The White House walks back "He can not remain in power" comment.

[madaboutharry]

The White House says the Biden wasn't talking about regime change.

In my opinion, Biden meant what he said and now its just that political thing "Oh, I didn't really mean what I meant to say."

https://www.newsweek.com/white-house-walks-back-biden-comment-that-putin-cannot-remain-power-1692175

[tavernier]

1. He said it

He meant it.

[PatSeg]

9. Yep he did

And he said what everyone else is thinking.

[TheProle]

28. Disagree

Democrats should be free to debate statements the president makes.

[intrepidity]

3. ugh.

I realize that Putin will loooooove abusing this to his adoring fans, "See?? I told you!" -- but still, don't walk it back, we are ALL thinking it anyway!

[dixiechiken1]

4. Repub's do this all the time...

At least this time I'm not recoiling in horror at the original statement being "walked back." This is one time where saying the quiet part out loud has merit.

[malaise]

5. Biden should have as much say in who leads Russia as

Putin should have about who leads the US.

It is shocking to believe that so many DUers think otherwise.
I am quite frankly shocked at the imperialist thinking I've been reading here recently.

[Dirty Socialist]

7. Fire up the Nuremburg courtroom!

Putin committed Crimes Against Humanity. Assemble the prosecuting team, THEN see if Putin deserves to be Russia’s leader.

[malaise]

8. So did Bush and Cheney and there are others

Evil is everywhere

[Dirty Socialist]

12. True that

[Demsrule86]

24. I don't like Bush nor Cheney, but they did not do what Putin has done poison people, and invade for

no reason....It would be better for the world for Putin to go and they don't have real elections in Russia...the guy who was Putin's opposition is in prison where he has lost 40 lbs and is likely being poisoned.

[leftstreet]

30. What reason did Bush/Cheney have for invading Iraq? n/t

[Celerity]

34. none that were good nt

[Demsrule86]

63. We both know the claim was WMD and 9-11...But we are out of both Iraq and Afghanistan

and never 'conquered' either country...there were elections etc. And I don't think we should have gone...drag Osama Bin Laden and his henchmen out of Afghanistan and move on...but it is in no way close to a ruthless murderer like Putin who has sent in countless death squads to kill Zelensky. The what aboutism is not good...Putin is a vicious murderer.

[leftstreet]

29. +1

DU is almost unreadable lately

Thank you for being a consistent voice of reason

[malaise]

32. I am still in a state of stunned

incredulity

[Elessar Zappa]

44. Why?

Because DU knows who Putin is? Putin shouldn’t remain in power, period. Now it’s not our job to get rid of him but we can urge and support Russian efforts to oust the dictator.

[Celerity]

35. +10000000000000000

I am quite frankly shocked at the imperialist thinking I've been reading here recently.

It has been here since I joined, and I am sure a lot longer than that.

[malaise]

51. I am aware that some folks here are imperialists

but I am now shocked at how many folks share that view.

[Celerity]

54. Just look at how many British Royal Fam defenders there are here.

Oh the irony of that!

The Royals are the ultimate expression of empire, for centuries.

[malaise]

56. Good point

You know my view - you can't support monarchies and democracies.

[BlackSkimmer]

42. Thank you.

+1000.

[Dirty Socialist]

6. Memo to White House officials

Biden meant what he said! Don’t be a limp dick about it! He wants Putin OUT of the leadership of Russia!

[a kennedy]

40. I know, who in the damn White House is taking what the POTUS back?? Give me a name....

hate it’s “the White House”…..fess up, who was it?? 🤬 🤬 🤬

[BlackSkimmer]

46. Someone or someones who didn't think he should have said that apparently.

[muriel_volestrangler]

58. Not strictly "in the White House", but Blinken said it

Biden's aides quickly tried to quickly walk it back, insisting the president was not promoting regime change when he spoke to a packed courtyard in the Royal Castle in Warsaw Saturday.

"I think the president, the White House, made the point last night that, quite simply, President Putin cannot be empowered to wage war or engage in aggression against Ukraine or anyone else," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said hours later in Jerusalem.

