McCain Hits Obama On Iran Again, Joe Klein Tells Him "Be Quiet" (VIDEO)

Sen. John McCain continued to rap President Barack Obama for his measured reaction to the crisis in Iran, which McCain said was inadequate in its support for the protestors of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's contested re-election.

Appearing on C-Span's Washington Journal on Tuesday morning, the Arizona Republican said that when it came to Iran, Obama response "has not been enough."

Saying that he expected Obama to "come out more strongly" during his press conference on Tuesday, McCain urged the man who defeated him in the 2008 campaign to "follow the example of our founding fathers that declared that all of us are endowed with certain inalienable rights."

"Sen. Daniel Webster, when the Greeks rose up against the Turks in 1823, I would love to give you the full quote, but he said it is our duty to stand up for people who are struggling for freedom," McCain said. "That is what America is."

As for George Washington's famous farewell address, warning of the perils of foreign entanglements, McCain did not mention it.

The line pushed by McCain has become the de-facto Republican criticism of Obama since the crisis in Iran began. The president has expressed his concern with the rising violence in the country as well as the obvious inaccuracies in the presidential vote. But he has avoided outright support for the seating of opposition candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi.

The measured manner of Obama's response, while criticized by some, has been described as essential by many foreign policy observers. On Monday night, Time Magazine's Joe Klein applauded the president for his approach. And when asked about earlier McCain's remarks, he urged the Arizona Republican to stop talking.

"Be quiet," said Klein. "You don't need to do this. You know? You know what you're doing is a self-indulgent at this point. Sen. McCain, if he's going to talk about this, should also talk about the fact that the United States supported Saddam Hussein in the Iran/Iraq war for eight years. Every one of those protesters out in the streets, every last one of them believes the United States supplied Saddam Hussein with the poison gas that has debilitated tens of thousands of Iranian men."

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Comments

[mosharif]

McCain should concentrate on McCain's work--not Obama's work. Limited time and limited energy, John.

[DLazar1]

Since when do United States Senators NOT comment on what the White House is doing? Were you sleeping during the Bush years?

[hhayden]

It should all be our work.

[kimi6]

We cannot fight everyone's war! It's not always about us, Sen. McCain. I have full confidence that the Iranian ppl will succeed in their fight for justice. When they do they will be able to proudly take credit for the success and new freedoms.

[DLazar1]

But shouldn't we stand up for Freedom . . . for Justice . . . maybe we shouldn't speak out against the genocide in Darfur either.

[TheAnti-Bush]

Why doesn't Mc Cain stick up for the people of his own country instead of urging our meddling (again) in another country's business?

Yes, I'd like to see some Justice. Right here in our OWN country. As in: appointment of a Special Prosecutor to investigate the crimes of the Bush administration, indictments served, subpoenas issued, testimony heard...I want THE TRUTH to come out. The WHOLE TRUTH. I'm sick and tired of 8 years of lies, abuse of power and (abuse of) our Constitution.

And I want ACCOUNTABILITY!!! We the people deserve the truth and Bush deserves a a fair trial AND a third term: PRISON!

[ampay]

No one in this country ever really cared about the genocide in Darfur. Why do we care so much about every country in the middle east? Hummmm....

[LolaB]

I thank God everyday that McCain and Palin are not in office. Could U imagine? Nightmares!!!!

[BN2112]

I would too if I believed in God. The fact they aren't in office is almost enough to make me pause and consider the possibility of a rational creator however.

[oldmoo]

Good one!

[Mecheng]

Yes I can imagine. It has taken Obama only 5 months to create havoc both domestically and internationally and future prospects for this country are grim as long as the socialist we have as President continues doing the same thing.

[KillgoreTrout43]

You are totally brainwashed.

[rightfromwrong]

what a joke. the brainwashed right see's none of these things in bush. or they remained silence while he tanked the economy. now they are outspoken.

that makes their words void. the hypocrisy expells you.

[lee4]

Too much Fox Noise!

[DLazar1]

Yes Mecheng . . . most of these people are really enjoying Trickle Up Poverty. They LOVE taxing their employers even though it means some of their co-workers (certainly not THEM) will lose their jobs . . . they love taxing big business even though their College Funds, retirement plans, and University Foundations (where they sometimes get scholorships) are invested in the big bad American Corporations. LOL And when more of them lose their jobs and Obama can't find anyone else to tax and he starts taxing THEM openly. .. they will still find a way to blame Bush.

[jinxed]

the great rushie brainless one speaks and its total garbage as usual.

[Whitley2009]

McCain and Palin down, Sanford to go.

[DLazar1]

Be careful . . . the tide tends to turn rather quickly in American politics.

