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by Christi Parsons and Peter Nicholas
President Obama today condemned the ongoing government crackdown on Iranian demonstrators, using his strongest language yet, but declined to spell out consequences for the violence, saying there is still time for officials in that country to respect universal "norms and principles" of freedom.
Obama particularly deplored the shooting of a young Iranian woman during a protest, horrific images of which were captured by a cell-phone camera and broadcast around the world in the last 48 hours.
"When a young woman gets shot on the street when she gets out of her car," Obama said, the violence clearly has reached an intolerable level. But reports from Iran show his own statements are being "mistranslated" there and spun to suggest that the U.S. is encouraging rioters, Obama said, and he doesn't want to give opponents anything to work with.
The Iranian protests were a recurring theme of a noon-hour news conference, which also gave equal time to Obama's campaign to pass health care reform - which the president declared critical to the long-term recovery of the economy. He challenged a developing narrative among critics that measures now under development in Congress to extend coverage to uninsured people will cost too much and are politically untenable.
Reform will not only expand coverage, the president argued, but also rein in the skyrocketing cost of health care.
"In this debate there has been some notion that, if we just stand pat, then we're okay, and that's not true," Obama said. "Premiums have been doubling . . . the U.S. government is not going to be able to afford Medicare and Medicaid on its current trajectory . . . So the notion that we can somehow just keep going what we're doing, that's just not true."
The president also smacked down the assertion of private insurers that a public plan would unfairly put them out of business.
"If private insurers say the marketplace provides the best quality health care - if, as they tell us, they're offering us a good deal - then why is it that the government, which they say can't run anything, is going to drive them out of business?" Obama said. "That's not logical."
A day after Obama signed a new law that will crack down on the marketing of tobacco products to young people, the president was asked in the news conference for an update on his own struggle to kick the habit. He compared it to the struggle of members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
"As a former smoker, I constantly struggle with it," he said. "Have I fallen of the wagon? Yes . . . I don't do it in front of my kids, I don't do it in front of my family . . would say I am 95 percent cured. But there are times when I mess up."
Time and again, Obama returned to the subject of Iran and, in a final somber moment, he turned again, when asked, to the shooting of Neda Agha Soltan, killed by a Basij militiaman during a protest on June 20, according to people who say they were eyewitnesses and posted videos of it.
Obama said he saw the video and was moved by it.
"It's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking," the president said. "And I think anybody who sees it knows that there's something fundamentally unjust about that."
"Ultimately what's going to be most important," he said, "is what happens in Iran. We've all been struck by the courage of people . . . The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. We have to believe that, ultimately, justice will prevail."
In his opening remarks, Obama hailed a pending House vote this week on an energy bill that seeks to fight global warming by curbing greenhouse gas emissions. But - holding to the administration's messaging strategy - he never mentioned "global warming" or "climate change."
Instead, Obama emphasized the bill's potential to reduce foreign oil dependence and create "clean energy" jobs. The bill's incentives for wind, solar and geothermal energy "will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy," he said. "And that will lead to the development of new technologies that lead to new industries that could create millions of new jobs in America - jobs that can't be shipped overseas."
Obama said the bill would fight "the carbon pollution that threatens our planet" and said carbon dioxide emissions "contaminate the water we drink and pollute the air we breathe" - a potentially misleading characterization that differs from how most scientists describe "carbon pollution."
Facing increasing pressure to keep up momentum behind his healthcare push, the president redoubled his call for a new government health insurance program to help cover tens of millions of American who now lack coverage and rejected claims by the insurance industry that such a plan would drive them out of business.
"The notion that all these insurance companies who say they're giving consumers the best possible deal, that they can't compete against a public plan as one option, with consumers making the decision what's the best deal, that defies logic," said Obama, calling a new government program an "important tool to discipline insurance companies."
But the president, who said he remains optimistic that Congress will enact sweeping healthcare legislation, did not say he would reject a bill that did not include such a plan. "We are still early in this process," he said.
Obama held his news conference as Democrats on Capitol Hill labor to assemble massive bills to reshape the nation's healthcare system amid concerns about the price tag of the legislation and escalating criticism from Republicans and some moderate Democrats.
Senior Democrats in the House and Senate, who are pushing to get Obama a bill by October, have had to delay debate on key sections of the legislation, including provisions to create a new government health insurance plan and to raise $1 trillion or more expected to be necessary to offset the cost of extending coverage to tens of millions of Americans.
