Obama to McCain on Iran: 'I'm the president'

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

In a wide-ranging midday press conference, President Obama took on Republican critics of his stance on Iran, directly targeting former rival Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and saying, "I am the president of the United States."

Obama, who has been accused by McCain and other Republicans of being too timid throughout the unrest following Iran's presidential elections, has gradually taken a firmer stance in the days following the election.

...

When asked if his tougher talk was influenced by critics like McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Obama smiled and said, "What do you think?

"I think John McCain has genuine passion about many of these international issues," Obama said, adding that they share a desire to see free speech respected. "But only I'm the president of the United States.

"Members of Congress, they've got their constitutional duties, and I'm sure they'll carry them out in a way they think is appropriate," Obama said. "I'm the president of the United States, and I'll carry out my responsibilities the way I think is appropriate."

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-to-mccain-on-iran-im-the-president-2009-06-23.html

[Ohio Joe]

1. Smack!

heh, Sweet!

[marshall]

34. The only thing better would have been "We are the president"!

The use of the "royal we" would have really steamed McCain and the mainstream media.

[Mz Pip]

2. Sometimes those idiots

need a sharp reminder as to who won the election in November. Glad Obama set them straight, though they will forget by tomorrow.

It wasn't so long ago that talk like McCain's from a Democrat while Bush was PResident would have been greeted with a chorus of "Traitor!" or "How dare you criticize the President in a time of war." Now that the shoe is on the other foot, they seem to have forgotten their own rules.

[robinlynne]

3. Sounds like Barbara Boxer!

[Happyhippychick]

4. Oooh SNAP! Somebody got pwned.

ha ha wrinkly old white guy.

[madaboutharry]

5. I love that he possesses real confidence.

(Not the knucklehead confidence that * possesses).

[Abq_Sarah]

35. Having to continually remind people you won an election

Isn't confidence. President Obama needs to start ignoring people who don't have anything substantive to offer to the national debate.

[CynicalObserver]

36. Yeah, I am surprised to see the cheers for such thin-skinned behavior.

His predecessor was second-guessed constantly, but I don't recall him publicly declaring himself the president or the winner *ever*. I am not sure I have any memory of a president saying this sort of thing on-the-record in my lifetime or before, particularly in response to criticism of how he does his job.

Acting presidential means (or should mean) not being so thin-skinned that you single out every journallst who targets you effectively (cramer, santinelli), every network (the only one) which actively opposes your views, and repeatedly say that 'I won.' Everyone knows he won. He knows he won. He can ignore anything that would seem to make him feel otherwise, because he did win and this is universally known.

I guess it makes good theater, though.

[Odin2005]

6. That is begging for a cartoon with Gramps being depicted as a fly...

:rofl:

[DrZeeLit]

9. PERFECT! Thanks for my first laugh of a long day!

[Odin2005]

10. You're welcome!

:hi:

[WriteDown]

7. "I'm the decider"

Oh wait...what year is it again.

[Myrina]

8. This presser was awesome, but i have to ask ...

... and I sorta already know the answer, but why can't he stand up and say "Yes, we want justice and fair elections to occur in Iran and everywhere else ... but not just 'justice' and 'fair' by our own definitions. We may not like the outcome. But if its the will of the people, then we - as an outside nation - have to respect and work with that."

Why does America think we get to stick our pudgy little fingers in everyone else's pie? :shrug:

[zanne]

14. The people of Iran don't want us to interfere, either.

They see us as imperialists who try to intervene in their politics only when we want something for ourselves. Iran has a history of being ruled by the British and the US to the detriment of the country.

[humbled_opinion]

18. Ahem ....

Not even for one tiny fraction of a second do I believe that the elections in Iran were fair. My question to you is would you have taken the same stand if Obama had somehow managed to lose in NOV in a landslide going the other way?

Wouldn't you be in the streets?
Wouldn't you protest and want your voice heard?

Just look at whats going on over there. I stand on the side of the People of Iran and you should too.

[Myrina]

32. My point is: its not our business to interfere in ANY way.

... just because I don't like the outcome doesn't entitle me to insist the US interfere.

[Wizard777]

11. Obama wants bipartisanship in Congress. Not the White House. LOL!

[SKKY]

12. Translation...

...Bitch Pleeze!!!!!

[elocs]

13. "I'm the president of the United States,

and I'll carry out my responsibilities the way I think is appropriate." That door swings both ways and some here would do well to consider them as they are free with their infinite wisdom in telling Obama exactly what he should do at every turn.

[hugo_from_TN]

15. A new Decider.

[Cha]

29. Not really...Obama goes straight

to the heart of the matter. He is the President..not john mccain and not the corporatemediawhores.

[thelordofhell]

16. "This is a time for serious people, John, and your fifteen minutes are up."

"My name is Barack Obama, and I *AM* the President."

[Sydnie]

19. Yep. That about sums it up. n/t

[chelsea0011]

17. Nobody is stopping McLame or Graham from speaking their minds

and saying out loud to Iran what they think. You will never hear them say anything. But call the POTUS timid? That will happen. I wish the media would for once say, "tell exactly what the President should say the the eaxct wording you would like to hear". Never gonna happen.

[CJCRANE]

20. It was pretty clear what Obama meant

and I'm sure McCain knows deep down that it's not in America's national interest to interfere in the Iranian elections.

But McCain has to spout the talking points he's given (as he did during the election campaign).

[SkyDaddy7]

22. McCain is BITTER!

He knows damn good and well that Iran is a very delicate issue! McCain is simply taking advantage of the situation to try and make Obama look weak on foreign policy! He FAILED!

[BootinUp]

21. Someone get the first aid kit for Johnny. nt

[MasonJar]

23. Good for Obama. When he stands tall, he is effective.

[SeeHopeWin]

24. He should have said....

I am the President MOTHER FUCKER!

[The Backlash Cometh]

25. I wish Republicans were as forceful about fighting wrong-doing in their

own States, as they seem to be wanting to fight it abroad.

[jmondine]

26. It pisses me off that no one suggests that his stronger words have to do...

... with the escalation of violence against Iranian citizens. Oh noooo... it's because of windbags like McCain and Graham.
:eyes:

[Hepburn]

27. Man, I am so totally pleased that McInsane and Tundra Barbie were NOT elected.

Can you see the response they would have had to the riots in Iran???

OMG.....another fucking war!

[MadMaddie]

28. Two wars my friend: North Korea and Iran

So a total of 4 wars.

[my2sense]

30. He just kicked that old geezer all in his yellow

dentures with this one! So glad he's reminding them and the media who won the last election.

[Rhiannon12866]

31. He just got McCain back for "that one..."

:rofl:

[madokie]

33. And a damn fine president