[rulintheroost]

Joe Klein as in WHO?

[emncaity]

Why would you post that, instead of taking the two minutes it would require to figure it out?

[jamesdaddio]

Hey John it's summer enjoy a good book I recommend Peter Arnett very engaging also fishing is nice this time of year or flying. You deserve to enjoy yourself.

[Hawaii5-0]

I noticed at the beginning that McCain coughed. Choking on his own words, that is a "tell" and it continues into his response as he chokes on more of his words. I've lost all respect for someone I once considered a pillar of ethics and decency.

[ampay]

When was he EVER a pillar of ethics and decency? When he was cheating on his wife? When he involved in the Savings and Loan scandal in the 1980s?

[shag11]

Thank goodness that Mr. "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran," didn't become president. He shutdown his campaign to go back to D.C. to help solve a fiscal crisis, yet sat at the meeting and said nothing. He ran a campaign of hatred and anger. What has he accomplished in his years in Congress, and we should listen to him, why?

[RuWii]

"Thank goodness that Mr. "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran," didn't become president. He shutdown his campaign to go back to D.C. to help solve a fiscal crisis"

yep, and now he has joined all the other republicants in stating that they had nothing to do with it.

[tandrmcdonald]

Open note to John McCain.
You lost. Shut up and go home.!
Gramma Rose

[Faithtoo]

No one could have said it bett!!!!!!!!

McCain's comments are evidence of why it was so important for him NOT to become president.

[Zen0469]

Lowlife McSame should shut his mouth and find useful work to do.

[pepenero]

What does John McCain really want? Attention, I think. He is a sore loser, won't even take his marbles and go home. No, just sits there and mopes and criticizes the guy who just beat him. He's too old to cry & so he has to resort to this. Frankly I'd rather see him be honest about it all and cry, on camera, during prime time.

Might be therapeutic for him.

Or maybe we could start up a fund, something on the order of let's all give John a holiday, collect some money, and send him to a remote Alaskan island from where he could guard us against Russia.

[dartagnan]

"Or maybe we could start up a fund, something on the order of let's all give John a holiday, collect some money, and send him to a remote Alaskan island from where he could guard us against Russia."

Just tell me where to send the check.

[TheAnti-Bush]

No need for a collection: Cindy will pay for it. Heck, she could even fly him up.

BTW, it's possible he ALREADY owns a house up there....lol

[thats2much]

911... what is your emergency? Has-been, washed-up, bitter ol'man loose. hahaha

[Schvenzlerman]

Obama will pulverize Iran militarily. Wait and see. He's already spending $400 million for covert action there. The U.S. ruling elite's objective has always been to get Iran back as a U.S. vassal state and to suck up their energy resources.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Gee, you must be in the CIA.

[rightfromwrong]

sounds about right to me. 3 weeks ago everyone of those people were terrorists who wanted to kill you remember? now american wears green in support of the terrorists that want to kill you.

[DLazar1]

Yeah right . . . Obama is planning to pulverize Iran with Hot Dogs at Fourth of July Celebrations in DC as we speak!

[MakeAWish]

McCain has run unsuccessfully for president twice and counting. When or if he ever becomes our commander in chief, he will be in a position to call the shots. Until then, shut the F-- up!! Obama, please don't listen to these wackos.

[DLazar1]

Yes . . . please President Obama . . . just keeping doing what you are doing . . . and in four years we can stop listening to you read your teleprompter.

[DEMatHEART]

McCain should bone up on his history, if he's still entertaining the thought of sticking our country's nose in where it doesn't belong.

The Eisenhower administration orchestrated the ouster of the democratically-elected leader of Iran, and installed the autocratic Shah in the 1950s. When Pres. Carter accepted the Shah's entry into the U.S. for hospitalization, all hell broke loose, as it "proved" that we supported his regime.

We played Iran against Iraq under the Reagan administration, and we even supplied chemical warfare technology to Saddam Hussein's government. Donald Rumsfeld was photographed shaking hands with Saddam Hussein - the very man who now personifies evil in the neo-cons' minds.

Are we surprised that Iran doesn't exactly trust us anymore? Obama was absolutely pitch-perfect in his measured stance. We can't afford to leave another impression of interference in Iran, even if it's done with the best intentions, as McCain proposes.

I don't recall other countries demanding a recount or calling for the downfall of the Supreme Court when Bush's "victory" in 2000 was decided by 9 appointed justices. We wouldn't have stood for it if any country HAD interfered! How arrogant to think otherwise.

McCain represents old school. Obama is trying a different tactic, and I think it's about time!

[nivek]

McCain then mis-quotes Patrick Henry saying "give me Liberty, and give them Death!"