Obama: Iranians Chanting ‘Death to America’ Share ‘Common Cause’ with GOP

[Cali_Democrat]

Source: Mediaite

Speaking in defense of the international agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear development from American University’s Washington, D.C. campus on Wednesday afternoon, President Barack Obama addressed one of the most prominent arguments against diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran: Why should make deals with a country whose people openly chant, “Death the America”?

“I recognize the resorting to force may be tempting in the face of rhetoric and behavior that emanates from some parts of Iran,” the president said of such anti-American sentiments. “It is offensive. It is incendiary. We do take it seriously. But superpowers should not act impulsively in response to taunts. Or even provocations that can be addressed short of war.”

“Just because Iranian hardliners chant ‘Death to America’ does not mean that’s what all Iranians believe,” Obama continued. “In fact, it’s those those hardliners who are most comfortable with the status quo. It’s those hardliners chanting ‘Death to America’ who have been most opposed to the deal. They are making a common cause with the Republican caucus.”

Unlike those “hardliners,” Obama said that the “majority of the Iranian people have powerful incentives to urge their government to move in a different, less provocative direction — incentives that are strengthened by this deal.”

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/obama-iranians-chanting-death-to-america-share-common-cause-with-gop/

---

Well said, Mr. President.

[cilla4progress]

1. Love this.

Love how's he's provoking Republicans.

[sulphurdunn]

2. The truth always provokes republicans.

[Enrique]

3. yep

they're not going to like this.

[Fred Sanders]

13. It is not "provoking" if the speech is entirely true. Maybe more like "educating" the lunatic fringe.

[fbc]

4. Should have mentioned Americans who sing "Bomb Iran"

[Roy Rolling]

5. "Bomb Iran"

That was a song, I think, made popular by a local group in New Orleans "Vince Vance and the Valiants". It was a joke record recorded in 1979 in the height of the Iranian hostage ordeal at the U.S. embassy in Tehran. It was to the tune of "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys.

Ironically, a joke record from the 1970s is now the hardliners' best idea for foreign policy. I guess when your economic policy is from a B-list actor, your foreign policy from a comedy record is not such a stretch.

[karynnj]

16. I thought it was a McCain original

Interesting it was not just dumb, but just a bad cover.

[cosmicone]

6. Someone HAD to ask

what's the difference between Iranians chanting "death to America" and Teabaggers chanting "Bomb Iran"? At least no presidential candidate in Iran has chanted it ... unlike our own McInsane.

[tanyev]

7. Woof!

[Hekate]

8. The whole speech was remarkable

Damn I am going to miss this man.

[Duval]

11. I think you speak for many of us.

[jalan48]

9. This should be fun-Obama is the best at tweaking Republicans.

[samsingh]

10. Brilliant of him to say that.

[blackspade]

12. +1000

Well said:

"It’s those hardliners chanting ‘Death to America’ who have been most opposed to the deal. They are making a common cause with the Republican caucus.”

Mic drop.

[DhhD]

14. When will those chanting, Death to America, be speaking to the Congress like

Netanyahu did?

[George II]

15. About time someone got the guts to speak out on the obvious. Great job Mr. President!

[Blue_Tires]

17. brilliant...