/206272.htm
He also compared it with N Korea and Saddam Husseins Iraq. I think his name is Mathew Lee - senior correspondant with the AP.