President Obama Reiterates 'Deep Concern' About Iran's Election (not good enough, Barry!)

The New York Times ^ | one hour ago | By JEFF ZELENY and HELENE COOPER

[lewisglad]

President Obama said Tuesday that it would be counterproductive for the United States “to be seen as meddling” in the disputed Iranian presidential election, dismissing criticism that he has failed to speak out forcefully enough against the growing unrest in Iran.

“I have deep concerns about the election,” Mr. Obama told reporters at the White House. “I think that the world has deep concerns about the election.”

But the president said any direct involvement by the United States would not be “productive, given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations.” He expressed optimism that the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had called for a review of the election, which on Monday resulted in the largest antigovernment demonstration since the 1979 revolution. Opposition protests continued Tuesday.

“I do believe that something has happened in Iran, where there is a questioning of the kinds of antagonistic postures toward the international community that have taken place in the past,” Mr. Obama said. “There are people who want to see greater openness and greater debate and want to see greater democracy.”

He added, “How that plays out over the next several days and several weeks – that is ultimately not something for the American people to decide.

The tempered response from the Obama administration drew criticism on Tuesday from Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who said Mr. Obama had not spoken out strongly enough about the political dissent in Tehran.

“He should speak out that this is a corrupt, flawed sham of an election,” Mr. McCain said in an interview on NBC’s “Today.” “The Iranian people have been deprived of their rights. We support them in their struggle against a repressive, oppressive regime.”

[cranked]

Broken TOTUS (i.e.: record) PING!

[givemELL]

I have ‘deep concern’ about recently diagnosed toe fungus.

[villagerjoel]

I’m proud of my president. No, wait...that was France’s president who called this election a fraud! Mine just said that it was “deeply concerning.” Speaking of being deeply concerned, it looks like we might get a hard rain here later tonight...

[lewisglad]

NO TELEPROMPER! :)

[lewisglad]

Mr. McCain, who challenged Mr. Obama for the White House last year but has been measured in his criticism of the president in the first months of the administration, said the United States should “speak up for the people of Tehran and Iran and all the cities all over that country who have been deprived of their fundamental rights.” “We make sure that the world knows that America leads,” Mr. McCain said.

Ironic that is is McCain leading him on this issue...

[ScreamingFist]

What Obama should have said......"Iranian freedom fighters, America is with you, we have dispatched special aircraft to overcome the jamming of International signals by your repressive regime.....These EC-130 aircraft will enable you to get your voice out to the rest of the world. God Bless and good luck from the American people."

EC-130. A multi-purpose asset capable of conducting both PSYOP and EW, the EC-130E, Commando Solo, is an airborne platform "primarily designed for PSYOP." Commando Solo can conduct psychological broadcast missions in the standard AM, FM, HF, TV and military communications bands. Missions in Bosnia were flown at maximum altitudes possible to ensure optimum propagation patterns. Highly specialized modifications had been made to the latest version of the EC-130E. These included enhanced navigation systems, self-protection equipment, and the capability of broadcasting color television on a multitude of worldwide standards throughout the TV VHF/UHF ranges.

[handy old one]

“Deep Concern” is not the answer they need to fix the problem. They need the help of the civilized world to back them and to show some backbone between right and wrong.

[lewisglad]

[ctdonath2]

Of course he has deep concerns about the election.
He’s worried that our next one might look very similar.

[lewisglad]

[Captain Kirk]

Not good enough? What do you want? An invasion? Sorry to let you know that we’re bankrupt and can’t afford another Wilsonian crusade.

[RexBeach]

Barrack Obama: Tower of Jello.

[sofaman]

"Teleprompter Obama said Tuesday that it would be counterproductive for the United States “to be seen as meddling” in the disputed Iranian presidential election ..."

But we'll meddle in Israel just fine, thank you. What a bunch if nincompoops we have in the WH!

[WayneS]

What? He REITERATED his concern? Wow! “Our” president is so BRAVE and STRONG.

I’m SURE that Mr. Ironmydinnerjacket is shaking in his boots. I’ll bet by tomorrow he will call a press conference in which he will admit the election was a fraud and concede to his opponent.

What a STATESMAN the Obamessiah is!

[bgill]

Keep up the ducking and swaying but eventually one will tire and things will find their mark.

[mmichaels1970]

direct involvement by the United States would not be “productive, given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations.”

PRESENT!

[WayneS]

Is “concerning” even a word when used in that context?

[BJClinton]

This person is not competent to be CiC.

[N. Theknow]

But the president said any direct involvement by the United States would not be “productive, given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations.”

Oh, psshah.