The insurance industry's leading trade associations today reiterated their opposition to a so-called public plan in a letter to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass) in which they said such a plan would have "devastating consequences" on health coverage in America
Leaders in both chambers have not finished work on funding sections of the bills, and it now appears unlikely that work will be done before Congress returns from its July 4 recess.
Noam Levey and Jim Tankersley of the Tribune Washington bureau contributed to this report.
Comments
The power in Iran right now is in the streets, with the courageous demonstrators who are demonstrating that the regime has lost what legitimacy it ever commanded.
Here in America, contrary to the dreams of Republican/Neocon goons like Charles Krauthammer, John McCain and Lindsey Graham however, America does not have the ability to determine events in Iran. More important than what America does is what it does not do. Iran is too important to posture for cheap political points. Obama understands that. His Republican "critics", not surprisingly, don't.
Posted by: 2009 GOP - "No idea's, No plan, No clue" | June 23, 2009 2:58 PM
MILKTOAST
Posted by: Greg | June 23, 2009 3:20 PM
He's appalled? I'm appalled at the way he's running my country into the ground.
Posted by: Paul | June 23, 2009 3:23 PM
What took so long? Obama is a spinless jellyfish
Posted by: Red Blooded American | June 23, 2009 3:25 PM
Verry Funny.
Now bring on the REAL President.
Posted by: BDD | June 23, 2009 3:33 PM
We have to believe that, ultimately, justice will prevail."
More wishful thinking from the idiot in chief. Of course in the meantime we wouldn't want to say anything that might be taken out of context. Those Iranians holding up signs in English are too stupid to understand the actual words and would instead rely on the government embraced by Obama for their interpretation.
The libs really seem to be rallying around our spineless leader after they were so sure that one apology speech would turn around the political realities in Iran.
...and said carbon dioxide emissions "contaminate the water we drink and pollute the air we breathe"
When will this idiot do the honorable thing and stop polluting our air and water?
Posted by: Hans | June 23, 2009 4:11 PM
Obama is at the stage now , that he will say anything to try to boost his rating.
Posted by: Inky | June 23, 2009 4:15 PM
So, what would all of you suggest? What action would ypou like to see the Prseident take on Iran? Screaming and waving his arms? Direct intervention? I'm serious. What do you think that the US President could do to postively affect the situation there?
Posted by: Lou | June 23, 2009 4:25 PM
but not so appalled as to disinvite the Regime from July 4th hotdogs and a fireworks show (or do anything to question the legitimacy of the Regime he wants to sit down at the table with).
Posted by: ed | June 23, 2009 4:25 PM
Is this the same Barry BS speaking?? Is this the same Barry who was so effusive in "Working" with his Muslim Brothers, to find a more humane way to deal with the problems of the world.?? Where is the "Respect" for this killing, in the name of a government. Where is the out-cry for a fair election???? Is it because they have their own version of ACORN, that you are so quiet. Is this the same BS Barry who would bring in the new world order?
Now what's the matter Barry??? The regimes that you have validated with your marvelous oratory are nothing more than as FALSE as you are???
Talk the BS and now what Mr. New World Order.
More of the same old same old.
Nice to see your new vision of "Change being as empty as your telepromtering simplistic feel good pschyo-babble.
I guess that pretending is Barrys' experience.
Wait he will have MORE PRONOUNCEMENTS when he is fed some more BS to regurgitate via teleprompter.
Posted by: senator dirksen | June 23, 2009 4:29 PM
Verry Funny.
Now bring on the REAL President.
Posted by: BDD | June 23, 2009 3:33 PM
--------------------------------------
Clown,
One reason why Cantor and Pence and the rest of the Republican morons (you) have been demanding that President Obama take a stronger public line in support of the protesters in Iran is that supporting Mousavi’s voters openly is the emotionally satisfying, easy, almost mindless thing to do, so it is very appealing for opposition figures (Republican) who have no ideas. But there is more to it than that. All of this comes back to the problem of Republican denial about why they lost power. They are supremely confident about their views on national security and foreign policy, and they cannot conceive that a majority of the country would reject them because of the policies they advocated and enacted. Worse still, they remain wedded to the hectoring, moralistic and aggressive approach of the last administration (BushCo), in which sanctions and condemnation are the only "soft" tools they understand. They are so wedded to this approach that they think this is not only the best kind of foreign policy, but that anything other than this is fecklessness and surrender. To a disturbingly great extent, replacing the current leadership in the Republican party may not have much of an effect on shoddy foreign policy thinking on the right, because the rot is so deep and widespread, but it is particularly important that Republicans in positions of responsibility at least attempt to play the role of credible, informed opposition, which may sometimes mean acknowledging that the President has handled an issue correctly.
