Back in the democratic primary Hillary Clinton aired a now infamous campaign commercial that questioned the strength and resolve of Senator Obama. Clinton questioned Obama’s ability to swiftly and forcefully deal with a threat to America should he be on the other end of a fateful 3AM phone call to the White House.
At the time I thought it was a terrible ad. Then again at the time I was wholly opposed to Hillary Clinton’s candidacy. However I thought the ad was tacky, corny, and more importantly I did believe that Obama would have the strength to make the tough decisions….
“The Iranian people are trying to have a debate about their future.” A debate…..?
This is the president who pledged to bolster America’s moral standing and leadership in the world. The president whose message was heard by throngs of those in Europe and in the middle east who crowded squares and streets to hear him speak.
And yet here we are, in what can only be described as the most significant moment that many of us may ever experience in our lifetimes and our president is falling completely on his face.
His statements today were barely strong. Barely. And mind you, he’s had a week to strengthen them. As both he and the woefully incompetent press secretary Robert Gibbs (tangent: how could a president who is such an amazing communicator pick the worst press secretary in the history of that post?) have stated that the Iranians are in an enthusiastic and “vigorous debate.” Mr president let me just remind you of something:
People.
Are.
Dying.
This isn’t vigorous debate. This is the voice of people crying out for freedom. For justice. Who are literally begging us (why else are their protest signs in English?) to simply say that we STAND WITH THEM. Note that Mr Obama has only dared convey those words in written form and not actually speak them with force and strength.
Now Vice President Joe Biden and then democratic candidate once said that when Obama gets into office, he will be tested. Again, this was a campaign tactic that I didn’t quite agree with and thought it was a desperate attempt by a deperate candidate. And yet North Korea has made some of its boldest moves yet. And we have still come back with soft rhetoric and a nearly cowardly tone…
And so here it is, a week after the Iranian election and we have a statement from the president that barely comes close to promoting liberty and freedom, and still does nothing to honor the courage of those who are protesting in Iran at the risk of their very lives.
A week.
It makes me wonder and maybe fear what happens when Mr Obama and his speechwriters don’t have the luxury of a week or even 15 minutes. It makes me wonder what happens when those who threaten us – whether radical jihadists, or nuclear threats like Kim Jong Il– do something that makes that phone ring. Maybe this isn’t the man I want to be on the other end of the line after all…
Adam,
I still want Obama answering that phone call. He’s show patience, understanding, and made some great strides in reaching out to others.
It’s undeniable that he’s undermined the Supreme Leader of Iran’s claim that the U.S. is Satan. At least half the population there now see the leadership in Iran for what it is, a giant farce.
If Obama had handled this situation with mouths or guns blazing, the effects would have been dire. The leadership in Iran would have basis for it’s claims that the U.S. and Britain are trying to convince people to rise up. By staying out of it, the U.S. allows the rest of the world to see what happens when we don’t meddle too far and makes the Iranian leadership put their foot in their mouth.
Who is begging us to intervene? The signs are in English because most world powers know English and that’s one way to get their message out. Perhaps it’s not begging us to help but showing us that they know we’re not what their leaders claim we are.
You may, in the end, be right. However, I think it’s much too soon to tell. For now, my thoughts and prayers go out to the Iranian people and I pray for the bloodshed to stop.
We may want to send them a copy of MLK’s biography…
Take Care,
Chris