Obama Now Finally Appalled and Outraged by Iranian Regime’s Murders
Not appalled and outraged enough to disinvite Iranian diplomats from 4th of July celebrations. But still, appalled and outraged.
President Obama addressed the continued political dissension in Iran at a White House news conference Tuesday, saying the country and international community were “appalled and outraged” by the violence and threats against protesters.
“I strongly condemn these unjust actions, and I join with the American people in mourning each and every innocent life that is lost,” Mr. Obama said from the White House briefing room.
Oh — and he’s been “perfectly consistent” about that all along. Allahpundit has the details, and I can’t top his cogent analysis:
[T]his has been Obama’s M.O. all along, dating back to the blowup over Wright during the campaign. First he issues some weak, heavily qualified half-denunciation in hopes that the crisis will go away, then it doesn’t go away and everyone gets angry, then he comes back and covers his ass by saying how appalled or outraged he is or whatever — assuring us all the while that he’s been “perfectly consistent” throughout.
This is not the murderous regime Obama knew.
Line up, lefties, to tell us why it’s genius for him to say this now, and how he was a genius for not getting involved before, and how he has also been perfectly consistent all along. Let the spin begin!
I am outraged, relish or mustard?
HeavenSent (1e97ff) — 6/24/2009 @ 6:34 amThe lefties will be out in force soon but they really start gathering after sundown. It’s like they can’t handle sunlight or something.
Mike K (2cf494) — 6/24/2009 @ 6:36 amGeorge Orwell, if he were alive, would be suing Obama for stealing the ideas and plot of his book, “1984”.
Obama is a greater disaster than the Peanut Farmer from Georga with the toothy smile and was attacked by a Killer Rabbit.
PCD (02f8c1) — 6/24/2009 @ 6:39 amWhat took you so long?
Alta Bob (9f2c33) — 6/24/2009 @ 6:39 amWell, now would you all like to check on the existence of that birth certificate?
Official Internet Data Office (24cc02) — 6/24/2009 @ 6:46 amI think that what is important is how
foreign powers will view the Obama
presidency.
I hope that UK journalists will find out
what Obama’s grades were and publish them.
God knows that the gerbalists here won’t.
(Gerbalist = NBC, ABC, MSNBC, CNN
jack (d9cbc5) — 6/24/2009 @ 7:03 amjournalists.)
Cringeworthy. He is quite an embarassment. As much as the left hated GWB, I don’t think we hate obama, just cringe when he pops up with his next great idea.
J (332b35) — 6/24/2009 @ 7:06 amAnd so what?
Everything Obama is doing only reinforces impressions people already have of him. His supporters will continue to support him. His critics will continue to think he’s a doofus. Our foreign allies and adversaries will continue to think he’s naive, impressed with himself and easily outmaneuvered.
steve sturm (369bc6) — 6/24/2009 @ 7:27 amsteve sturm,
I think you sorta answered the “so what” question in your last sentence. That it is not a new development does not render the lack of change unimportant.
Karl (f07e38) — 6/24/2009 @ 7:44 am“Let me perfectly clear”—is usually the preface to another Obama whopper; it alternates with “As I have consistently said”.
If your memory bank has a half life of a nano second or two, you’ll swallow that garbage. Otherwise, you’ll just sigh and shake your head.
Mike Myers (674050) — 6/24/2009 @ 7:54 amI am now very outraged …….and appalled at this. And watch my records, I have been saying this from the beginning. 🙂
The Emperor (0c8c2c) — 6/24/2009 @ 7:58 amTo many people it’s not what Obama does or says that is important. It is what he symbolizes.
Amphipolis (b120ce) — 6/24/2009 @ 7:59 amAnd all that merits is a so what?
When you hear the variation of “it has always been my position that …” you know that Teh One is about to lie to your face.
But, being concerned and deeply troubled could be the same as appalled and outraged in Teh One’s world.
JD (f303d4) — 6/24/2009 @ 8:01 amNo, it’s moronic to the extreme.
Phil Smith (1cf25d) — 6/24/2009 @ 8:22 amWhat can the US do?
bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran?
Iran is a drowning man and you want Obama to stand on the side of the pool, yelling hey! lookit me! ima lifeguard!
If it is genocide, we might go in, like Bosnia.