"As you know, and as you have heard us say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy of regime change in Russia or anywhere else, for that matter,” he said.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/03/26/biden-putin-cannot-remain-power/7181665001/

[a kennedy]

59. Good to know......thanks.

[dalton99a]

10. Putin routinely interferes in our government. Shit, look at who he put in our White House

[BlackSkimmer]

49. Putin routinely does a lot of things.

None of which we should do.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. I'm with Wilson. No fucks to give.

[walkingman]

13. Biden should not have said "Putin cannot remain in power" it was a dumb thing to say.

[Ocelot II]

20. Fuck that. It was the truth.

[walkingman]

23. The truth? What does that mean? That we take him out? That NATO takes him out?

[Ocelot II]

25. He wasn't talking about assassination by the US, only that Putin shouldn't remain in power.

And he shouldn't. Everybody knows it, and it needed to be said.

[agingdem]

14. it's out there..no take backs...

one of the few advantages to getting older is that little "voice" in your head that says "don't say that" disappears and you speak your mind..Biden has always spoken his mind and every now and then he's apologizes ...not this time...

[David__77]

15. It was an expression of hope and not a promise.

It’s not a policy or commitment of this country.

[FloridaBlues]

16. He delivered a strong, solid speech and media picks out 1 line

He said what everyone is thinking and hoping. Loved every word of his speech one of the best.

[Deuxcents]

31. Exactly!

The media hasn’t reported anything but this one line. I’ve been saying that all day. A great speech and the media, once again takes the ball for their own headlines.

[BlackSkimmer]

47. Well, it was a rather notable line.

Obviously, the "White House" thought so too, or they wouldn't have "walked it back."

[WarGamer]

17. That makes Biden look bad... the WH should have just let his comments fly...

He's POTUS... he didn't misspeak.

[Big Blue Marble]

18. What the hell is wrong with the "White House Team"

Do not undercut your boss and your president especially when it helps support the meme
the right and when we are at war. This is an outrage.

It was a great speech by a great leader. Why would your "team" undercut your message?

[ColinC]

19. He said it

He meant it.

No, we aren't going to nuke Russia to make sure it happens.

[JoanofArgh]

21. Biden said what everybody in the West is thinking and he did not mention or imply

regime change.

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=RHOYOGREHthkGycDzziD-A

[Talitha]

22. I think it was a message to the Russian people: "Take out the trash".

[jeffreyi]

26. Yep.

No accidents at that level.

[LuckyCharms]

27. Six things:

1) He spoke the truth.

2) His words do not necessarily imply that Putin needs to be removed from power by anyone except the Russian people.

3) If POTUS meant that NATO should remove him from power, then that is exactly what he would of said.

4) His words are similar to saying something like "This carnage cannot continue".

5) No matter what words he used to convey his thought, they would get twisted up by people who want to believe that the US/NATO is planning on taking out Putin. But again, that's not what he said.

6) Putin is insane and will take any similar remark as provocation. He makes up his own truth.

[mvd]

33. Exactly, Lucky!

Very well said!

Post of the day for me.

[LuckyCharms]

48. Thanks, mvd!

[Totally Tunsie]

60. Thank you, Lucky. Nicely put.

[LuckyCharms]

61. Thank you, Totally Tunsie

[Samrob]

36. Few cared when we talked about "regime change" in Iraq, Iran, Syria. Why now?

I stand with Biden's original statement.

[tman]

37. I agree with Biden BUT I think him actually saying it makes it less likely to happen.

[BlueIdaho]

38. I thought he was being generous.

Around my house we believe sanctions should remain on Russia until they deliver Putin’s head on a spike.

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

39. How much are iodine tablets going for these days?

[bluestarone]

41. Who in the white house says this?

Would like to see a NAME added here! Just seems easy to say the white house walks Joe's words back. WHO SAID THIS?

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

43. Joe's words: "For God sake this man cannot remain in power"...drop mike

[bluestarone]

45. Yea, but i'm asking who from the whitehouse

Is complaining? I completely agree with Joe's words. Would like to see a name on who from the white house.

[madaboutharry]

50. From the article at the link.

No name. Just the generic “White House.”

[fishwax]

57. seems clarification more than walking back, particularly since Biden's been known to go offscript

[Vinca]

62. I wish they wouldn't walk back the statement. Putin CAN'T remain in power. We've got to

convince someone in Russia to get rid of him one way or another. He's a threat to all life on earth at this point.