CBS News Exclusive: Obama "Very Concerned" At Ayatollah's Comments

In an interview with CBS News' Harry Smith, President Obama said he is "very concerned" with the thrust of the statements made today by Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei supporting the country's disputed election results.

"And I'm very concerned based on some of the tenor -- and tone of the statements that have been made -- that the government of Iran recognize that the world is watching," the president told Smith. "And how they approach and deal with people who are, through peaceful means, trying to be heard will, I think, send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is and -- and is not."

More excerpts from the interview will be broadcast on tonight's CBS "Evening News." CBS' "Sunday Morning" will air the portion of the interview related to Father's Day this Sunday, and more of the interview, focusing on domestic issues and foreign policy, will air on CBS' "The Early Show" Monday.


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[TheMasses0009]

Obama "Very Concerned" At Ayatollah's Comments
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This means Maobama will teleprompt Iran into oblivion.

[hughglass]

The guy is a tiger. After crushing the Norks with his "grave concern" over their nuclear testing and then terrifying them with his "deep concern" over the sentencing of the American journalists he has now gone "all in" and sent the Iranian power structure into a state of abject horror with his courageous indication that he is "very concerned" about them murdering their own citizems. One of these days he will really get serious and smack someone with his purse. The Iranians have responded with something about "sticks and stones" ..you know the rest.

[-Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-]

What we COULD do is add them back to this list of state sponsors of terror. Then we'll wait a year and a half since their last nuclear test and take them off the list again. A year and a half is a good probationary period, right?

As for murdering their own citizens, where was your outrage when Mugabe was running amok? Iran is amateur hour compared to this guy.

[wdh3007]

I did not say use arms first"If" there was a protest it would cause some type of response like it did in the 60's the danger is we in America have more people who happen to have arms than those in Iran and that can be a danger. Please read into it carefully.

[wdh3007]

Yes I agree if this protest in Iran happened here in America it would be on a much larger scale causing more of a statement and outcry with more people in our country to protest. The only other difference would be we have the right to bear arms as citizens and most do. We also have many returning veterans of foreign wars who have been trained to kill not to include all the militas, gangs and unfortunately hate groups.

[lovegetpeace]

If your 1st option is to use Arms, why do you wish to protest or demonstrate like in the 1960's?

[nanc12]

by IThoughtItWasFunnyAsIs June 19, 2009 2:23 PM PDT
Nanc12, go back to your Saturday Nite Live Skits...

YOU ARE A LIAR! We have NEVER not had diplomatic relations with Iran.

Rowdy, are you on drugs? Here's a little quote from the other day:
"It said the government summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents U.S. interests in Iran, to complain about American interference. The two countries severed diplomatic relations after the 1979 Islamic Revolution."

You see, dear, the Swiss represent us in Iran, BECAUSE WE SEVERED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS with them in 1979. Maybe you should stop obsessing about SNL and actually get a fact right once in a while!

[8razman]

Our president wants to be "friends" with everyone -- sorry it doesn't work that way. This makes him look weak in the eyes of third world leaders and others. Because of this they are pushing him to find his limits. Gotta make a stand at some point.

Oh, lovegetpeace; everyone, and I mean everyone, is a hypocrite at one level or another.

[lovegetpeace]

If we are to come together in Peace like in marriage, something must give and you must be fully prepared for that 'give'. Americans have a great relationship with Saudi Arabia because Americans look the other way when it comes to Human Right abuses. Just imagine if Obama starts to criticize the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the almost no freedom and democracy in Saudi Arabia.

If you feel weakness, its because you have never been in a reconciliation with your spouse and that is a big weakness onto itself.

[lovegetpeace]

If the USA President is to make a stand at every point, then Americans would be at War with every nation in the world and this empire would not exist (and taking Israel with it).

Look at your Idol Republican Ex-President Bush, nobody in the world would listen to him just because of his Cowboy (Macho) stand you are advocating.

Sounds like you have been thru several ugly divorces already and you still do not understand why. And I understand it because Americans have the highest divorce rate in the world.

[-Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-]

by debinok1 June 19, 2009 4:06 PM PDT
The scariest part is that people do not realize that if these same "protests" were going on here we would have the same "crackdown" by the government, military and local police. They would not stand by and let us destroy buildings and set buses and police vehicles on fire. There would be arrests and detentions and people would die. And if they thought they could slow such a movement by shutting down websites and the internet or disabling cell phone service, they would do exactly that. We may claim freedom and democracy but we too are under the governments thumb. And for those who are going to say we choose our Presidents and elected officials, think about it, when was the last time you saw an average middle class person running for a major office. It takes money, so only the rich get to play.
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So do you imagine if we were TOLD that McCain won back in November by a margin of 62% to 36% there wouldn't be rioting in the streets?

I mean, come on; we riot because the Lakers win the NBA championship.

[-Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-]

by summarex June 19, 2009 4:05 PM PDT
What is this guardian of the revolution in the whitehouse, trying to do? Let Iran's messes stay in Iran. Stop the foreclosures, create real jobs, repair education, healthcare and the infrastucture. Fix America! That's what he's supposed to be doing, not playing cat and mouse games with Iran and North Korea.
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Ignore the guy behind the curtain! Nothin' ta see here!

You see where eight years of THAT attitude got us.

[debinok1]

The scariest part is that people do not realize that if these same "protests" were going on here we would have the same "crackdown" by the government, military and local police. They would not stand by and let us destroy buildings and set buses and police vehicles on fire. There would be arrests and detentions and people would die. And if they thought they could slow such a movement by shutting down websites and the internet or disabling cell phone service, they would do exactly that. We may claim freedom and democracy but we too are under the governments thumb. And for those who are going to say we choose our Presidents and elected officials, think about it, when was the last time you saw an average middle class person running for a major office. It takes money, so only the rich get to play.

[hamiltongrad]

I suggest that all Muslim countries of the world give equal rights to Gaays and all women, also to Jews and Christians, for starters, Then you may be on the road to having a real civilization.