Obama said Monday an inquiry into the disputed presidential election should go ahead without violence and said he didn't know who rightfully won the Iranian balloting, but that Iranians have a right to feel their votes mattered. McCain, who lost to Obama in last year's U.S. presidential election, called on the president to turn up his rhetoric.
"He should speak out that this is a corrupt, flawed sham of an election and that the Iranian people have been deprived of their rights," the Arizona Republican said Tuesday on a network news show.
More after the bump
But the leading Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee thinks the Obama administration's arms-length stance is just right.
"I think for the moment our position is to allow the Iranians to work out their situation," said Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana. "When popular revolutions occur, they come right from the people." He said he did not think it would be wise for the United States "to become heavily involved in the election at this point."
At this point most are saying that this comment by Senator McCain proves why he shouldn't have been president of U.S.
I am going to give McCain the benefit of the doubt.
Ever since President Obama took office he has worked with Senator McCain on budget cuts and military issues. Perhaps this is a PLANNED attack by Obama with McCain coming from behind.
President Obama wants to be able to 'talk' to whomever ends up being the leader of Iran, if he goes on the attack now, his chances are slim that he'd get anywhere with negotiations in the future. So, Obama must limit his comments. He must appear "Presidential" and not 'stir the pot'.
However, Senator McCain on the other hand, being very well known and a previous Bush foreign policy (bully)' supporter , if he says the true feeling of America, "this is a corrupt, flawed sham of an election and that the Iranian people have been deprived of their rights", the Obama administration is protected and at the same time Americans are expressing their true opinion about the election in Iran.
McCain is not only expressing our views, he's letting Obama off the hook where he can continue to say -- Unclench Your Fist and Talk.
And Republican Senator Dick Lugar's comments help President Obama's foreign policy response, politically, by standing up for Obama in how he is handling the event.
Pat Buchanan also helps by , suggesting that Obama's approach should be commended.
"The Obama policy of extending an open hand to Iran is working and ought not be abandoned because of the grim events in Tehran. For the Iranian theocracy has just administered a body blow to its legitimacy in the eyes of the Iranian people and the world.
Obama, with his outstretched hand, his message to Iran on its national day, his admission that the United States had a hand in the 1953 coup in Tehran, his assurances that we recognize Iran's right to nuclear power, succeeded. He stripped the Ayatollah and Ahmadinejad of their clinching argument -- that America is out to destroy Iran and they are indispensable to Iran's defense.
This keeps both sides in Iran happy. It helps the Obama administration politically and Americans express their true feelings about the election -- all at the same time.
If it was PLANNED -- Great Job! Otherwise Senator McCain, you just HELPED Obama unintentionally.