Closing Arguments: Obama Ramps Up Rhetoric on Iran
EmailOfficials in Iran today admitted irregularities that affected some three million votes in 50 voting districts. The problem? More ballots were cast than there were eligible voters. Even so, Iran's Guardian Council insists the outcome of election — the victory of sitting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was not tainted. After a bloody weekend, the military used force and tear gas today to break up several protests. A general strike is planned for tomorrow. President Obama, meanwhile, took a sharper tone, calling on the Iranian government to end the violence and respect the free speech of its citizens. So, tonight we ask: Has President Obama's approach so far been too soft; too tough; or just right? Tell us what you think. You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.
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Way too weak, Mr. President. Waayyy too weak. Sarkozy blew your response out of the water, days ago, and he’s French!
Posted by: Skip_G | June 23, 2009, 12:08 am 12:08 am
Obama should comment about the Iranian crackdown very diplomatically, carefully, watching what he says, while wearing a green armband.
Posted by: RH | June 23, 2009, 12:11 am 12:11 am
I think the President is doing what is right about Iran. He should stay OUT of other countrie’s businesses… We’ve had past BAD experiences about presidents sticking their noses where they are not invited. Learn a lesson: MIND your OWN business!
Posted by: Anderson Resende | June 23, 2009, 12:14 am 12:14 am
I think “our” president is highly intelligent as are many members of the current adminstration and I believe strongly that based on the knowlege our government has about the sensitive nature of the situation in Iran (more knowlege possibly than the public may have) that President Obama is doing as much as he/we can (openly) at this time.
I have full confidence that (privately, diplomatically) President Obama and his adminstration are advocating in a strong way for “justice” to be done in Iran with regard to **human life and safety** and peaceful protest.
No matter how much we as Americans may be biased toward a “better” or more “democratic” outcome for this election in Iran, that simply is not our decision to make.
Posted by: Summer Alston | June 23, 2009, 12:18 am 12:18 am
As much as I dislike the government in Iran, it is not my government. It is not our government. President Obama’s comments are about right. In the end the people of Iran have to solve their own problems. We all know that nothing will tick off an American faster than some sand flea dictator telling us how to run our elections. All we need to do is tell the world that if there are more votes than voters they need to try again.
Posted by: Okalona47 | June 23, 2009, 12:18 am 12:18 am
TOO WEAK..way too weak… America helps/goes into situation for reasons of interest/ which will benefit them but when a country is wanting Democracy, America doesn’t want to get their hands wet. President Obama needs to grow some and this country break away from that regime. The Islamic Republic is bringing army’s from other countries to kill their own people. Something more needs to be done before more blood is spilled.
Posted by: siav | June 23, 2009, 12:19 am 12:19 am
I think “our” president is highly intelligent as are many members of the current adminstration and I believe strongly that based on the knowlege our government has about the sensitive nature of the situation in Iran (more knowlege possibly than the public may have) that President Obama is doing as much as he/we can (openly) at this time.
I have full confidence that (privately, diplomatically) President Obama and his adminstration are advocating in a strong way for “justice” to be done in Iran with regard to **human life and safety** and peaceful protest.
No matter how much we as Americans may be biased toward a “better” or more “democratic” outcome for this election in Iran, that simply is not our decision to make.
Posted by: Summer Alston | June 23, 2009, 12:19 am 12:19 am
If Americans had shown the courage to protest the 2000 and 2004 Presidential election irregularities as courageously as the Iranians, our government would have behaved just as badly. We’ve repeatedly beaten and incarcerated WTO protestors in recent years in various locations around the U.S., and who can forget the Kent State Massacre during the Vietnam War era? Thanks for encouraging the “liberation” of the Iranian people from derelict, irresponsible, corrupt and despotic government. Do you think you could do the same for us sometime?
Posted by: Jon | June 23, 2009, 12:26 am 12:26 am
Obama’s approach to the electoral abnormalities in Iran has so far been about all that can be expected at this point. With the junior senator’s new and untested regime having been in place for less than 200 days, he realizes that the U.S. has no authority to interfere with the internal affairs of Iran any more than Iran has the authority to delve into OURS!!! To do so would only besmirch his attempts at putting a new face on “America” before the Islamic world and possibly create more obstacles in his future attempts at making peaceful overtures in the area. The people of Iran know what they want…LET THEM SOLVE THEIR OWN INTERNAL PROBLEMS…whatever that entails…then Obama will have to deal with what is left….be that good or bad!!! This whole situation sort of reminds one of Bush vs. Gore in our own country…
Posted by: Nachthexe | June 23, 2009, 12:35 am 12:35 am
President Obama’s approach has been just right up to this point.
Posted by: JLM | June 23, 2009, 12:47 am 12:47 am
The United States needs to stop trying to settle everyone else’s problems and solve it’s own. This includes Iran and Mesico. If they think we will solve it for them they will let us and do little to help themselves. We can voice an opinion but don’t serve as judges deciding the outcome.
