Bill Burton Defends Obama Reaction To Honduran Presidential Coup On "O'Reilly Factor" (VIDEO)

Deputy White House Press Secretary Bill Burton faced an outraged Juan Williams, sitting in for Bill O'Reilly, on "The O'Reilly Factor" tonight. Williams demanded to know why President Obama was supporting exiled Honduran President Zalaya, who had been removed from the country in a military coup, when he had stayed "silent" on the turbulence in Iran. At the end of a long introduction to his question, Williams finally splutters, "What is President Obama doing?"

Burton replied that the President was following American principles, which don't involve "taking someone out of their home in their pajamas and putting them in another country in order to swear in another president. It means going through elections and the democratic process in order to have changes in leadership."

Watch the exchange below.

Comments

[KLordsha]

What is Juan "I wish I was man enough to come out and let the world know that I'm a closet Democrat" Williams talking about? I like the part.. At the end of a long introduction to his question, Williams finally splutters, "What is President Obama doing?"

Burton knows how to handle Fox.

[Clayton139]

I can not even hear this (VIDEO) ?
Is everyone else having problem with sound Volume here ?

Maybe, cause it is Faux Noise Video ~!

[hypodoche]

If I may, I'd like to paraphrase 99.99999% of every comment on here.

"I have absolutely nothing of any value to say, whatsoever."

Yours truly...

[Arrecho]

Unfortunately, I would have to agree with you.
I think people are getting confused and falling into the play of conservati­ve-liberal without analyzing what is really important to restore democracy instead of falling into propaganda plays.

[Theo67]

I love reading these posts from trolls. Now that the republican party is completely impotent, this seems to be the only avenue for them to express their frustrations at the fact that they now find their party and themselves in the gutter. It's beautiful to watch trolls so frustrated that there is nothing they can do about anything anymore - except to take the low road, spout garbage and stomp their feet. It's just lovely. Stomp on, trolls, stomp on...

[Vieux Charles]

9.5%

[biglith]

Juan when did you sell your soul?

[vshdst]

Juan is just a puppet to give the "appearance" of fair and balanced.

[SeeJaneRunning]

Juan is doing what GOOD journalists do, i.e., asking challenging questions.

[Bankenstein]

Juan's asking the questions that Ailes provided for him on his daily staff memo.

[THREEXMOM]

Burton is even worse than Gibbs if you can imagine that. He spent most of the interview avoiding answering questions. He couldn't explain why Obama is breaking his campaign pledge to not raise taxes on Americans making under $250,000. He also couldn't justify the crazy idea of forcing people to bring their homes up to some ridiculous "green" code before they can sell them. What a great idea - making it harder for peole to sell their homes at a time when we need the housing market to rebound. The logic behind this - it will save people money in the long run. What about people who are trying to get out from under their homes that they can't afford. Where are they going to get the money to upgrade electric, windows, insulation etc. This is a runaway train!

[bilmardre]

Dare I ask if you have any solutions, other than tax cuts?

[Vieux Charles]

The free market is the solution. The lack of government investment didn't get us into this situation. The lack of government oversight ensuring that corporatio­ns/consume­rs were on a level playing field did. Legislation and executive focus should be geared toward correcting this, not at stifling the free market with debunked Keynesian economic theory.

[islandsox]

for bilmardre's question if are there any solutions except tax cuts. yes, there are. Stop spending and don't make people "green" their homes until the economy is better. Wait for the recession to improve first. He's got four years to push his agenda; can't he wait until America recovers some? That would be the thing to do and then push all the agendas he wants. Give Americans a little breathing room first.

[StansDad]

F-ing owned

[Totto]

Why does ANY representative of this Administration bother to appear on completely disreputable Fox?

[PurplePeon]

Hint: Because it's not disreputable. Liberal viewpoints are a minority, and that includes the vast majority of posters here.

[Tasies]

A minority which elected a "liberal" to the White House. Get a clue.

[dillydawg]

Exactly. Why give them a show? They have nothing to gain by going on for these people take pride in their profound ignorance.

[islandsox]

Probably because Fox is the number one cable news to date. It's good for them to reach the millions of watchers. I think it's smart of them to do so and they know this.

[stex]

What if the same thing happen to the people of Mexico?