Barring evidence of genocide we just cant, and even then we would need a coalition of MENA countries to give us cover after Ajax.
You guys don’t really give a crap about the Sea of Green, or you would acknowledge this. You just want to go wilin’ out on Obama. The Iranians know this. How many times do you think McCain’s theme song played on state tv, and was used by the regime as evidence that Americans hate the brown people and muslims want to wipe them out?
wheeler's cat (0cf7e1) — 6/24/2009 @ 8:25 amI have little patience for your crocodile tears Patterico.
Whited sepulchre.
#14
Who said anything about going in? Are you hallucinating?
Gerald A (38f566) — 6/24/2009 @ 8:31 amCat – you are an idiot. No one was asking Barack to bomb Iran, or play life guard, or pick sides. His first mistake was not performing his role as The President of the United States: using his position to condemn the violence used against peaceful protest. His second mistake was lying to us: claiming he has been consistent all along.
Corwin (ea9428) — 6/24/2009 @ 8:34 amwheeler’s cat is just a poseur. From the false claims of Sufi/Muslim piety, to incorrect SF allusions, to endless insults and snark.
Not to mention the bizarre “blank verse” of the posts, complete with a lack of patriarchal capitalization and odd use of punctuation—I have seen this before: trying to use Vogon poetry as a form of political self-expression.
She is just here to insult people, and try to sound self-important.
It’s all about her, despite her false concern for the Iranian people, and lack of mastery of basic world realpolitik.
And WC (good nickname for you, when I think about it), if you feel I am being personal with you, I suggest that you quit insulting Patterico, who has never insulted you…and has not banned you, as you have been banned at several other sites.
Eric Blair (acade1) — 6/24/2009 @ 8:45 amSo the choice of conservatives is always, according to wheeler’s cat are: A. be full of happy happy joy joy at the obviously fraudulent election and schedule a watermelon seed spitting contest or B. Nuke Iran from orbit just to be sure.
Color me baffled at the lack of imagination, reality and intellect. I suggest an intensive course of actually getting to KNOW real conservatives. That should help remove those MSM inflicted VRWC blinders.
Obama should have come out strongly against the obviously faked election results and then against the violence and then rescinded the BBQ invite.
My guess is that he was brushing up on his fly killing skillz and got distracted from world events.
Vivian Louise (eeeb3a) — 6/24/2009 @ 8:47 amIs this how Obama defines an unclenched fist: murdering innocent people in the streets as they seek freedom, shooting women in cold blood, rigging an election, sneering in the face of the free world? I would hate to see what Obama sees the clenched fist as…
‘As I said in my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us.’ ‘It is very important for us to make sure that we are using all the tools of US power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran,’ Mr Obama said.
Dana (8d88ef) — 6/24/2009 @ 8:50 amwould you all like to check on the existence of that birth certificate?
There just has to be some deeper reason why, as presidents go, this one’s a real lemon.
Official Internet Data Office (ddc828) — 6/24/2009 @ 9:03 amHot dog diplomacy appears to be Obama’s solution for replacing adult leadership. The embassy in Syria will get an ambassador-probably because Obama has to find jobs for all those political donors.
Hoever it should be noted that Embassy Baghdad and especially their DCM is a major proponent of hot dog diplomacy. Especially the kind of hot dogs that Andrew Sullivan loves!
Thomas Jackson (8ffd46) — 6/24/2009 @ 9:17 amImagine what Wheeler’s Cat must think of Reagan and JFK’s loud statements about freedom.
Sure, they couldn’t bomb Moscow, but for some reason, just speaking to the people helped.
Remember, the USA’s own revolution required some help, much of it simply symbolic. And if we could motivate an armed revolution in Iran, which I think is conceivable with a president who wanted to continue the progress started in Iraq and Afghanistan, not only would we reduce terrorism dramatically but we’d be able to provide support that went beyond words.
Iran doesn’t need the US Marines to storm the Caspian coast. They have the manpower already. At most, we could provide some material support. And I personally think it would be awful if Iran was overthrown and a new regime took place and we did not assist and help shape that regime in exchange for some basic peace with us afterwards, much like we’ve got from Iraq’s new government.
Hell, we could just give them a bunch of IEDs like they’ve been giving the Iraqi resistance (personally, I prefer M-16s, the icon of freedom).