Give it a rest, Teresa!
Posted by: everybody wang chung tonight | June 23, 2009 4:32 PM
This Mahmoud Ahmadinejad guy, who is claiming victory in Iran. He's very unpopular. And the danger is this: he could ruin the political career of his brother, Jeb."
Posted by: Hey Joe | June 23, 2009 4:35 PM
jellyfish can't spin?
Posted by: johnny | June 23, 2009 4:38 PM
He's appalled? I'm appalled at the way he's running my country into the ground.
Posted by: Paul | June 23, 2009 3:23 PM
*************
.
Paulie Walnuts,
The Republican party has failed time and again. But like the Islamic terrorists, you continue along the same destructive path. From slavery to temperance, from women's rights to abortion, they have shown that their issues are repressive, to a group of people, and amoral. All along they are fighting for a morality they, themselves, can never meet (enter Ensign, Vitter, Craig...). When their leaders take their direction directly from a god, according to them, then it is bound to fail because humans are fallable.
The hearing from a "god" is a theme common among the christian right and also in mormonism. In mormonism their leader is the prophet. The prophet has a hot line to god. The christian right, does not espouse a prophet, because supposedly god talks to all of them equally. Some just "hear" better than others...
Posted by: Mullah Limbaugh = Leader of the Greedy Oil Party | June 23, 2009 4:40 PM
I am appalled too! How come he's not appalled at the large scale voter fraud instigated by the Acorn thugs? and now they are going to take the census? Please dear leader explain the difference. America you blew with this community organizer from Illinois!
Posted by: Ron Burgundy | June 23, 2009 4:40 PM
What took so long? Obama is a spinless jellyfish
Posted by: Red Blooded American | June 23, 2009 3:25 PM
...
Read it and weep you GOPer nutjobs:
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/the-incredible-shrinking-gop-only-one-in-five-self-identify-as-republican/
Posted by: DrainYou | June 23, 2009 4:44 PM
Funny how somebody can post about the power being in the streets of Iran and the regime having lost legitimacy on one hand, then completely disparage those who simply want the President to speak out to that very assertion. Nobody is asking for the USA to determine events in Iran, simply to speak out for freedom and fairness. It seems the President has finally gotten the point.
Posted by: KDB | June 23, 2009 4:48 PM
Seems the cowboys came down from brokeback mountain to put in their 2 cents. Flingin names and cow patties are a gas.
Posted by: bill r. | June 23, 2009 4:49 PM
When Bush called Iran part of his stupid "Axis of Evil" it did nothing but make Amedinejad more powerful in Iran.....and now that the warmongering heroes in the Bush Crime Family are gone - Iranians are in the street trying to throw Amedinejad out of office.
Face it Republicans, you have NO CREDIBILITY WHATSOEVER ON MATTERS OF FOREIGN POLICY ANYMORE.
Actually, you don't have much credibilty on anything anymore.
Posted by: former Republican | June 23, 2009 4:56 PM
I was appalled on Saturday as I watched the events unfold all day on the news. What took him so long? I can't believe this guy got elected. But the we in Illinois keep electing a lot of idiots.
Why doe the media, especially the national media keep treating this guy with kid gloves. No wonder people have stooped reading newspaper and watching the news. All they are is cheerleaders for the liberals.
What happened to the days when the media trusted no one and questioned everything. That's there job not to be the PR department for the Democrats.
Posted by: GCG | June 23, 2009 5:08 PM
The right wing war lovers/chickenhawks are sure busy doing what they do best this week - hiding behind their key boards and talking tough. They'd like to start wars with Iran and now North Korea in addition to Iraq and Afghanistan. Shall we go after Cuba while we are at it? Oops, I almost forgot thier demand that we invade Somalia to wipe out the pirate threat.
Posted by: Mick Hendrix | June 23, 2009 5:25 PM
Now Now, he has to wait to see which direction the trend is moving so then he can make his ridiculous speeches that not even he can believe in.
IMPEACH this fraud!
Posted by: JUST SAYIN | June 23, 2009 5:35 PM
The last president ran "your" country into the ground, you ignorant hick. You're an embarrassment to your name.
