Posted on 06/19/2009 10:24:56 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON (AP) - In the strongest message yet from the U.S. government, the House voted 405-1 Friday to condemn Tehran's crackdown on demonstrators and the government's interference with Internet and cell phone communications.
The resolution was initiated by Republicans as a veiled criticism of President Barack Obama, who has been reluctant to criticize Tehran's handling of disputed elections that left hard-liner President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power.
Rep. Mike Pence, who co-sponsored the resolution, said he disagrees with the administration that it must not meddle in Iran's affairs.
"When Ronald Reagan went before the Brandenburg Gate, he did not say Mr. (Mikhail) Gorbachev, that wall is none of our business," said Pence, R-Ind., of President Reagan's famous exhortation to the Soviet leader to "tear down that wall."
Democrats, who are quick to voice their support for Israel anytime the Jewish state is seen as under siege, easily agreed to push through the mildly worded resolution.
Rep. Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-sponsor of the resolution, said "it is not for us to decide who should run Iran, much less determine the real winner of the June 12 election.
"But we must reaffirm our strong belief that the Iranian people have a fundamental right to express their views about the future of their country freely and without intimidation," added Berman, D-Calif.
Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., have proposed a similar measure in the Senate, although a vote was not certain.
The policy statement expresses support for "all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties and rule of law" and affirms "the importance of democratic and fair elections."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
The only stand The Kenyan takes is the one supporting TOTUS.
Yes, I think France was happy that our liberation due to their intervention came in time for us to return the favor in 1944.
Why is it ever a good idea to postpone liberty and why are you against that cause?
not by vote but lip service.
The Paulites are still in mourning for the D.C. shooter
due to his same hatred for Israel.
Gee isn’t that none meddling line the same one Obama used? Obama is just as looney but from the opposite pole as Ron Paul.
Imagine going to a Tea Party protest and being beaten, jailed, or killed for your trouble. Now tell us what is “self-righteous” about condemning it. What in the hell is self righteous about wanting the executions in the public square in Iran to stop all because a woman wore lipstick or a man was thought to be gay?
You are the self righteous ones. You Paulistinians are just like the people in that video where the elderly man was hit by a car and everyone stood around and did nothing because it wasn’t their problem.
That lame response was so predictable. I swear I thought as soon as I posted it someone would say something along the lines of “it made Paul look stupid, har har har.”
I'm sure Ahmadinejad is having a nice laugh over though.
“Ron Paul doesn’t like the US meddling in foreign political affairs, so this seems like a consistent vote for him.”
Neither did the founding fathers, specifically, George Washington (Farewell Address).
Predictable to everyone (including you) because it’s true. Calling the village idiot an idiot is simply pointing out the obvious.
Communism: It’s all the Founding Father’s fault!
Ron Paul aside...this is a total show on the part of the RATS. They are firmly behind the mullahs abd status qou.
Bravo!
So much for serious conversation. Well....I tried.
“So where is Obama’s statement?”
President Pantywaist latest: Iran unclenches its fist - to slap Barack Obama’s face
Bring the focus in a little bit: they're standing on the corner arguing that it is inappropriate to express "concern" for the victim.
Historical facts that has led to the situation in Iran as it stands right now doesn't matter to the Paul bashers.
Especially if we don't follow through, since our forces are stretched thin.
We condemn the Iranian regime, then the protesters become emboldened, and the regime will just crack down on them harder while the protesters get a false sense of security that the U.S. will intervene.
FReepers also disregard the fact that so-called "moderate" candidate was in fact a fire-breathing radical in the 1980s.
Meet the new boss, same as the old one. It really doesn't matter who's President anyway since the Mullahs hold all the cards.
Why is it ever a good idea to postpone liberty and why are you against that cause?
Sorry, I missed this. Of course, I am for liberty but here's where we disagee. Genuine revolutions are not dependent on the decisions of paternalistic foreigners.
You don't give enough credit to the founders and too much credit to King Louis The Americans would, in my view, have won even without the French.
In retrospect, I don't think many sane Frenchmen were happy that they had to endure the Terror and Napoleon.
Yes, I think that Obama is self-righteous. He is our president after all and thus is our official spokesman in foreign policy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.