June 15, 2009 5:48 PM

GOP Hits Obama For Silence On Iran Protests

By
Prerana Swami
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In The News
(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
UPDATE, 6:20 pm ET: President Obama discussed the situation in Iran late this afternoon, following a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. According to the Associated Press, he said he is troubled by situation in Iran and that any investigation into Iranian election results must not result in bloodshed. Read more here>.

Amid allegations of fraud in the recent Iranian elections, Republicans are criticizing President Obama for not personally addressing violence against the protesters demonstrating on behalf of opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor released a statement Monday that calls on Mr. Obama to "take a strong public position in the face of violence and human rights abuses." Cantor suggests the lack of a statement from the president cuts against America's responsibility "to lead the world."

"We stand with the people of Iran in their struggle to participate in a democratic election and who deserve the right to freely assemble and voice their opposition to its questionable outcome," Cantor said. "The Administration's silence in the face of Iran's brutal suppression of democratic rights represents a step backwards for homegrown democracy in the Middle East. We have a moral responsibility to lead the world in opposition to Iran's extreme response to peaceful protests."

Indiana Representative Mike Pence told Reuters that it is Mr. Obama's duty to make a statement regarding Iran.

"It is appropriate for the leader of the free world at this time to speak a word of encouragement to those dissidents in the street," Pence said.

Pence also told CNN that he believes the president's foreign policy is not working.

"First and foremost, we need to take a half step back from this administration's olive branch-and-apology approach to enemies and countries that have been hostile to the United States of America and our allies," Pence said Sunday. "I'm hoping, before the end of the day today, the President of the United States will speak a word of support for Mr. Moussavi and for the dissidents and the reformers within Iran."

The elections drew a record turnout amid speculation over a possible defeat of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian government claims that Ahmedinejad easily defeated Moussavi but others say Moussavi rightfully won.

The results sparked protests around Tehran, which soon turned deadly.

On Sunday, Vice President Biden stated that he there was "some real doubt" about the election results. The State Department, meanwhile, has called the ensuing violence "deeply troubling."

Add a Comment See all 20 Comments
by markpkessinger June 16, 2009 4:48 PM EDT
For Obama to come out now with an extremely strong condemnation, before all the facts are in, would play directly into Ahmedinejad's hand by providing a distraction -- namely, that America is attempting to meddle in Iran's internal affairs. Ahmedinejad would no doubt use this to try to distract the Iranian people from the primary issue, which is the question of whether or not the election was valid and legal. Many Iranians remember all too well the last time the U.S. meddled in their affairs, deposing a freely elected leader and putting the Shah in place instead. The President is wise to be restrained just now.
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by debinok1 June 15, 2009 11:42 PM EDT
Considering that Ahmedinejad has already convinced his followers that the problems in Iran are a direct result of the "western influence", the best thing Obama can do is be quiet. Which so far he has pretty much done. To have the ruling clerics decide that the "western influence" has instigated these protests is not what they need right now. Iran has to fight this battle, all we can do is watch and pray for the best. Our opinions and our interference are not needed.
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by IThoughtItWasFunnyAgin June 16, 2009 5:34 AM EDT
Yes, our opinions matter and they should be stated openly and without hesitation. Otherwise you're condoning Achmadinejad's actions. There's not a thing in the world wrong with calling out in support of the Iranians fighting this dictator.

Shrugging our shoulders and going oh well when you're dealing with a bunch of idiots trying to get nukes, doesn't QUITE cut it.
by wdh3007 June 15, 2009 11:14 PM EDT
Did people really believe that the Hitler of Iran was just going to step down because he lost an election. Rememeber this is a dictator who wants to rule with an iron fist and wipe Israel or anyone else who stands in his way off the face of the map.
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by ReallyMeanIt June 15, 2009 11:09 PM EDT
obama is silent because he's clueless on what to do.
Plus his cronies need some time to figure out how turn this into something to help his popularity, not necessarily doing the right thing.
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by eolemons June 15, 2009 11:04 PM EDT
Is this real or am I just dreaming this? The GOP having the audacity to criticize a non-GOP Administration's foreign policy decisions? The same GOP who has members claiming this country never supports dictators, uh such as the Shah Pahlavi that this country helped into power by covertly overthrowing a democratically elected Prime Minister in the process. The same GOP that illegally sold arms to the so-called 'part axis of evil'. I mean why should the GOP, or anyone in this country for that matter be concerned with a hardliner winning reelection via a so-called democratic process by cheating? Hasn't that been the American way? If you aren't cheating you aren't trying hard enough?
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by connunism June 15, 2009 10:42 PM EDT
The jinGOPigs continue to put the interests of Israel first over the USA. Ahmadinejad was elected 4 years ago because of Republicon interference in the affairs of Iran when GW Bush declared them the axis of evil. The only evil in the world today is the Republicon Party of Bitter Fascists.
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by DefendLiberty June 15, 2009 10:39 PM EDT
Pence said Sunday. ?I?m hoping, before the end of the day today, the President of the United States will speak a word of support for Mr. Moussavi and for the dissidents and the reformers within Iran.?
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In other words, the GOP wants to SABOTAGE any chance that the Iranian opposition will succeed. As soon as America embraces the opposition, the Iranian ayatollahs will brand the opposition as "American stooges" and crush them. it's political poison, and the GOP KNOWS IT.

No, the GOP ONLY CARES ABOUT POLITICAL POINTS, and have shown over and over again during the last 8 years that they know NOTHING of how to run foreign policy (except for invading countries of course).

The SIMPLE MINDED PARROTS who follow the GOP like lost ducklings love this garbage. How pathetic.
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by ev_ares June 15, 2009 10:20 PM EDT
Actually, count_slapula, I think Obama has shown excellent leadership in his foreign policy and it is showing. The repubs track record on their foreign policy I do not think gives them much credibility for critiquing President Obama with them doing everything wrong and so far Obama doing everything right.
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by IThoughtItWasFunnyAgin June 16, 2009 5:16 AM EDT
Exactly where is it showing? Please provide me with a list of these successes...somehow I missed them.

European leadership think he's stupid and have told him no on everything except handing the IMG $1 trillion dollars to boost world banking...
Half the Middle East is calling him stupid, and the rest are wheeling and dealing with him to see how much money they can skrew us out of...and trying to get him to help them destroy Israel...
North Korea is blowing bombs up in his face every time he opens his lying mouth...
Russia is ignoring him and yawning...
The communist states of the America's debased him, and mocked him...
And half the United States despises him...

And you call this success?? I'll swun!
by thusspokezara June 15, 2009 10:19 PM EDT
Why is the GOP giving Mr. Obama a hard time over Iran? What is he supposed to do? Make a statement that is critical of the Iranian regime? That would probably make them angrier and might make them lash out even more at their citizens. No. I say that Mr. Obama should be nice to them and talk in generalities and hope that the Iranians crack down so hard that there will be no more demonstrations.
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by ev_ares June 15, 2009 10:16 PM EDT
DefendLiberty, well said, right on the mark.
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