Posted by: Paul | June 23, 2009 6:05 PM
As Chris Floyd writes:
"When I saw that the president also invoked the words of Martin Luther King Jr. ('Martin Luther King once said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice'"), I very nearly threw up. To quote an apostle of non-violence, who spent his last days standing with striking workers and railing against the American government as 'the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today' because of its murderous war machine, when you yourself are in command of that war machine, spewing out Vietnam-style death (and 'targeted assassinations') in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan; when you are striving with all your might to defend, shield and in many cases continue the heinous torture atrocities of your predecessor... -- well, that seems a bit much, if I may riot in understatement."
Just today, dozens of people attending a funeral in Pakistan were killed by a U.S. drone missile. Why is that not "appalling" and "heartbreaking"?
Posted by: Jason G | June 23, 2009 6:06 PM
The only real transparency in this Administration is the fact that I can see right through him and his pathetic policies.
Posted by: Banderman | June 23, 2009 6:10 PM
"If private insurers say the marketplace provides the best quality health care - if, as they tell us, they're offering us a good deal - then why is it that the government, which they say can't run anything, is going to drive them out of business?" Obama said. "That's not logical."
--------------------------------------------
Um, here's one reason - you are going to subsidize the premiums for the public option. How can any private company compete with that? Second, if I know anything about this Administration, they will gladly deficit spend to keep the cost of the public plan artificially low for consumers, as opposed to letting the market set the price. In the private market, this is called predatory pricing when done to drive a competitor out of business. In Obama-land, it is good business, and again something private insurers would not be able to compete with. If Obama wants an honest competition, then subsidize health care for the poor through vouchers, in which they can choose to spend the voucher on a private or the public plan. And let market forces set the public option's premium rate, instead of deficit spending us into oblivion trying to manage the illusion that the public plan is cheaper.
Posted by: Herbie H. | June 23, 2009 6:34 PM
What's really funny is that the Chicago Tribune had to close down it's Comments Section on the story about the police officer that got 2 years of probation for slamming a waitress - this after slamming a patron earlier in the afternoon.
Many are outraged by the sentence the cop got - but we "protest" on-line until the media cuts us off (too bad they couldn't have cut-off the officer that day, eh?)
U.S. citizens are also up-in-arms about the "brutality" in Iran.
But let's not worry about Iran. Let's take care of our own first, folks. And let's worry about the censorship that takes place here, frist. The Iranian leadership is the problem of the Iranians. We have our own problems.
And don't get me started on U.S.-sponsored coups or even the U.S.' tepid response to the "elections" in Mexico (the latest in 2006).
Democracy isn't pretty - even in our own country. We have our own problems - even with our own police.
We have no moral standing to lecture Iran or anyone else for that matter; especially as we wink and nod to Russia and China (who, not coincidentally, have NUKES - yeah, like that fact is lost on the Iranian leadership).
Bottom line: let's focus on our own problems and let's be consistent in our condemnation of rigged elections BEFORE we start lecturing others.
Posted by: Tell the Truth | June 23, 2009 6:45 PM
The violence is appalling! But, what are we going to do about it? I've yet to hear a Republican view that is even possible, let alone wise. The reason for this is because there is no useful solution. Let's face it: Obama has to find the middle ground. The cold reality is that Ahmadinejad or Mousavi share largely the same political views. Little will change with regards to our relationship with Iran. The sad thing is that Iran is probably closer to a functioning democracy than any other Middle Eastern Muslim country.
Posted by: DHK | June 23, 2009 7:04 PM
Oh yeah. Lets show Iran we mean business, like calling them part of "The Axis of Evil". That would show them.
But, how ironic that the conservatives in Iran are blaming the liberal media & foreigners for Iran's crisis.
Posted by: NoConservativePropaganda | June 23, 2009 7:15 PM
Obama had better take a good long hard look at what is going on in Iran. Because if he and his liberal Democratic cronies continue their quest to drive this country into the ground with what they are doing to private business, healthcare and the economy, they may start seeing the same thing happening here real soon. I'm surprised it hasn't started up in Detroit by now!
Posted by: CGull | June 23, 2009 7:18 PM
Gee, more worthless posturing and hypocritical BS coming from conservatives. Remember, these are the same people who led chants to bomb Iran, now suddenly they are oh so concerned. PLEASE don't forget (again) what they do every time they gain power.
Posted by: John | June 23, 2009 7:25 PM
Really? Appalled? Because of something happening a half a world away?
Does the name Karolina Obrycka mean anything to you? Because she got the same treatment that appalls the politicians in Washington. The exact same treatment. And she lives in Chicago.
But I'm sure today's injustice in Chicago plays out in communities all over America.
But the Iranians. Now that's too bad.
