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President counters criticism from Republicans who say he should be more forceful
By Jennifer Loven
Associated Press
Published on Wednesday, Jun 24, 2009
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Tuesday declared the United States and the entire world ''appalled and outraged'' by Iran's violent efforts to crush dissent, a clear toughening of his rhetoric as Republican critics at home pound him as being too passive.
Obama condemned the ''threats, beatings and imprisonments of the last few days. ''
''I strongly condemn these unjust actions,'' Obama said in a news conference at the White House.
Obama said his message has been consistent, and he shot back at Republican critics who are calling him timid: ''Only I'm the president of the United States.''
When asked if his strong language on Tuesday was influenced by pressure from such Republicans as Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, Obama scoffed: ''What do you think?''
In Tehran, chaotic images of riot police beating and shooting protesters have seized the world's attention and heightened pressure on Obama to act — or at least speak out more strongly.
At least 17 people have been killed in protests since the election last week.
Protesters in Iran have demanded that the government there cancel and rerun the elections that ended with a declaration of overwhelming victory for hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi says he won and has claimed widespread fraud.
''I have made it clear that the United States respects the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and is not interfering in Iran's affairs,'' Obama said. ''But we must also bear witness to the courage and dignity of the Iranian people, and to a remarkable opening within Iranian society. And we deplore violence against innocent civilians anywhere that it takes place.''
Obama noted the killing of a young woman, Neda Agha Soltan, whose apparent shooting death was captured on video and circulated
worldwide.
''We have seen courageous women stand up to brutality and threats, and we have experienced the searing image of a woman bleeding to death on the streets,'' Obama said. ''While this loss is raw and painful, we also know this: Those who stand up for justice are always on the right side of history.''
Asked if Iran will face consequences for how it has acted, Obama said the world is watching and Iran's handling of dissent ''will help shape the tone not only for Iran's future but also its relationship to other countries.''
Five months into his presidency, Obama also pushed lawmakers to deliver on ambitious overhauls of health care and energy.
His appearance came as his approval rating — while still high, and a little above average for new presidents — was slipping, according to recent polls.
The president took the podium after a troublesome week for the new administration. He's seeking to frame the Washington debate on his own terms after a stretch in which he saw fellow Democrats fretting about the jaw-dropping cost estimates of reforming health care, a series of polls underscoring deep unease among independents and moderates over the soaring deficit, and Republicans challenging him to be stronger in his response to the postelection turmoil in Iran.
Obama didn't rule out shifting U.S. strategy on Iran, which now calls for an opening of dialogue.
''We are going to monitor and see how this plays itself out before we make any adjustments about how we proceed,'' the president said.
Obama said the United States has provided a path for Iran to reach out to the international community and engage with global powers.
''It is up to them to make a decision about whether they choose that path,'' Obama said. He added that the outlook ''obviously is not encouraging in terms of the path that this regime may choose to take.''
Obama strongly countered the idea that he's been slow to forcefully respond to Iran's violent crackdown on dissent.
''I don't think that's accurate,'' Obama said. ''Track what I've been saying.''
The president said he quickly responded after the election results and after violence broke out in the streets of Tehran, and that the United States has frequently condemned infringements on the freedom of assembly and speech for Iranians.
''We've been entirely consistent,'' Obama said.
On Sunday, Sen. Graham, R-S.C., said: ''The president of the United States is supposed to lead the free world, not follow it. He's been timid and passive more than I would like.'' McCain, R-Ariz., who challenged Obama for the presidency, said: ''I'd like to see the president be stronger than he has been.''
On the home front, Obama is asking Congress to pass a sprawling and costly plan to overhaul the nation's health care system, as powerful interest groups warily react with both support and criticism. On energy, Obama and Congress are under pressure to pass climate and energy legislation by the end of this year.
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Tuesday declared the United States and the entire world ''appalled and outraged'' by Iran's violent efforts to crush dissent, a clear toughening of his rhetoric as Republican critics at home pound him as being too passive.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, oh
Posted 07:40 AM, 06/24/2009
Obama will be challenged even more. He is a president with no kahoonas
uniontown, oh
Posted 08:34 AM, 06/24/2009
Obama toughens rhetoric on Iran's violence
The Headline says it all...'Rhetoric'
All Obama has ever done was talk a good game. It also seems he can't even do that without his teleprompter at his side.
Perhaps as a way to curb the violence in Iran, Obama could go over there and appeal to the people of Iran and tell them how sorry he is for all America's transgressions.
After all...Iran is nothing short of a third world country and may not have had the technology to have revived any of Obama's prior apologies to the rest of the world.
Ravenna, OH
Posted 10:24 AM, 06/24/2009
North Korea and Iran knows he's a joke.
Posted 04:17 PM, 06/24/2009
@Brainwashed by the Right Wing Kooks who Post on this Site - Do you suggest that Obama start (2) more wars while we're still caught up in the last bs (1)we started?
uniontown, oh
Posted 10:46 PM, 06/24/2009
@Bridget ~ @Brainwashed by the Right Wing Kooks who Post on this Site - Do you suggest that Obama start (2) more wars while we're still caught up in the last bs (1)we started?
As with Bush so now with Obama...if they wanted to stop the war they could do it at any time. It's called funding! No funding ~ no war...plain and simple!
Buy the way, as with the funding...the President can not spend one plug nickel with out congress first giving approval. So what does that tell you?
For the last two years of the Bush presidency the Dems were in control of Congress and could have stopped the funding.
Today, the Dems control Congress and we also have a Democrat President, yet the war still goes on.
No one really wanted to stop the war. They just wanted to use the war issue as a whipping post against Bush and get the American people all worked up over Bush so as to vote the Dems back in power. And it worked.
So guess what?? The war still goes on with no end, and Bush is no longer President.
