by Mark Silva
David Axelrod, making the rounds of news shows tonight to polish the administration's messages coming out of President Barack Obama's news conference today, talked about the talk the administration is having about Iran and North Korea.
The problem, Republicans are complaining, is that it's all talk, and no walk.
But the president himself addressed that question today, when asked about Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham calling his response to Iran timid and weak, and then asked if the words that he used today for Iran's treatment of protestors -- "deplored, appalled'' and "outraged'' - were "influenced at all by McCain's and Graham's accusations.''
"What do you think?'' Obama abruptly asked the reporter, with a bit of "duh'' in the air, followed by nervous laughter in the press room.
"I think John McCain has genuine passion about many of these international issues and, you know, I think that all of us share a belief that we want justice to prevail,'' Obama said. "But only I'm the president of the United States. And I've got responsibilities in making certain that we are continually advancing our national security interests, and that we are not used as a tool to be exploited by other countries.''
Axelrod, the president's chief political advisor, roaming from the Situation Room on CNN to Hardball on MSNBC this evening, allowed that Obama was "cautious'' today in his remarks on Iran, "and has been'' for a reason. He also addressed the North Korean missile standoff.
"He was cautious and has been cautious, because he doesn't want to lend himself or the United States to the propaganda intentions of the -- of the leaders in Iran,'' Axelrod told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "This isn't between us and them. It's between them and their own people. And he wanted to make that clear.
"But, obviously, the thing has escalated,'' Axelrod said of the post-election protests in Iran. "There's been a lot of tragic loss of life. We have all been exposed to that through the various video that's been circulating. And -- and, so, we all feel that same sense that he expressed -- that he expressed today....
"Obviously, we're concerned about -- about what the North Koreans are up to,'' Axelrod told Blitzer. "They have -- the entire world has come together to condemn the atomic test that they conducted several weeks ago. And -- and the entire world has a vested interest in -- in curbing their behavior.
"And, they have a vested interest in curbing their behavior, because the economic -- the economic net is going to -- is going to constrict around them,'' Axelrod said. "They're going to be very isolated economically, as well as in every other way. And they have to consider whether they want to take further provocative acts.
Here, courtesy of CNN, is the text of Blitzer's talk with Axelrod on The Situation Room.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama is using words like appalled and condemn. It appears that his rhetoric is certainly ratcheting -- ratcheting up over what's happening in Iran.
Let's talk about it with White House senior adviser David Axelrod.
David, thanks very much for coming in.
DAVID AXELROD, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: Thanks for having me, Wolf.
BLITZER: He's been very cautious over the past 10 days. He didn't want the United States to become, all of a sudden, the issue, given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations. But a lot of that caution went away today.
Why?
AXELROD: Well, I think his -- his rhetoric has changed as events have changed there.
You're right. He was cautious and has been cautious, because he doesn't want to lend himself or the United States to the propaganda intentions of the -- of the leaders in Iran. This isn't between us and them. It's between them and their own people. And he wanted to make that clear.
But, obviously, the thing has escalated. There's been a lot of tragic loss of life. We have all been exposed to that through the various video that's been circulating. And -- and, so, we all feel that same sense that he expressed -- that he expressed today.
BLITZER: Is he still concerned, though, that what he -- his latest remarks condemning the situation in Iran right now, that that could play into the hands of the hard-liners there, and they could say, "Look, this is the United States who is responsible, and they're meddling in our internal affairs"?
AXELROD: Well, remember, he -- even today, he separated out two issues. We didn't have election observers there. We're not in a position to judge what happened. And he made that clear again today.
But everybody can see with their own eyes the suppression of peaceful protesters in Iran. And that offends our sensibilities and those of people across the world.
So, you know, I think that demands that we -- that we speak out, but still making clear that we're not meddling in their internal affairs, and, in fact, this is, in fact, a -- a dispute between the leaders of Iran and their own people.
