Iran Uprising: Why Do So Many Want Obama To Turn Iran's Protests Into A "Teabag Party"?

Obama is rightly ignoring the calls from both the right as well as within his own administration to take a stronger stand on the situation in Iran. These pleas -- such as from Sen. John McCain, Rep. Mike Pence, Paul Wolfowitz, or Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, as reported in the New York Times Thursday -- merely reflect the stale American solipsism that's to blame for our sundered image abroad in years past. Obama has made notable progress in polishing the previous administration's tarnish, but a single slip-up at the wrong moment could reverse it all in a second.

If Obama were to speak out and side with Mousavi in the current Iranian uprising, it would transform a legitimate, organic popular movement into a GOP teabag party. As many may recall, the conservative teabag movement in April was an embarrassing flop. Though it donned the mask of a grassroots uprising, it was quickly revealed to be naught but astro-turf (fake grassroots) -- carefully orchestrated by conservative corporate lobbyists, Fox News and even the Republican Party. The result was that nobody took the "popular movement" seriously, regardless of its scale, prevalence, message or sincerity.

Those who wish for Obama to adopt a stronger tone seem to be under the delusion that everyone doesn't already know exactly where he stands. Beyond being mistakenly impetuous, explicitly choosing a side in the current conflict without knowing who will emerge on top offers no possible benefit. Though the Iranian regime already blames the West, the Iranian people are not stupid. They know full well how to spot propaganda. And fortunately, as reflected by the Supreme Leader's Friday prayer today, Europe is taking the brunt of the blame, especially the United Kingdom.

This bodes well for Obama's position. And as Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution has noted, this is as it should be, considering that Europe actually has a presence in Tehran, as opposed to the US who cut off all relations in 1979. Putting the United States on the front-line would play directly into the propagandists' hands -- the propagandists who still control the levers of power in the Islamic Republic, I might add.

At the ninth National Iranian American Council (NIAC) conference on US-Iran relations Wednesday, a roundtable of Iran experts agreed that Obama's tacit stand for free expression against violence was sufficient. And that anything further would be counterproductive. According to Maloney, it is important that we not "make ourselves the story, thus undermining or endangering people on the streets...Senator McCain should be reminded of this."

Those who insist that Obama throw his hat in the ring do not hide their lack of faith in the Iranian demonstrators. They shape their argument as pro-democracy and pro-freedom of expression, but they ground it in the arrogant belief that an American endorsement is the sine qua non of any successful democratic political movement. Let the Iranian's have their moment, they know whose side we're on. Presuming that they require the explicit validation that comes with an American presidential statement is to fall prey to the same patronizing self-aggrandizement that has for so long plagued our dealings abroad. Obama is wise to ignore his "expert" advisers and the "experts" from the past administration.

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Comments

[TonyOnly]

Oh yes, Republicans. That would be real smart. The American President becomes a cheerleader for the Iranian protesters. Even though everybody knows as long as the Iranian military continues to support the current gov't, there'll be no regime change in Iran. So, internally, U.S. interference gets blamed for the uprising, illegitimizes true dissent and gives just cause to killing innocent people because they'll say the protest is not the will of Iranians. And when the dust settles you've got to go back to trying to deal with a hostile nation that wants to go nuclear. You thought it was a difficult situation before, how are going to handle it then? Shortsighted, Republican, bull in a china shop foreign policy is what's kept the country in a state of perpetual war. Thank God there's finally a president who's smarter than that.

[Artos]

It's stunningly ironic that the party with the biggest Chickens are always acting like the biggest War Hawks. What do they hope to gain by pretending that they earnestly care about the plight of the average Iranian when they barely give a damn about the average American. Or is it oil again as usual? Can they not wait to get their hands on it. I mean really what do they think they are proving by trying to make our Government take a stand on the Iranian situation. They cheated in two elections so it can't be about honesty in voting. They don't really care about individual rights since they don't want gays to have any and they show on a daily basis how little they care about minorities with their assault on Anti discriminatio n laws. Everyday comes some new insult to our President which proves their bigotry. Do you think they really love Iranians more. They believe so much in the safety and security of Americans that they virtually applaud when a Abortion performing doctor is shot. They don't believe in Religious freedom or diversity as witnessed by their constant assault on those who would choose other religions or none at all. So I must ask, What do they believe in so fervently that they would entertain the idea that America should get involved in Irans business.

[TomFox]

Oil...nuff said.

Great Post

[steelhd201]

I think our President is doing exactly what this country should have been doing all along I think it's great we are finally not forcing other country's into doing what our crooked politicians think they should be doing. It is time we let these other country's decide what is right for them and not what we think is right, That is exactly why we are in conflicts all over the world.

[truegreen]

Pres. Obama is doing the right thing by not meddling in other countries affairs.

[bosha]

I give Obama kudos for keeping the US outta of Iran's elections and those that oppose the US position should be voted outta of office.

[Justaminute]

My Iranian-American family and our family appreciate and approve of President Obama's restraint in this most troubling time in Iran. My husband knows what revolution means. He lost his brother in the last revolution. His nephew was beaten by thugs yesterday. I am a borrn and bread American but an Iranian through marriage. My son also loves Iran but has joined the US Navy and is training to be a pilot.

When my husband's family found out our son was going in the Navy and training to be a pilot they were so proud of him but they said they hope he never has to bomb them . This I hope is telling that our heart partially rests in Iran but our loyaltyies are with the US. By having our feet in both Iran and America you know the bad and good points of each country.

If this is going to be a revolution people are going to die. We in the US cannot help them. All we can offer them is moral support. Iran's present government is not going down without a fight. This would be Iran's civil war, brother against brother. My son will probably end up in Afghanistan in the future but we cannot send my son and the rest of our military now. All those praying for freedom want from us is moral support.