Mexico is right next door to our borders, larger population, bigger land mass and bigger economy that trades with the USA every day.

Would President Obama have the same attitude that the Mexican goverment (Congress, Courts) must reinstate the President Of Mexico that Hugo, Castro and ect. dictators in South American help elect (money, ect.) because Obama belives that is the right thing to do.

And if Hugo was threating to invade Mexico because his buddy was shipped out.

Make me wonder and worry sometimes about Obama!

[Tasies]

This post lacks the minimum required coherence and knowledge about the Honduran situation. The referendum that Zelaya was going to have is completely legal under the Honduran constitution because it was non binding. And every sane gov't on the face of this earth has condemned the coup. Referendum are common occurrences in LA. Costa Rica's president is the first one in that country to serve two terms, the constitution was changed, and there was no blood shed. Central America needs to demilitarize.

[islandsox]

Please state the Article and Section of the Honduran Constitution to prove this, please.

[ALittleClarity]

Obama is trying to test the wind. He should learn to wet his finger first. Obama is wet behind the ears only.

[PurplePeon]

I agree that's what he did with Iran. His delayed response was obviously waiting to see which way the political wind was blowing, which made him look really weak.

The difference here is, he's not even bothered wetting a finger or sticking it in the air. He's just jumped right to the defense of the would-be dictator.

[dillydawg]

Delusional.

[bilmardre]

Why don't you let him finish cleaning up the last mess you created before advocating creating a new one?

[Vieux Charles]

Bill Burton is defending the indefensible. This was no coup. The Honduran Attorney General and military were acting on court order to defend the Honduran Constitution and rule of law.

Zelaya broke Honduran law. He pushed for a referendum on his term limits - this right is reserved for the Honduran legislative branch alone. The Honduran Supreme Court ordered Zelaya to cease. Instead of obeying the court, Zelaya ordered his generals to proceed with the referendum. His generals refused. He fired them. Instead Zelaya had his followers break into the military base where the referendum ballots (which were imported from Venezuela) were being stored. It was only after this unlawful act that the Honduran Attorney General then proceeded with the lawful arrest of Zelaya and anyone else who broke Honduran law.

[Pupadup4oBama]

so two wrongs make a right...is that what you are saying?

[Vieux Charles]

Actually no, I'm not saying that at all. El Presidente was in commisson of an unlawful act, an act that could have been disruptive to the Hondoran society. Arresting him was the only way to stop that act. I would expect that now that sitution is stablized, the Honduran legislature would now engage in more formal impeachment proceedings, per their constitution.

[SeeJaneRunning]

Well said. I have a friend in Honduras and he can't believe how the world press is spinning this.

[Vieux Charles]

Thanks. I'm just trying to get the word out - I picked this up in the WSJ.

[islandsox]

Well, then I am another friend now and I also live in Honduras. The spin is horrible and so untrue. We and the Honduran people are thrilled with the events that took place. What on earth would we have to gain living under military rule? Nothing, nada. It just didn't happen but people love things that are untrue if they can be sensationalized like this ridiculous story.

[Icemaan]

Juan drank the Fox Kool-Aid!!!!

[dillydawg]

It's all about the $$$$. He is soo well paid.

[dax49]

it's interesting to watch williams sell his soul, bit by bit, to fox

[Totto]

Bought and paid for, long ago. Goes for Mara Liasson, as well.

[PurplePeon]

You think he sold out there? He lobbed him a softball with NO FOLLOW UP. Williams did the same thing with every other question, too.

[dillydawg]

More rantings from a maniac.

[NedroidPrime]

Well, what do you know! Not all republicans are white!

NOW can people stop denigrating my r@ce as a whole based on the wingnuts?

[lpbj]

Can you say TOKEN? That's Juan.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Joined in his tokenism by Steele....and Condi....

[PurplePeon]

No, Williams has earned his position. It's the democrats who create, promote, and own the tokens.

[dillydawg]

Again delusional.

[NedroidPrime]

How is my post delusional? Please explain

[NedroidPrime]

Or am I delusional thinking that you might move past your r@c1$t ways?

[SeeJaneRunning]

Juan is doing his job, i.e., asking tough questions. And he is NO Republican.

[NedroidPrime]

Funny, you think BillO would allow a dem to run his show for a minute, let alone an entire episode?