BLITZER: And in the midst of all of this extraordinary scenes of protests that we're seeing on the streets in Iran and the violence, is it your sense that the Iranians are still moving ahead towards the development of a nuclear bomb?
AXELROD: Well, I don't want to comment on -- on what, in many ways, are intelligence matters, Wolf.
Obviously, we still have a -- suffice it to say that the president, the administration, and the world still has a concern about the nuclear program in Iran and what their intentions are. And that is something that we have to pursue.
Nobody believes that it's in the interests of that region or the world for them to develop a nuclear weapon. And the president is pursuing all avenues to try and prevent that.
BLITZER: There's no doubt that the president sought to reach out to the Iranian regime. Even before he was elected president of the United States, he wanted to establish a dialogue.
And, in recent weeks, the State Department even sending a cable to its embassies around the world: On July 4, go ahead and celebrate the Fourth of July, and invite, if you want, Iranian diplomats serving in Paris, or London, or -- or Beijing, or anyplace else.
Does that invitation, as far as you know, David, still hold?
AXELROD: Well, I will just repeat what the president said today. All of this is now in the hands of the Iranians. They can choose to isolate themselves from the world through their behavior, or they can try and develop relationships. And we will await -- we will wait and see what they do.
BLITZER: So, let me just be clear. Does the invitation to come and have a hot dog at July Fourth festivities at U.S. embassies to Iranian diplomats, is -- that invitation, does it still stand?
AXELROD: Wolf, I don't think anybody is worried about hot dogs right now. There's a crisis in that country we're all watching with interest, and we will see what develops.
BLITZER: But it is a symbolic gesture, if the U.S. wants to go ahead with it.
AXELROD: Well, again, this is beyond symbolism now. There's a serious crisis there. Let's see what unfolds in the days to come.
BLITZER: Explain, if you can, because I have in my hand a new book that Dennis Ross co-wrote entitled "Myths, Illusions, and Peace" about the situation in the Middle East, including a large chunk on Iran.
He was the special envoy at the State Department for Iran, but now he's being moved to the White House. What is going on there?
AXELROD: Well, Dennis Ross is obviously one of America's most experienced diplomats and students of that region. And, so, his presence here would enhance our ability within the national security operation to -- to monitor events.
BLITZER: Is Iran still going to be part of his port -- portfolio?
AXELROD: Well, I'm not going to discuss that.
We will wait for -- for official announcements. But, you know, Dennis Ross is a valued member of this administration, and -- and his insights are particularly valuable to the president and to the administration at this time.
BLITZER: It's amazing how much the president has on his plate right now, national security issues, domestic issues that he's working on, including health care.
But North Korea, they have been threatening to launch some sort of missile in the direction of Hawaii around July 4. Is that just bluff on the part of Kim Jong Il? Or, based on what you're hearing, David, is that serious?
AXELROD: Well, again, that's something I'm not going to address directly.
Obviously, we're concerned about -- about what the North Koreans are up to. They have -- the entire world has come together to condemn the atomic test that they conducted several weeks ago. And -- and the entire world has a vested interest in -- in curbing their behavior.
And, they have a vested interest in curbing their behavior, because the economic -- the economic net is going to -- is going to constrict around them. They're going to be very isolated economically, as well as in every other way. And they have to consider whether they want to take further provocative acts.
BLITZER: It's almost breathtaking, what's going on in the world right now. And the president has got, as I say, a full, full agenda.
David Axelrod, thanks for joining us.
AXELROD: All right, Wolf, thanks for having me.
Comments
Oh, I can't wait for the glorious war against Iran! They will great us with flowers and candy. I personally am much too important to fight, but I support the idea of war with Iran as a first resort whole heartedly! Diplomacy is for whimpos. War is always the best answer. Bombs Away!
Posted by: Repubs are idiots | June 23, 2009 6:21 PM
Republicans are the only ones who know how to do good foreign policy We should do what we always do in a time of crisis - give more tax cuts to the rich, start dropping bombs, invade, occupy and then declare "Mission Accomplised!" on an aircraft carrier off the coast of San Diego. It always works!