Posted by: DGS | June 23, 2009 7:42 PM
Initially, Obama spoke out for the rights of the peaceful protesters. When the violence began to pour in, he spoke out against the violence. When it escalated, he spoke out against the escalation of violence. The problem is that the right is very good at roughshod. More importantly they like gotcha games. They would love for the president to make the same mistakes they did-- leap before you look-- and then ascribe it to his naivety. His ability to see a situation for what it really is, is tearing at their pride and moral. That's hard for a bunch of lock stepping-- pride before country (read patriotic)-- demigods. Their under the impression that their intent will carry them trough every situation. They intended to find weapons of mass holocaust in Iraq, they found some aging metal and some even older sand. They intended to bring new life to Iraq, but it resulted in mass deaths, mass causalities, mass property loss, mass refugees, mass poverty, mass human plight... They didn't intend to nation build, but there we were building new-- idle-- infrastructures while bridges collapsed in the US on people trying to get to work. They intended to account for the mass amount of dollars the military complex was spending, but there were our soldiers writing mom and dad letters to send more tin foil to protect the Humvee. (Sarcasm.) They intended to be in and out of Iraq, but we're STILL there. They intended to stay the course, until the loss of life called for a "surge." They intended to uphold human rights as prescribed by the international community, but they TORTURED bad guys. [Bad guys so bad, they themselves let them go back to wherever they originated from (Saudis), or they were recently let go-- chilling on some lovely islands next to a pool. (I don't have a poll!?!)] They intended to bring human rights (women's rights) to Afghanistan, but today women are treated no better there than if we he had not done anything. They intended to put a stop in the all-too important Afgan opium trade, yet today the government we helped along continues to drive along the industry. They intended to capture that guy who left "16 acres of ashes" in NY, but he's out living his life in some cave with two wives. They intended open up the Middle East, yet the Middle East just clammed further up. Iran cracked down on westernization, escalated need for "nuclarization" as a bargaining chip, the Iraqi refugees needed to find asylum in Britain?!. They intended to facilitate democracy in the Middle East by invading Iraq, due to the unrest our invasion caused in the region, we apparently needed to facilitate their access to our "deep pockets" and weapons, as well. They intend to stand with the international community over Iran's crackdown on protesters, but they will never consider the UN or international communities approval of their unilateral actions. They intended to stand up for the freedom, the fairness, the human rights of Tibetan monks who spent a lot of time defacing the Olymics in China, only to have their dear leader attend those same Olympics. (Apparently, it's okay for Bush JR, balls-of-steel, to separate issues, but it's not okay for Obama, one-testicle, to separate the issues.) The right will argue just to argue. They intend on writing history like a capricious child with a bad temper that never really finishes to color in the picture before going off to a new coloring book. Obama is using all the tools on the table. They're just sad that they can't hide a few of the tools from him, just in case it might show that there is another way. That you can cross all the t's. And, maybe, just maybe, they were wrong and have to accept that the reason why they lost an election was because of what they over-represent and not what Obama under-represents.
Posted by: It's all in the intent, and the pages left uncolored. | June 23, 2009 8:10 PM
are you libs still hypnotized by this fraud you call president, let me educate you on iran since i am from there and i definitely know more than you dopeheads. in iran words matter, the people in the area look up to america, this is specially true for the minority population in there and for the oppressed. so if obama was "outraged" a little bit sooner these demonstraitors would have been emboldened by the so called "leader" of the free world. for god's sake even the french president was more assertive than this obama guy. we lost a wonderful chance to make friends out of these young demonstrators that future leaders would come out from and help us stop the terorrist iranian expansion into syria,lebanon and gaza. arabs fear iran very much, we need to be tough with this regime and obama is not, i guess he is still learning on the job.
Posted by: hussein | June 23, 2009 8:12 PM
Hey Paul!!! Why don't you run for President since you have all the answers. All mouth and no guts as usual.
Posted by: Tim | June 23, 2009 8:16 PM
I vomit in my mouth when reading posts from anti Obama people saying he is weak. These idiot republicans think that just cause you want diplomacy first means you will not punch back when swung at. This is why the Republican party is a joke, and still does not get why their party is on it's way to demise. Obama will handle any situation with class AND strength when needed. Hey right wing nutjobs? Your elephant is ready, and they are offering one way trips to obscurity. Dont let the trunk hit ya on the way out.
Posted by: purplefloyd | June 23, 2009 8:26 PM
President Obama,
Don't listen to the Republican knuckle-draggers. They're out of power for a very good reason - they spent the last eight years screwing up everything they touched.
