Today’s Qs for O’s WH – 6/116/2009

That was a waste of a few questions. You honestly think Gibbs – or anyone in the administration – is going to breathe a word about the Iran situation that isn’t carefully rehearsed and deeply considered beforehand?
Whenever under internal pressure, Iran diverts its people’s anger toward the US or Israel. They’re dying for someone in the West to say something- anything- they can use to paint the protesters as “agents of the Crusaders/Great Satan/Little Satan/etc.” Why are you trying to help them?
I’m really baffled at what you expected to get on this.

Does Gibbs ever answer a question? Abstractions, speech disfluencies such as uh and um, words and sentences that are cut off mid-utterance, phrases that are restarted or repeated, repeated syllables, unrecognizable utterances occurring as ‘fillers’, and ‘repaired’ utterances are not answers.

Jhw, I understand and to an extent agree with your point, that the WH is not going to give the Iranian government any material to use against the protesters. But I think Jake was still right to ask as he did.
First of all, not every question by a WH journalists, even the estimable Mr. Tapper, is intended as a “gotcha.” Tapper gave the WH an opening to trot out the message they do want to broadcast, another opening for a smooth prepared statement, as the president had given earlier in the day, with the minute Kabuki dance of diplomacy of hints and carefully chosen words that government spokespeople have used for generations to engage while not engaging on the international level. As you say, it is not as if Mr. Gibbs should have been unprepared for the subject coming up.
So while you write, “You honestly think Gibbs – or anyone in the administration – is going to breathe a word about the Iran situation that isn’t carefully rehearsed and deeply considered beforehand?,” I have to laugh. You did read the transcript, right? If Gibbs’ answer was carefully rehearsed and deeply considered, then we are in deep deep trouble. The man is a mess. Yes, the question should have triggered a careful, nuanced response that reinforced the message the administration wants to project– it did not. What is baffling is not that Tapper asked the obvious question but that Gibbs was so inarticulate in response.

What does that have to do with anything I’ve written or this blog posting?
Posted by: jhw539 |
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You keep saying we can’t speak truth to the situation in Iran and I wonder why not. What is it you want from Iran that you fear harsh rhetoric would jeopardize?

They’re dying for someone in the West to say something- anything- they can use to paint the protesters as “agents of the Crusaders/Great Satan/Little Satan/etc.” Why are you trying to help them?
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That’s true, but on the other hand, they don’t actually need us to say or do anything to blame us. They do that already.
The protesters are listening too. A little sympathy or support would go a long way. He could strongly condemn the violence and loss of life. He could strongly condemn the suppression of the international press. He could even say he sees the right to protest as a fundamental right, and praise the Iranians for allowing them to continue without escalation.
Remember in Lebanon, during the Cedar Revolution- the protesters yelled “Bush sends his regards”, echoing what our troops said when we caught Saddam.
Both sides listen to us, and to the world. As much as the mullahs blame us, others do see us as the beacon of hope.

America’s official reaction to the immediate Iran situation just isn’t one of those things. And it seems Republican officeholders know this too.
Posted by: jhw539 |
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Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, in a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives announced that he is introducing a resolution later today supporting the dissidents in Iran.

Foghorn Leghorn:”You keep saying we can’t speak truth to the situation in Iran and I wonder why not. What is it you want from Iran that you fear harsh rhetoric would jeopardize?”
What I do want from Iran? It is what i don’t want. I don’t want to give them an excuse to murder hundreds of the young people protesting as “agents of the West.” How hard is that to understand? Do you even know what happened in 2003?

MayBee:” He could strongly condemn the violence and loss of life. He could strongly condemn the suppression of the international press. He could even say he sees the right to protest as a fundamental right,”
You mean something like:
“I am deeply troubled by the violence that I’ve been seeing on television. I think that the democratic process — free speech, the ability of people to peacefully dissent — all those are universal values and need to be respected. And whenever I see violence perpetrated on people who are peacefully dissenting, and whenever the American people see that, I think they’re, rightfully, troubled.”
“And what I would say to those people who put so much hope and energy and optimism into the political process, I would say to them that the world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was. And they should know that the world is watching.”

jhw- No, I would say “troubled” isn’t strong enough.

Thank God for Karma:”B.O. is doing the only thing he has the spine to do: voting “present.”"
Just like with the Somalia pirate holding Captain Phillips hostage. Sad that to Republicans nowadays basic commonsense and good strategy is ridiculed as spineless.

That’s what you’re left with? “Deeply troubled” isn’t the right phrase,
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Yes. Diplomacy is all about the right phrase.
From a country with the history of saying things like, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” or
“We are all Berliners”,
“troubled” is a big weak.
No matter. It seems obvious Obama is not getting too far out because he knows Ahmadinejad, the mullahs, and the Revolutionary Guard are going to win this thing. China and Russia are already meeting with him. Obama has made it clear he will deal with Ahmadinejad, and it would be unpleasant if he’s been strongly condemned by our President.
Obama is a realist. He will deal with Iran on the world stage, and not overly concern himself with how the leaders run the country. That’s exactly what he’s telegraphing now.

MayBeeee
POTUS also stated that if the revolt is linked to the U.S. in any way.. the punishment will worsen for those involved. It’s sort of like the ’56 Hungary or ’68 Czech uprisings .. don’t encourage these poor people unless you are going to act..

jhw, I understand your desire to get more the WH on record on more contentious subjects in the daily briefing. But at the same time, since Gibby is such a mealy-mouth mess of a press secretary, you do not always get the best material in the briefing. So I will cut Jake slack for “wasting” his questions just this once. *G* As long as he does not waste them when it counts– at press conferences with The Chosen One himself.