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http://www.altacocker.com/other_items/mission-accomplished-osama.jpg
Posted by: Rush for President | June 23, 2009 6:26 PM
Nice to see the cross-eyed Baptist fetus-worshipping Republiscum are still berating Barack for trouncing Cancer McLiverSpot in the MANDATE ELECTION WIN of November 2008 - but you girls should really get over it and realize your 'party of Pederasts' won't be able to regain power for at least the next 31 years - until all these young people who will remember the Depression we are about to enter have forgotten the cardboard patches placed on the bottom of their worn Nike's (made in China) - or the last of the Baptist Taliban like Pat Robertson has been found guilty of boysodomy...like the flowers of your party, Foley of FLA, Craig of IDAHO, and Hastert if ILL.
Simpleton CrackerTrash.
Posted by: everybody wang chung tonight | June 23, 2009 6:29 PM
Leave it to right-wing nutcases to go finding scapegoats rather than solutions.
Than again, that's why we're in the situation(s) that we are in, because while any idiot can point fingers and make stupid comments, it actually takes a degree of intelligence to find solutions.
I'm disgusted that these bottom-feeding mental midgets even think they have a place in the political discourse. These knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing "conservatives" are a far greater danger to our nation than any terrorist, rogue regime or disease could ever be.
But hey, when you're not smart enough to actually understand the issues, what can you expect besides stupid, pointless comments?
These people seem intent on making the term "conservative" a synonym for "stupid," "lazy," "crass" and "uneducated."
Real conservatives are offended that these drooling dolts have stolen our ideology and instead, turned it into an excuse for stupidity and demonstrating a complete lack of any kind o f intelligence or class.
I don't call myself "conservative" anymore for fear of being mistaken for someone who shouldn't be allowed in society without a chaperon.
Posted by: Jim | June 23, 2009 6:33 PM
Only I'm the President. Where have I heard that before? Is he the new Decider in Chief? Maybe Obama is becoming more like Bush. At some point, Bush stopped being sensitive to critics, knowing they would criticize him regardless. So he started ignoring them. Obama is incredibly thin skinned, but I think he is slowly toughening up. You have to block out some of this criticism. Personally, I think he was a little slow speaking up for Iranian protesters, but has the right idea now – voice support for basic freedoms, but don't appear to be taking sides in who actually won the election. He has the oratory skills to pull that off. If only it could penetrate Iran's media stranglehold.
Posted by: Herbie H. | June 23, 2009 6:41 PM
I highly doubt that President Obama will exploit this for a photo op to impress his fans, like that last hack of a president (Bush) exploited tragedy to get the right-wing suckers that supported him to pretend they were looking at some kind of a hero when he got to play fighter pilot for a day.
Republicans are so easily impressed that it would be funny if they didn't have the ruinous effect on our country that they have.
I'm guessing that some of these idiots are bashing Obama simply because they don't have any soundbites from Rush to spew about Iran and North Korea etc yet, and God knows, these people have no knowledge about Iran and North Korea or the issues between our countries.
What's left of the GOP base sounds like a bunch of high school drop outs.
Posted by: 2009 GOP - "No idea's, No plan, No clue" | June 23, 2009 7:15 PM
Every administration benefits from a strong opposition party that proposes rational alternatives. The president could use constructive ideas from the Republicans right now on a number of issues, but the GOP is weak and has allowed its extemist wing to grab the microphone.
Posted by: Lori | June 23, 2009 7:19 PM
Not surprisingly, the very same chickenhawk Neocon nutjobs who pushed for the unnecessary invasion of Iraq (Bill Kristol, Brit Hume) are calling for the bombing of North Korea....like we don't have enough problems (that they caused) to deal with already!