Juan (bd4b30) — 6/24/2009 @ 9:27 amHas anyone seen my clothes?……..
The Emperor (0c8c2c) — 6/24/2009 @ 9:29 amI, for one, am sick and tired of the liberals use of McCains JOKE “Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran.”
Listen creepoids that have used it, it was a friggin JOKE… you know, the same kind of stupid joke that most of you
supportedcovered up when letterman made his remark about Palin and her daughter.You won’t fine 1 in a 1000 conservatives or neo, cons that support the “bomb bomb” joke but you have no compulsion about spreading it over, and over, and over, and over. It is dishonest, it is needless and it is typical of leftoid arguments.
GM Roper (85dcd7) — 6/24/2009 @ 9:33 am“Line up, lefties, to tell us why it’s genius for him to say this now, and how he was a genius for not getting involved before, and how he has also been perfectly consistent all along. Let the spin begin!”
– Patterico
What the fuck? Have you completely resigned yourself to the notion that this site is never going to regain a modicum of substantive and respectful dialogue, that it’s going to remain in its current state of petty commenter bickering forever?
If so, fine.
If not, don’t bait the trolls (liberal or conservative) into initiating a series of tired pissing contests. This place is more than a bug jar – you shouldn’t just shake it when you want to see a fight.
Of course you’re right about Obama’s bullshit, by the way – trying to excuse his fence-straddling as responsible, high-minded diplomacy (until his pollsters, which have apparently taken the place of his common and/or moral sense, tell him the obvious: that the American people have no love in their hearts for dictators and have the utmost sympathy – or perhaps empathy, in this day and age – for those fighting and dying in hopes of obtaining a lasting democracy for themselves and their children).
Leviticus (20b7ac) — 6/24/2009 @ 9:41 amSign seen on wheeler’s cat’s forehead:
Space for rent within.
either orr (6c9faf) — 6/24/2009 @ 9:47 amSign spotted on wheeler’s cat’s forehead:
Space for rent within.
either orr (6c9faf) — 6/24/2009 @ 9:48 amYesterday was simply another waypoint reached along the continuum of Obama’s ever evolving positions on everything…
Some like to call it pragmatism…
Me, I call it lacking the courage of your convictions!
And here I thought he was such a good man, and all…
Bob (99fc1b) — 6/24/2009 @ 10:23 amThe space that is for rent isn’t up to code.
Phil Smith (1cf25d) — 6/24/2009 @ 10:31 amLeviticus, the only way to make the site more palatable is by banning the aforementioned nutbags, but our hosts are always patient to a fault before they take that action. But one can always hope.
Dmac (f7884d) — 6/24/2009 @ 11:46 amLeviticus, you are right and it is pretty frustrating to see the comments section cluttered with troll puke. I don’t mind debates; we used to have those on Kevin Drum’s site and he is pretty far left. But when he went to Washington Monthly, they started deleting contrary comments. If the comment contained links to support points, they got deleted faster. He has since moved on the Mother Jones. I tried posting comments there a couple of times and they never appeared.
The left does not want to debate and the trolls who come here, where they are tolerated far more than they deserve, tend to post worthless snark. I detect a slow shift on POV on the part of a couple of commenters who disagreed with a lot of us but seem to be shifting. Are you one ? It seems so.
Mike K (2cf494) — 6/24/2009 @ 11:53 amThe President is pitch perfect. Cowboy diplomacy is the stuff of yesteryear. Weeeeeha, thank God!
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 6/24/2009 @ 12:26 pmTEAR DOWN THIS WALL =Cowboy diplomacy?
Is that really the defense Obama’s fans have?
Iranians are screaming that we must help them, and they aren’t talking about bombs, they are talking about Obama acting more like Mccain and Reagan instead of ‘seeing how this plays out’ just in case the bad guys win and Obama needs to be nice to them.
How disgusting that some people think partisanship is so important now.
By the way, history is already proving Bush right and there’s nothing the liberals can do about it except try to do better. Is Obama really doing better?
Juan (bd4b30) — 6/24/2009 @ 12:35 pm“Cowboy diplomacy” is the line that BDS sufferers use to show their complete and utter ignorance of the many huge diplomatic victories that the Bush administration had.
It is a line that clearly labels the user as a clown with no real understanding of foreign affairs. An empty suit follower of an Empty Suit(tm).
