Obama Finally Speaks: "I am deeply troubed by the violence I've been seeing on television;" "It's up to the Iranian people to determine their leaders."
Update: Full Statement Added

On FoxNews. Obama answering a question.

The Iranian people tried to determine their leaders, Genius. But the mullahs determined them, Smart-Guy. So what does your dog-food statement actually mean?

"The democratic process, free speech, the ability of people to peacefully dissent; all those are universal values and need to be respected."

Um, you don't have to dissent peacefully in a tyranny. Ask, um, Presidents Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, for starters.

He sounds an awful lot like a guy voting "present" yet again. Expressing some support for the resisters while also supporting the regime by specifying peaceful dissent.

Foreign journalists are being kicked out of the country, so that the regime can kill whomever they like without being seen doing so. Even reporters from Al Jazeera are being booted.

And even on Fox News, cryptoliberal cupcake Shep Smith is spinning for Barack Obama's passivity by claiming that any boldness on his part would be counterproductive and erode the credibility of and sympathy for the resisters.

Oddly enough, Iranian students actually in the line of fire don't agree with this analysis. They want support.

AoSHQ Exclusive: President Barack Obama actually commented in an earlier thread:

Guys relax. I've just over-nighted an Ipod pre-loaded with my magnificent speeches to The Supreme Leader of Iran. See, all better.

So there you go.

Oh, and now Michelle Obama's commenting here:

For the first time in my adult life, I'm really proud of my husband's chicken-shit evasions.

Full Statement: From AHFF Geoff. No cite, but seems correct. Quotes here jibe with the short clips I saw on tv.

OBAMA ON IRAN: In his pool spray with Berlusconi, Obama says he doesn't want to make the United States "the issue," but speaks out forcefully on the Iranian election and its aftermath..."I am deeply troubled by the violence I have been seeing on television. I think the democratic process, free speech, the ability of people to peacefully dissent -- all those are universal values and need to be respected. And whenever I see violence perpetrated on people who are peacefully dissenting, and whenever the American people see that, I think they are troubled."

"There appears to be a sense of people who were so hopeful and so engaged and so committed to democracy, who now feel betrayed, and I think it's important that moving forward, whatever investigations that take place are done in a way that does not result in bloodshed, and does not result in people being stifled, in expressing their views." (6:45 p.m.)

TO THE IRANIAN PEOPLE: "I would say to them that the world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was. And they should know that the world is watching." (6:47 p.m.)

The last part is better, but note how weak it actually is: He thanks the Iranian people for their "participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was," as if mere "participation" in an election voided by rigging -- by a coup -- is really the goal here.

They participated. Their job is done. Thank you, drive through.

I think it's important to these people what the actual outcome of the election was. I don't think mere participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of this election was, is or was their goal.

Again I continue to read his statements as containing as many cautions for the democratic resisters as for the tyrants.

Seattle Slough asks "What could Obama say?"

Well, how about this:

"A democracy doesn't depend merely on people casting votes ; it depends upon those votes actually being counted and the will of the people being respected."

Instead he continues cautioning against "bloodshed," as if bloodshed and tumult are the real enemies here, rather than the mullahs causing the bloodshed and tumult. He puts himself on the side of stability over actual democracy and freedom.

As has often been said of Muslim "stability" -- it's the stability of the sewer. It's the stability of ruins already reduced to dust.

There's a little something for everyone in his statements, isn't there?

Update: Full Statement Added &bodytext=On FoxNews. Obama answering a question. The Iranian people tried to determine their leaders, Genius. But the mullahs determined them, Smart-Guy. So what does your dog-food statement actually mean? "The democratic process, free speech, the ability of people to peacefully...&topic=world_news"> posted by Ace at 06:08 PM

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