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http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/06/kristol-and-hume-call-for-targeted-air-strikes-on-north-korea.php
Posted by: purplefloyd | June 23, 2009 8:23 PM
If it was still up to the morons who run the Rethuglican party and their dittoheaded draft-dodging cheerleaders on here, we would already have started dropping bombs on both N Korea and Iran.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-eyuFBrWHs
Posted by: ServeTheServants | June 23, 2009 8:32 PM
Last year President gave an interview to the New Yorker in which he said among other things that he is a better speech writer than his speech writer, a better campaign manager than his campaign manager, etc. etc.
Today if you saw that press conference you'd have to add: a better press secretary than his press secretary.
I've a notion there might be quite a few more press conferences like today's.
It was quite effective.
Having mastered the art of the political address (to put it mildly), I think he has now undertaken a direct dialog not only with town hall type questioners, but with the press themselves.
Today's performance was the best press conference so far.
Somehow those lengthy answers in the East Room didn't quite have the pizzazz of today's interchange.
Could it be the President is more comfortable in the room he used today because it's like his old lecture hall at the U. of Chicago?
I think the press was more at ease in that setting than in the more formal settings, and that contributed to the success.
Posted by: ornery | June 23, 2009 9:16 PM
'Just when you think you are out, they pull you back in...'
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/world/middleeast/24falluja.html?hp
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | June 23, 2009 9:33 PM
I'm starting to think there is not a Dumbocrat alive today who kows anything about the history of this country. Since before World War II, Democrats and their ignorance have gotten us into wars, and Republicans have had to get us out of them. The war in Afghanistan is now completely Obama's - let's see how that gutless wonder does with that. Also entirely his are the huge unemployment rates, the almost bankrupt economy, the totally sick support for the killing of unborn children, the coming collapse of the American economy, and last but not least, the destruction of the best health care system in the entire world. But by 2012, this Narcissistic, smug, know-nothing gangsta from Chicago will join the many other failed Socialist and Communist dictators from days past who have been dumped on the ash heap of history.
Posted by: Jeanne | June 23, 2009 10:31 PM
everybody wang chung tonight | June 23, 2009 6:29 PM, you got spittle on MY screen. Wow.
So um, will you people start owning it now then?
Posted by: UnfrozenCavegirlBlogger | June 23, 2009 10:59 PM
If the Republicans ever want to be taken seriously again as a political party they're going to have to start shouting down the neocon whackjobs (McCain, Graham, Cheney, Rush etc) within their party.
Posted by: Dean Victorino | June 23, 2009 11:32 PM
Loons, loons, loons, loons, no conservative has called for the invasion of Iran. Obama's statements generally have been weak until today, though. Leaders from other countries began condemning the Iranian government's handling of the protestors days ago. Obama has been muted, tepid and largely weak.
Posted by: John D | June 23, 2009 11:38 PM
Chances are we would be in a third war right now if McCain had been elected president. Are we sure that Cheney has nothing to do with the situation in Iran at the moment? The republicans seem to want more war and more for the DOD to do. Iraq is about to wind down and the war hawks want to continue with more and more of our blood and money. The more we are tied up with "war', the less we will have for universal health care. Let the nations with the better currency go to war if it is really necessary. Pug "war" = no universal health insurance and a two-tiered American society.
Posted by: Vivian | June 24, 2009 12:10 AM
I assume military recruiting offices in the D.C. area are crowded with Neocons/Republicans and members of the Washington press corps clamoring to enlist so they can personally liberate Iran. Right?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFGit_tZDqs
Posted by: BigCheese | June 24, 2009 3:18 AM
Just be kind to Obama, okay! He suffers from HUHA!
Sitting presidents in the last century have suffered from various lingering maladies and from sudden onsets of near-catastrophic health events. Wilson’s stokes, FDR’s polio, Ike’s heart attack, JFK’s Addison’s Disease, LBJ’s gall bladder issue all had some negative impacts on their administrations.
Our current chief executive’s continuing battle with HUHA Syndrome may be one of the best kept health secrets of our president, even if its symptoms are apparent daily to the most casual observer.