SPQR (72771e) — 6/24/2009 @ 12:39 pmI guess doing what’s expedient is more important than doing what’s right.
I thought that liberals stood for liberty. And that governments that kill their citizens were the opposite of liberty. Therefore, liberals should be opposed to a government that kills its citizens.
Guess I was wrong.
But then again, I do not need to take my direction from Obama.
I know the difference between right and wrong.
Too bad my supposed intellectual and moral betters (i.e., the trolls) still haven’t figured it out.
Dr. K (eca563) — 6/24/2009 @ 12:47 pmMike K – I detect a slow shift on POV on the part of a couple of commenters who disagreed with a lot of us but seem to be shifting. Are you one ? It seems so.
I hope not. What Leviticus and Aphrael bring to this site has been a respect for honest debate, and the site has benefited. I don’t want Leviticus to do anything other than engage himself and his beliefs with the same vigor that he engages other honest debaters. So far, that’s exactly what he’s done.
Dmac – yes, the site will either be a place for the mentally disabled trolls to interact with the outside world, or a place for reasoned debate. The presence of the first elinimates the possibility of the second.
As you well know, there are no mentally disturbed people banging trash can lids together during President Obama’s press conferences. The Secret Service removes people like that prior to the start of the Presser. I wonder why?
Leviticus – This place is more than a bug jar
Apogee (e2dc9b) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:09 pmBravo. You should add: – for now.
“I detect a slow shift on POV on the part of a couple of commenters who disagreed with a lot of us but seem to be shifting. Are you one ? It seems so.”
– Mike K
I’ve been commenting here for a few years, Mike K. I’ve seen the tone of the sight shift back and forth over those years, but for the vast majority of that time it’s been a place chock full of intelligent, respectful comments and productive overall discussion that’s lead to something of a repoire between a bunch of commenters of various ideological leanings.
I miss that. Mutual respect amongst political opposites is a good thing, I think.
Leviticus (20b7ac) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:12 pmLeviticus,
I don’t know what kind of humor you like but I think Patterico likes irony, and this is his clever and engaging way of enjoying an ironic political moment. Of course, irony isn’t for everyone and it can be highly charged. My perception is that you object for the latter reason but using irony, ridicule and even taunts to convey a political point is something many people enjoy. (And if Jon Stewart and Colbert are any indication, your generation may love it more than most.) So I’m curious why this post bothers you so much?
DRJ (cdbef5) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:12 pm“President Obama addressed the continued political dissension in Iran at a White House news conference Tuesday, saying the country and international community were “appalled and outraged” by the violence and threats against protesters.”
Talk is cheap, and his “outrage” and $3.50 will buy me a latte at Starbucks.
About as impressive as the U.N. bureacracy constantly deploring this, that, and the other thing.
Don’t just stand there, shit for brains, do something.
You might start by withdrawing your 4th of July invitation to the mad mullahs, and calling for a worldwide embargo against the mad mullahs, sort of like the one that lefties, like yourself, called for against South Africa.
There are plenty of things you could do, lil’ Barry…so, get to work.
Stop ignoring, stop bloviating, and start meddling.
“Diplomacy: Obama supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Iran directly to change their troubling behavior. Obama and Biden would offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation…”–Barry O’s website
They refuse to abandon their nuclear program, they continue to support terrorist organizations, and now they’re butchering protestors inside Iran. Does that qualify as “troubling behavior”? Guess it must, seeing as how you awoke from your torpor and all of a sudden got outraged.
So, when are you going to step up the pressure?
After the 4th of July barbecues?
Dave Surls (5c9751) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:17 pmWell, this is hilarious.
I’m always amused when our trolls’ talking points expire and they don’t know it. After all the nonsense from the trolls about how the July 4 invitations to Iranian officials were so important, so diplomatic, just sooooo Obama and so not “cowboy diplomacy” … that it just cracks me up that the White House today announces that they are rescinded.
My ribs are hurting from the laughter.
SPQR (72771e) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:27 pmNot appalled and outraged enough to disinvite Iranian diplomats from 4th of July celebrations.