[Durango]

A couple points: The same people who are calling for a harder line about Iran are the same folks who wanted to bomb Iran a few short months ago.

An attack which would undoubtedly have killed many of those people who are out in the streets protesting.

Also: no matter how this turns out President Obama is going to have to engage the government of Iran in one way or another. I certainly hope it will be positive engagement. That we get normalized relations with Iran. Maybe even an embassy.

No matter what happens, taking a hard line only empowers the Conservatives. Whose days may very well be over. Even if they do win in the short term.

[robadeaux]

These are the same people who would not hesitate to fire on Americans, or unleash police attacks when protcecting their own "conservative" values (read selfish interests)... right here on our own streets. And the Supreme leadeer of Iran has threatened bloodshed. So much for religeous leaders and their great sky god of love...frackin sicko delusional as*hats.

[redsongia]

It's a shabby political stunt to try and associate with a "popular" movement.

Too bad the GOP doesn't understand the first thing about these people in the streets of Iran, and too bad they were chomping at the bit to drop bombs on them 6 months ago.

[JulieSA]

I'm not sure why you keep cutting my comment about tea partiers. Again, as a participant in the movement, I can tell you that you do not have your facts right, including the name of the movement.

You can keep cutting my comment, but I know what the facts are, and I know you are wrong, and I know you haven't even done any research. I know you have no credibility on this subject.

[Stuart Whatley - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm sorry if your comment was blocked. Indeed, I have nothing to do with vetting or managing the comments and I invite any and all criticism. If you feel that you were censored, that is unfortunate.

As for your qualms, I invite you to read Jane Hamsher's exposés regarding the Tea Parties: here, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/the-corporate-lobbyists-b_b_186367.html

and here, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/a-teabagger-timeline-koch_b_187312.html

I trust you will find them quite revealing. And though I dare not dispute the sincerity of your own personal involvement, I think it is fair to say the "grassroots" movement on the larger scale was artificial at best.

[RevBookburn]

The misguided people who are recklessly calling for a hardline are used to propaganda for a naive and passive culture. The rest of the world is less manipulable. Rather than see such a move as solidarity, the most would be seen for what it is..a cheap gesture for political purposes. This is not a good time to incorporate the failures of the teabaggers. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta

[GirlOutWest]

The Republican candidate lost the Presidential election. It's over. They need to be quiet, give it a rest and let the President and his personnel handle the job they were elected to do. Every day some Republican goes to a microphone and rants and raves. Mr. Pence was horrible today. They diminish our country and they are most certainly diminishing their party.

[ApolloSpeaks]

LET IRAN BURN! THE WORLD BE DAMNED!

Khamenie's message of defiance was crystal clear: 'We are ruled by God, world opinion be damned! If we must kill thousands to save God's ultimate revolutionary regime, the light and salvation of Islam, then so be it! "LET IRAN BURN SO THAT ISLAM PREVAILS!" said Imam Khomeine of blessed memory.'

No concessions to the democratic opposition in Iran means no concessions to Obama and the democratic West on nuclear proliferation and support of radical Islam throughout the region and world. It's onwards and upwards to a nuclear armed state as the mullahs add to their arsenal of terror and blood the ultimate weapon of murder and death.

[faicole]

Some of these same people who want President Obama to meddle in Iranian affairs cheered the loudest when Newt Gingrich said it was intellectually disingenuous for Obama to say he was a "citizen of the world". Apparently, the president has a broader view and knows what to say and when to say it. Why sabotage the movement and/or Mousavi by making it look like they're puppets of the US. That's the surest way to cause more violence and suppression of those protesting.

[Stuart Whatley - Huffpost Blogger]

That's actually a great point/observation. The calls to stand for Iranian protesters who are reacting to their stolen vote means to embrace the very logic of "citizen of the world". Listen to the rhetoric from those who call for an explicitly stronger stance on the issue and you'll see that most if it is grounded in that idea of universal democratic and political values, and 'world citizenry' -- both of which are much touted by Obama. The hypocrisy is almost overwhelming. Also, on that note, here's a great blog post from Leslie Savan at The Nation along a similar vein: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/444762

[ApolloSpeaks]

Mr. Whatley,

The people of Iran are the oppressed SUBJECTS of a brutal clerical dictatorship with unlimited ambitions; they are not citizens in their own country let alone something so preposterous as "citizens of the world." World citizenry only makes sense in the context of a one world democratic state-a free world order without borders-which is a utopian ideal and doesn't exist except in the minds of unrealistic fools like our spaced out extraterrestial president and oither people on this blog who imagine that they've "transcended political time and space.".

[redsongia]

Yes, thanks for reminding me what a citizen of the world the GOP leaders ARE NOT.

This is as bad as the time they all dog piled on Terri Schivo for a political photo-op.

The conservative, "keep government out of people's lives party" should revisit their basic principles.

[gage]

This resolution just passed the house by 405-1:

"the House:

"(1) expresses its support for all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and rule of law;
"(2) condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators by the government of Iran and pro-government militias, as well as the ongoing government suppression of independent electronic communication through interference with the Internet and cell phones; and
"(3) affirms the universality of individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections."

[MAragon]

Considering that their Supreme Ayatollah is already lying by saying the US is behind the protests, Obama - other than expressing humane concerns for the people in the protests - should not give them any further ammunition to rally their fundamentalist base around. They're already organized enough to bus in more rural supporters and others against their fellow Iranians. Tomorrow is going to be a nail biter for everyone in Iran and for all of us watching what is happening.