Obama News Conference: Iran

Obama led off his news conference with a statement on Iran.

He said, "I strongly condemn these unjust actions."

He reiterated the comment he made yesterday to Harry Smith on the CBS morning show, "We must bear witness."

Obama said that we "deplore the violence against innocent citizens anywhere it takes place."

He said that Iran's leaders are scapegoating the U.S. and the West.

From CNN:

President Obama said Tuesday that the accusations of some in the Iranian government that the United States is "instigating protests" are "patently false and absurd."

The accusations "are an obvious attempt to distract people from what is truly taking place within Iran's borders," Obama said at the start of a midday news conference.

"This tired strategy of using old tensions to scapegoat other countries won't work anymore in Iran. This is not about the United States and the West; this is about the people of Iran and the future that they -- and only they -- will choose."

Obama said the United States, however, must "bear witness to the courage and dignity of the Iranian people and to a remarkable opening within Iranian society. And we deplore violence against innocent civilians anywhere that it takes place."

"Bear witness" is obviously one of Obama's established phrases on the matter.

It's weird. Should a president stand on the sidelines and "bear witness" or should he speak out and lead?

Obama said, "Iranian people can speak for themselves." They're trying, but the current regime is stifling them. That's the point. That's why they need the unwavering support of the leader of the Free World.

Yes, Obama is definitely still on the sidelines. He didn't come out today and talk tougher.

In his opening remarks, he mentioned the graphic video, circulated widely on the Internet, of the death of Neda, a young Iranian woman.

It was no more than a shout-out. Meaningless.

Obama referred to his Cairo speech. I think that was a reminder to the Muslim world that it is his policy to butt out.

The toughest thing he said was the "Iranian government must govern through consent."

Obama's opening comments on Iran were not what they were hyped to be. He's still watching, rather than engaging.

In response to the first question of the news conference, Obama said, "What's happened in Iran is profound and we're still waiting to see how it plays itself out."

That's true. Obama is WAITING.

He referred to the events in Iran as an "extraordinary debate."

DEBATE? Is slaughtering innocent people and shutting down media what Obama defines as debate?

Major Garrett was tough on Obama. He noted that in Obama's opening statement, he said he was outraged about the violence in Iran.

Garrett asked, "What took you so long?"

Obama claimed that he has been consistent in his comments on Iran from the beginning of the protests.

Garrett asked if the Fourth of July barbecues at U.S. embassies for Iranian diplomats were still on.

Obama said, "We're interested in healing some of the wounds."

Garrett asked a direct question but Obama dodged and weaved on the Independence Day events.

In terms of whether the barbecues are still on, Obama said, "That's a choice the Iranians are gonna have to make."

Huh?

Here's the transcript of the exchange between Obama and Major Garrett:

MAJOR GARRETT: In your opening remarks, sir, you said about Iran that you were appalled and outraged. What took you so long?

(CROSSTALK)

MR. OBAMA: I don't think that's accurate. Track what I've been saying. Right after the election I said that we had profound concerns about the nature of the election, but that it was not up to us to determine what the outcome was.

As soon as violence broke out -- in fact, in anticipation of potential violence -- we were very clear in saying that violence was unacceptable, that that was not how governments operate with respect to their people.

So we've been entirely consistent, Major, in terms of how we've approached this. My role has been to say the United States is not going to be a foil for the Iranian government to try to blame what's happening on the streets of Tehran on the CIA or on the White House, that this is an issue that is led by and given voice to the frustrations of the Iranian people.

And so we've been very consistent the first day, and we're going to continue to be consistent in saying this is not an issue about the United States, this is about an issue of the Iranian people.

What we've also been consistent about is saying that there are some universal principles, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, making sure that governments are not using coercion and violence and repression in terms of how they interact with peaceful demonstrators. And we have been speaking out very clearly about that fact.

QUESTION: Are Iranian diplomats still welcome at the embassy on Fourth of July, sir?

MR. OBAMA: Well, I think as you're aware, Major, we don't have formal diplomatic relations with...

(CROSSTALK)

MR. OBAMA: ... we don't have formal -- we don't have formal diplomatic relations with Iran. I think that we have said that if Iran chooses a path that abides by international norms and principles, then we are interested in healing some of the wounds of 30 years in terms of U.S.-Iranian relations.

But that is a choice that the Iranians are going to have to make.

QUESTION: But the offer still stands?

MR. OBAMA: That's a choice the Iranians are going to have to make.

Did you notice that Garrett called Obama "sir"?

How disrespectful! Obama worked hard to get the title of "president."

Obviously, this is FOX News dissing Obama again.

A while later, Chip Reid followed up Garrett's question on Iran, asking if Lindsey Graham and John McCain have pushed Obama to speak out more forcefully.

Obama said, "I am the president." In other words, he's the decider.

When Obama says that, I think he's trying to convince himself that he's the president, like he needs to look in the mirror every day and repeat, "I am the president." I don't like it when he says that.

"I am the president."

"I am not a crook."

Chuck Todd followed Reid with a question about "spelling out the consequences" for Iran and the abuse of its people. Todd accused Obama of failing to say what those consequences will be.

Obama dodged the issue again by saying that we have to see how this all plays out.

Todd pressed Obama, but Obama shut him up and moved on.

The last question was about the "Neda" video.

"It's heartbreaking." He said that sort of violence is "fundamentally unjust."

No kidding.

He said the Iranian people need to know that they are not alone in this process.

That's true. France, Germany, and Britain are strongly speaking out against the oppressive regime in Iran. The Iranian people aren't alone.
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Complete transcript here.