Posted by: larry | June 23, 2009, 12:51 am 12:51 am
Obama’s response to Iran is too late and too weak, additionally instead of apologizing to the world for our past actions he needs to be taking action on a global level and put North Korea in check.
Posted by: GEM3 | June 23, 2009, 1:00 am 1:00 am
All these people want is the same thing that a chance for life, Liberty. Long live freedom!
Posted by: chi hair straightener | June 23, 2009, 2:41 am 2:41 am
The people in Iran obviously need us to help them, or they wouldn’t be putting their desperate info out there on social web sites. So, are we going to help or just stand by and watch? I think Obama needs to be like a teacher in school and give a good, stern warning . . . a warning that he is willing to back up if need be.
Posted by: Devoted2 | June 23, 2009, 5:13 am 5:13 am
president Obama is pitch perfect on this issue.
To all the neocons that don’t think the persident is doing enough join the military or send your sons and daughters because we need bodies to back up your cowboy diplomacy.
Posted by: watching | June 23, 2009, 8:21 am 8:21 am
I think President Obama is doing all that can be done for Iran. They have an Internal Confict that must be resolve by the citizens and government of Iran. The US has no jursidiction or power to appoint leadership within Iran. Again this reminds me of the Bush-Gore election—only untill the Supreme Court made a decision was the election finalized.
Posted by: Citizen K | June 23, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Does Obama still want to have talks with Iran?
Obama is a disaster. True leaders don’t stick their finger in the air to see what they should say. They should believe in something. As an American, he should fully support the cause of freedom and not dictatorships. Oh yea, he took over the banks, GM, Chrysler and now healthcare.
Posted by: Sean | June 23, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
I did not vote for him & I think he’s a far cry from a leader & should be impeached
Posted by: SuSaN_2009 | June 23, 2009, 8:29 pm 8:29 pm
mr. obama is handling the iranian problem correctly. he is firm with his responses, and i like the way he immediately corrects the reporters when attempting to ask him the questions in a way for mr. obama to place him on the spot.he is a very intelligent person, and i think this reporters are finding this out.
Posted by: jzp | June 23, 2009, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
America has not had a leader for the last 8 years and poor Sean wouldn’t recognize a “leader” if one fell on him.
Obama is a gift from God for America.
You will eat your words, Sean!
Posted by: Marisa | June 23, 2009, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
You can always expect President Obama to do the right thing at the right time. This is a historical, potentially deadly, and pivotal point in the lives of these people much like the pivotal point in the lives of African Americans living in the South during the 1950′s and 1960′s when they were massacred as they protested for their rights as human beings. We know from history that a warped sense of perspective can lead us to get puffed up in our flesh, prideful, and full of victory lessons about how he’s not doing enough. A savy President and administration such as our current one knows that sometimes you receive a scenario where the only way out of the fire is directly through the flames. We just need the courage to go through this with the Iranian people so that they can come out the other side of it scott free. I am thankful for a president that’s smart enough to see the inherent war trap that comes with overstepping your place in this situation. And I am equally thankful for a president who knows the importance of righteous anger and its power to condemn. Steady as she goes Mr. President and full steam ahead. Sound judgment such as that of President Obama’s is both a defensive and offensive weapon! Mighty powerful stuff!
Posted by: myak23 | June 23, 2009, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm
I think it’s better (in some situations) for us to mind our own business. But, we should remember our allies and support them. We should not treat our allies (friends) like our enemies, and our enemies (Islamic countries whose governments support terrorism, and suppress freedom among their own people (such as Korea and Iran). Our #1 ally, whose people support and stand for the same values that we do (freedom and democracy) is Israel, which is God’s country, Jesus’s birthplace and place of return for his worldly reign. In his first 6 months of office as President, Mr. bama has shown himself to be the most anti-Israel of any other president in our history. Take heed, as the Bible quotes–those who go against Israel and attempt to divide up her land shall be crushed. This land belongs to them, and always has,–no need to give more millions to the terrorist government led by Hammas, who spend it all on more rockets to fire at Israel, and have also been killing people in Iran. Their government is just a branch of Iran’s extremist regime.
Posted by: Denice | June 23, 2009, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm
Way too little; way too late. What if this had been the reaction to South African Apartheid? We don’t want to offend??? Don’t want to provide ammunition to the opposition??? Give me a break, get a back bone, and pick a side!!! You can’t straddle the fence when confronted with oppression. It is sad that a guy with such oratory talents can’t find the words to condemn the rulers of this oppressive regime. Keep up the good work and you will take your place next to the other greats like Jimmy Carter!!
Posted by: Dissa Pointed | June 24, 2009, 12:36 am 12:36 am