Obama: "Not Productive" To Be Seen As Meddling

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Iran

(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

At the end of a press conference with South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak today, President Obama said it is important that he not be seen as "meddling" in the Iranian election process.

"It's not productive, given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations, to be seen as meddling – the U.S. president meddling in Iranian elections," Mr. Obama said.

Echoing his comments yesterday, the president said that both he and the world have "deep concerns" about the election results in Iran. He suggested he believes Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is responding to unrest among the Iranian people.

"You've seen in Iran some initial reaction from the supreme leader that indicates he understands the Iranian people have deep concerns about the election," said Mr. Obama.

The president went on to say that "something has happened in Iran where there is a questioning of the kinds of antagonistic postures towards the international community that have taken place in the past, and that there are people who want to see greater openness, and greater debate, and want to see greater democracy."

"How that plays out over the next several days and several weeks is something ultimately for the Iranian people to decide, but I stand strongly with the universal principle that peoples' voices should be heard and not suppressed," he said.

The president added that "when I see violence directed at peaceful protesters, when I see peaceful dissent being suppressed, wherever that takes place, it is of concern to me and it's of concern to the American people."

"That is not how governments should interact with their people. And my hope is is that the Iranian people will make the right steps in order for them to be able to express their voices, to express their aspirations," he said.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by globalcoolin June 17, 2009 12:10 AM EDT: Obama already meddled with his bowing and apologizing on the world stage. He just don't know how to lead!
Blogs are filling with "he's doing the best he can" in pleading tones--but don't buy that!
All he knows is campaign to be popular,firmly and confidently bow and appologize and arrange massive amounts of money to go to friends pockets... to keep his friends.; Reply to this comment


by lloydbest1 June 16, 2009 9:19 PM EDT: I think the operative phrase here is "To be SEEN as meddling" (my emphasis).

There will be meddling, count on it. It may be subtle but the heavy hand of American foreign policy will try to manipulate this situation to the advantage of the already-too-rich-and-too-powerful.

It may not be obvious to those of us away from the State Department, but we've had too long and too entrenched a history of not leaving well enough alone - usually because some big wheel felt shortchanged - to just stop because the "O" man says we ought to.; Reply to this comment


by wdh3007 June 16, 2009 8:14 PM EDT: The Media is running scared of the eligibility issue three of the largest media companies in the United States have all banned the simple billboard message "Where's The Birth Certificate"

That is sensorship in America and that is a form of Communism CEO Rupert Murdoch is trying to avoid the issue or hope it goes away but he should not decide what Americans can see and what they can't just because he is a Socialist. Barack is not a naturalized U.S. citizen and therefore was legally not eligable to be President under federal law.; Reply to this comment


by PVperson2 June 16, 2009 7:37 PM EDT: Neo-cons always say, "DO something", "Bomb them", "Make them do what we want", but they never come up with anyway to accomplish that task. The neo-con solution is always put someone else's children in harms way, they're willing and ready for someone else to bleed as long as it isn't one of them. Cheney and his 5 deferments anyone or maybe Bush buying his way out of the draft?; Reply to this comment


by 2bgregarious4u June 16, 2009 4:01 PM EDT: 4 GBDMD - Where did you go to school? You certainly didn'y go to history class. It was during the Clinton administration that mandated that all those on wellfare, unemployment, and low income be given the right to make a loan for housing. Then it was Barney Frank and the demo-morons that fought Bush when he wanted to recind that law because he saw what was coming. Now that it has happened thay want to blame someone else because of their ignorance. Get the facts!; Reply to this comment


by Patriot-STL June 16, 2009 3:48 PM EDT: Hey why should the US hold anybody to any standards? It's not like the world meddles with us? And how about those racist meddling Democrats, always meddling in the black community. Check out this black conservative's view at www.theblacksphere.net; Reply to this comment


by specialty8 June 16, 2009 3:25 PM EDT: obama is all Bushes fault.; Reply to this comment


by marcodele June 16, 2009 3:17 PM EDT: It sure is nice to see a president handle a media situation with intelligence and restraint. If that had been Bush and the right wingers, we'd be "smokin' 'em out of the foxholes' and sacrifice more U.S. troops lives along with innocent civilians.; Reply to this comment

by billpl-2009 June 16, 2009 2:51 PM EDT

After eight years of shooting off at the mouth, might be a good idea that Obama gives the world 4 to 8 years off

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by ubrew12 June 16, 2009 3:08 PM EDT: 'might be'?? Bush was a foreign policy disaster (which at least made him consistent with every other aspect of governance).


by thusspokezara June 16, 2009 2:29 PM EDT: "...this is not how governments should interact with their people..." our President says. "Interact", he says. Brutal repression is now government "interact(ing) with their people."

"...antagonistic posture towards the international community..." our President says. "Antagonistic posture" he says. The sponsoring of terror is is now an "antonistic posture."

We are in trouble.; Reply to this comment