Republicans don't do bipartisanship, all they care about is Party loyalty. Above all else, including sanity. They're like a crime family.
Republicans absolutely will not and cannot agree with anything the Democrats do, ever, because their whole authoritarian belief system hinges on following their leader/father/daddy-figure, even if he (Newt, Rush etc) walks them off a cliff.
Thank you,
75% of America and the rest of the World.
Posted by: Mullah Limbaugh = Leader of the Greedy Oil Party | June 23, 2009 8:29 PM
are you libs still hypnotized by this fraud you call president, let me educate you on iran since i am from there and i definitely know more than you dopeheads. in iran words matter, the people in the area look up to america, this is specially true for the minority population in there and for the oppressed. so if obama was "outraged" a little bit sooner these demonstraitors would have been emboldened by the so called "leader" of the free world. for god's sake even the french president was more assertive than this obama guy. we lost a wonderful chance to make friends out of these young demonstrators that future leaders would come out from and help us stop the terorrist iranian expansion into syria,lebanon and gaza. arabs fear iran very much, we need to be tough with this regime and obama is not, i guess he is still learning on the job.
Kind of like with Bush Sr. spoke supportively of Lithuania breaking free from the Soviet Union...and then the tanks rolled in, killed protestors, the US did nothing, and the Lithuanians pulled off their revolution on their own. Kind of like when Bush Sr. urged the Kurds to rise up against Saddam in Desert Storm I, and provided no back up when they did, leading to entire Villages being gassed in retrobution. What follow up does everyone expect from the US now? Really....unless we want to open another front in outright war with Iran, what is the strategy you would suggest? Especially in a nation that has a history of being manipulated by the US - you know this, having lived there.
Posted by: Pete | June 23, 2009 8:30 PM
What is with you warmongering idiots on the right-wing lunatic fringe, Danny?
After all of the un-called for deaths of our troops and people all around the world, courtesy of your heroes in BushCo, and after getting your butts kicked in two straight elections, you Wingnut dopes still haven't learned your lesson?!?!
Here's an idea Wingnuts, the next time we have a war maybe you can do something other than talking tough, while you're hiding behind your keyboards, - you know, like actually signing up for duty!
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFGit_tZDqs
Posted by: ServeTheServants | June 23, 2009 8:35 PM
George Bush referred to Iran as part of the axis of evil.
The day after the Iranian election, both China and Russia congratulated Ahmadinejad on his landside victory -- no mention at all about any voting irregularities.
Those are both interrelated facts.
Iran is turning into North Korea right before our eyes, despite Obama's Cairo outreach to the Islamic world. There's nothing Obama can do about it.
DHK | June 23, 2009 7:04 PM: "But, what are we going to do about it? I've yet to hear a Republican view that is even possible, let alone wise."
Our best and only response to strife and turmoil anywhere in the world is to simply remain economically strong. That will ensure our continued freedom at home, and best afford the continued abilty to field the greatest sea-air-land military force that ever existed.
We'll be $1.8 trillion in the hole on that by the end of year Obama One alone.
Posted by: dom youngross | June 24, 2009 12:09 AM
The best way for the U.S. to undermine the legitimate revolution in Iran is to attempt to make it our own. To give the Iranian hardliners the opportunity to paint it as yet another attempt at imperialistic manipulation. The president understands this. His Republican "critics" do not. In a pathetic attempt to score cheap political points, McCain and Graham, and their corporate media enablers, are pushing the president to do exactly what he shouldn't be doing. Meddling. His condemnation of the Iranian crackdown has been carefully calibrated. Not surprisingly, neocon nutjobs like McCain and Graham are being reckless and dangerous.....again.
Myopia, thy name is Republican!
Wingnuts don't understand anything other than posturing, loud screaming and bullying tactics, and it always blows up in their face.
Posted by: Lithium | June 24, 2009 12:57 AM
"What is with you warmongering idiots on the right-wing lunatic fringe"
"and over-the-top personal attacks."
Hmmm.
I agree. Rather like the good men we lost thanks to TrumanCo and JFKCo in Korea and Vietnam.
What's with you Leftists always supporting America's enemies?
Posted by: Rojer Ramjet | June 24, 2009 5:56 AM
I appreciate the tightrope he's on, and not to be superficial about it, but it's hard to give a forceful message if you're wearing a lavender necktie (I don't care if it does match the wall of the WH press room). Gibbs must have picked it out for him.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | June 24, 2009 10:52 AM