Tuesday’s scheduled Rose Garden news conference was held inside the White House instead, in deference to the humidity of Washington D.C., and a reminder that the capital was built adjacent to a swamp. Unfortunately, Obama’s HUHA Syndrome showed its ugly head early and often during the president’s 55 minute Q&A.
In deference to its Republican viewership, Fox News Channel declined to air the event, perhaps also fearing that a HUHA episode was in the offing and refusing to be party to televising a president’s physical flaws to the nation especially since it was a daytime affair and kids could be watching.
HUHA, as most people know, can be a-symptomatic in the perception of those afflicted but to witnesses it usually is quite obvious. The president’s feigned lack of awareness that his staged first and principal questioner was a set-up was a clear indicator of a HUHA attack.
The question came from a HufPo columnist, someone customarily relegated to the nosebleed section of the Washington Press Corps. The “exchange” went as follows:
“In what appeared to be a coordinated exchange, President Obama called on the Huffington Post’s Nico Pitney near the start of his press conference and requested a question directly about Iran.
‘Nico, [addressed as if Pitney were an old smoking buddy] I know you and all across the Internet, [sic] we’ve been seeing a lot of reports coming out of Iran, . . . I know there may actually be questions from people in Iran who are communicating through the Internet. Do you have a question?’Pitney, as if ignoring what Obama had just said, said: ‘I wanted to use this opportunity to ask you a question directly from an Iranian.’ ” (http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0609/Obama_calls_on_HuffPost_for_Iran_question.html)
Duh, Nico, back to the cheap seats for you! Evidently, Nico had not been briefed that his query was supposed to look spontaneous so that Obama could respond with equivalent spontaneity, but that was not to be.
HUHA symptoms were transparent thoughout as Obama went on as if the obviousness of the set up question, for which the president had rehearsed his extended reply, was not also transparent. It must be conceded that, despite his pledges, transparency is as integral to his first 5 months in office as protecting the pre-born from abortions.
At least he was consistent.
The fact that staged Q&A . . .
(Read the rest at http://genelalor.com)
Posted by: Gene Lalor | June 24, 2009 3:49 AM
Loons, loons, loons, loons, no conservative has called for the invasion of Iran.
Posted by: John D | June 23, 2009 11:38 PM
Then it must be that same old sabre rattling crap. When will you guys learn that doesn't do a damn thing? Does it just make you feel better? Grow up!
Posted by: bill r. | June 24, 2009 8:20 AM
Hey, " Gene Lalor ", do you think it was as staged as " Mission Accomplished " ? At least, President Obama didn't have to hire an aircraft carrier and a cast of thousands !! I think, " Gene Lalor ", you should stick with bible-thumping. You may learn to have some compassion and understanding for our leaders, especially, our President, President Obama !! Isn't that the christian thing to do !!?
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | June 24, 2009 9:01 AM
@Jeanne:
Kudos to you for succinctly packing so many untruths and half-truths into a small space. You're a competent writer, if entirely delusional.
Nice "Gansta" reference too. How's the hooded robe fitting these days?
You are a true Republican, Jeanne. Not bright to start, with lies/delusions mixed in, resulting in one unlikeable whole. You are the future of the GOP. Please keep it up.
Posted by: a blinkin | June 24, 2009 9:01 AM
My God Jeanne, you are quite delusional and clearly a racist, I don't know what to say other than to tell you to seek out help and keep your inner demon rants to yourself.
Posted by: Tim | June 24, 2009 12:34 PM
For as long as we have folks like Jeanne the Dems are assured to rule forever. She is either a genius (who knows tons of things the whole world does not), or just unbelievably dumb. I am stunned. Her comments stem from hate, she needs a second grade education at least.
Posted by: Noel | June 24, 2009 2:05 PM
Jeanne, dear, you slip is showing (as well as your ignorance).
Woodrow Wilson was a Democrat.
Franklin D. Rooselvelt was a Democrat.
They led the U.S. to VICTORY in WW I and WW II, respectively.
Now, girl, off you go. Go sit at the kiddies' table.
Posted by: ornery | June 25, 2009 12:45 AM