• Home
  • Blogs
  • Political Hotsheet
Political Hotsheet
March 20, 2009 7:30 PM

Day 60: Obama Appeals To Iran’s People

Posted by Brian Montopoli
(APTN/White House handout)
On his sixtieth day in office, President Obama continued to discuss his stimulus package even as questions over the AIG bonuses lingered and populist anger rose to the surface.

He also issued a direct video appeal to the people of Iran, saying his “administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community."

"This process will not be advanced by threats,” he added. “We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect."

On the stimulus front, the president said that he had issued a directive for new federal guidelines that explain what constitutes an acceptable use of taxpayer dollars – and that requests from lobbyists to talk to members of his administration about Recovery Act projects would be posted on the Internet.

"Decisions about how Recovery money will be spent will be based on the merits," he said. "They will not be made as a way of doing favors for lobbyists."

The president also met with Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ed Rendell and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to talk about infrastructure revitalization. The trio say they are “one hundred percent” the president’s efforts on the issue.

He also saw the end of a tough week that included a verbal gaffe during an appearance on late-night television.


Tags:
obama ,
iran ,
stimulus
Topics:
Obama Day By Day
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx

More from Political Hotsheet and Politics on CBSNews.com

Add a Comment
by majisaatchi March 21, 2009 11:23 PM EDT
Mr. President: Your Friday post-card to Iran had much going for it. It was eloquent, showed a real appreciation of Persian culture and the arts even quoting Saadi, one of the major Persian poets of the Medieval period. Unfortunately, your message also betrayed the people of Iran who for three decades have been struggling for freedom from theocratic misrule.
For in that message you said ?The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right.?
When an American President says something like that it means that the United States has taken for granted the continuing existence of20 Iran?s clerical regime. It means that, going forward, we consider that regime to be legitimate and that your Administration is working under the assumption that this clerical regime?s ascent is an irreversible process; that it?s just a matter of learning to deal with the mullahs.
But this is clearly a false assumption. The mullahs ares currently facing a number of problems that threaten its domestic stability and undercut its ability to realize its dreams of regional primacy. These include falling oil prices, massive inflation, high unemployment, rising unrest among its ethnic minorities, resurgent student protests, and a looming succession crisis posed by the possibility of the current Supreme Leader?s death. (If the regime had truly consolidated and solidified its rule to the extent that they are accepted as legitimate by their own people, then it would not be conducting so many domestic security/anti-riot drills).
So your very eloquent message (which was broadcast in its entirety by the BBC) is bound to reduce the confidence of Iran?s oppressed dissidents and leave them wondering if the US has now completely abandoned their cause.
Mr. President, I think you owe these long-suffering and oppressed Iranians an apology.
Reply to this comment
by majisaatchi March 21, 2009 11:18 PM EDT
Mr. President: Your Friday post-card to Iran had much going for it. It was eloquent, showed a real appreciation of Persian culture and the arts even quoting Saadi, one of the major Persian poets of the Medieval period. Unfortunately, your message also betrayed the people of Iran who for three decades have been struggling for freedom from theocratic misrule.
For in that message you said ?The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right.?
When an American President says something like that it means that the United States has taken for granted the continuing existence of20 Iran?s clerical regime. It means that, going forward, we consider that regime to be legitimate and that your Administration is working under the assumption that this clerical regime?s ascent is an irreversible process; that it?s just a matter of learning to deal with the mullahs.
But this is clearly a false assumption. The mullahs ares currently facing a number of problems that threaten its domestic stability and undercut its ability to realize its dreams of regional primacy. These include falling oil prices, massive inflation, high unemployment, rising unrest among its ethnic minorities, resurgent student protests, and a looming succession crisis posed by the possibility of the current Supreme Leader?s death. (If the regime had truly consolidated and solidified its rule to the extent that they are accepted as legitimate by their own people, then it would not be conducting so many domestic security/anti-riot drills).
So your very eloquent message (which was broadcast in its entirety by the BBC) is bound to reduce the confidence of Iran?s oppressed dissidents and leave them wondering if the US has now completely abandoned their cause.
Mr. President, I think you owe these long-suffering and oppressed Iranians an apology.
Reply to this comment
by patriot771 March 21, 2009 8:25 PM EDT
israel is the albatross around our neck,NO COUNTRY WILL RESPECT US WHILE WE SUPPORT APARTHEID AND A COUNTRY THAT BRAGS ABOUT KILLING PREGNANT WOMEN, ISRAEL THREATENS IRAN EVERY DAY. if i were iran i would want the bomb too. WE MUST DISARM THAT FANATICAL RELIGIOUS STATE OF ISRAEL, THEY ARE A THREAT TO AMERICA, ONCE WE SEVER TIES WITH THEM THEY WILL TRY TO NUKE US..
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 March 21, 2009 5:20 PM EDT
The Iranian (Persian) People want their country opened up to the world and have tourists flock to see their rich culture. Most of all, the Iranians want to be respected as those do the Europeans. Iranians see themselves as Europeans but their backword Religious Conservative Fanatical Hierarchy is impeding this progress.

Also, Iran is approaching their peak oil production such as the United States did in the 1970?s. This country Iran needs to switch their energy consumption needs in order to continue to export oil to the world at a high output rate to maintain revenues.

The Bush Administration and Iranian President Amajhinidad were on the same side of a two headed coin when it came to Energy, War, and Oil Profits. Iran and the USA need to update their relationship and move forward with the pending world energy needs.
Reply to this comment
by leishirsute March 21, 2009 9:02 AM EDT
It's a shame the iran appears scared to negotiate. They fear opening up uncensored communications to the outside world.

It's a country still run by religious fanatics.
Reply to this comment

About Political Hotsheet

Stay up to the minute on the latest news and developments from Washington, from the White House to Congress and everything in-between with the best political reporters from CBS News and CBSNews.com.

E-Mail Political Hotsheet
Follow On Twitter

Add to your favorite news reader
google
yahoo
msn
  • MOST POPULAR
Discussed
  1. Tempers Flare In Climate Change Flap

    (718 recent comments)

HOTSHEET ON TWITTER