The invite was pulled.
steve (85cae6) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:39 pm“It’s not productive, given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations, to be seen as meddling…”–Barry O
Funny, Barry doesn’t seem to feel that way when it comes to meddling in Africa…
“Obama’s Record: As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Barack Obama has fought to focus America’s attention on the challenges facing Africa – stopping the genocide in Darfur, passing legislation to promote stability in the Congo and to bring a war criminal to justice in Liberia, mobilizing international pressure for a just government in Zimbabwe, fighting corruption in Kenya, demanding honesty on HIV/AIDS in South Africa, developing a coherent strategy for stabilizing Somalia…”–Barry O’s website
When it comes to Africa, where the U.S. has no interests to speak of, and no enemies to be against, lil Barry is all for meddling in the internal affairs of nations like Zimbabwe or Liberia, but when it comes to Iran, it’s a totally different story.
He’ll make threats against the government of Liberia, and spend U.S. tax dollars to go after Charles Taylor, who is no enemy of the United States, but he won’t go after the mad mullahs who are our arch-enemies…instead he invites them over for a barbecue!
Get a clue, folks. Barack Obama is a witless clown who is not pursuing policies that are in the interests of the United States.
Is it too early to start talking about impeachment?
Dave Surls (5c9751) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:44 pmHilarious, isn’t it, steve? After all the defense of the July 4 invites from the Obama trolls, the White House pulls the rug out from under them.
My ribs hurt from laughing.
SPQR (72771e) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:45 pmsteve, from your link (bold mine):
So, pulling an invitation that nobody had accepted is a rather empty gesture, isn’t it? The fact that the invitation had to have special pre-approval is rather significant too. President Obama’s administration has mishandled this from the outset and will continue to do so until it is understood that legitimizing thugs and murderers is not the same as diplomacy.
Stashiu3 (ed6467) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:48 pmDSCSA – What do you think of this rude cowboy diplomacy gesture?
It should have never been extended, and should not have been defended. Like with everything, they have always maintained a consistently inconsistent position.
All of his words cease having meaning the moment he speaks.
JD (547c14) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:51 pm‘“Given the events of the past many days, those invitations will no longer be extended,” presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said.’
Well, it’s about damned time.
Dave Surls (5c9751) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:53 pmI’ve posted here on withdrawal of the July 4th invitations, with a H/T and my thanks to SPQR.
DRJ (cdbef5) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:54 pmIf no one accepts an invitation, why pull it? Wouldn’t it be far more prudent to leave it open right up until July 3rd, midnight, just in case there is a change of mind and the new peace accord can made? Isn’t rescinding it sending the wrong message if the event is a subtle move toward conversation, as the left has been telling us repeatedly? Nuance and all that.
“Given the events of the past many days, those invitations will no longer be extended,” presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
So now, today, it’s okay to make a serious judgement call on the actions of Iran? Why not just come out and say that the uproar of the public in regard to this invitation made it a risk the president was unwilling to take, whether there were acceptances or not (which is irrelevant).
Dana (8d88ef) — 6/24/2009 @ 1:56 pmDon’t get me wrong, DRJ: I love irony, and if the last line of this post qualifies as “irony” (rather than straightforward gloating), then that’s not the problem I have with it.
The problem I have is that it’s designed to attract and provoke trolls from both sides who will spend the rest of the afternoon bitching at one another rather than having a civilized conversation. It’s intentional troll-feeding, and it annoys me.
Leviticus (20b7ac) — 6/24/2009 @ 2:11 pmPatterico can speak to his intent but I view this post as a humorous, albeit pointed, response to Obama supporters in general and to those who discussed this topic in recent comments at this website.
DRJ (cdbef5) — 6/24/2009 @ 2:20 pmIf there is anything in Iran today it is because of George W Bush conquering Iraq and making it a democracy.
In 20 years, he will be hailed as the man who democratized the Mid-East and statues will be built to honor him as such.
HeavenSent (1e97ff) — 6/24/2009 @ 2:45 pmwas used by the regime as evidence that Americans hate the brown people
Who gives a damn what their skin color is?!
You’re projecting your own discriminatory, if not apparently racist-tinged, instincts in regards to the external, superficial qualities of Iranian people.
So in salute to the phony-baloney nature of people like you in general — and perhaps as one explanation why the leftwinger in the White House has been so surprisingly cavalier and mechanical about the situation facing various people in Iran — I post the following…
Mark (411533) — 6/24/2009 @ 8:26 pm