Gibbs backs off statement on Iranian election

[thewiseguy]

I can not believe many DUers were being supportive of what Gibbs had said. Apparently he has seen the wrong in his comments and corrected them.



ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE – White House spokesman Robert Gibbs has retreated from his statement that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is "the elected leader" of the Islamic republic.

Gibbs had been asked on Tuesday whether the White House recognized Ahmadinejad as the country's legitimate president.

"He's the elected leader," Gibbs responded.

Talking to reporters Wednesday while en route to Indiana with President Barack Obama, the spokesman said, "Let me correct a little bit of what I said yesterday. ... I would say that's not for me to pass judgment on."

Gibbs said that Ahmadinejad has been inaugurated, "that's a fact." He said it must be up to the Iranian people to decide whether the election "was fair."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090805/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_iran;_ylt=Av7xv7tTjK8VYHiPVWKYw9Ks0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFlaWhqcWlsBHBvcwM4NwRzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX3BvbGl0aWNzBHNsawNnaWJic2JhY2tzb2Y-

[AndyA]

1. People are just nit picking.

We do know an election took place in Iran. We know who the announced winner of that election was. We know that the people in Iran are not convinced the election was an honest or accurate one. Ahmadinejad has been inaugurated as that country's president.

Contested or not, the man is in charge for the moment.

I'll bet Gibbs didn't really mean we should all just accept the outcome, but I can understand how he has so many things happening all at one time, it is possible to say something and have it come out wrong. I do it all the time, I'm just not doing it to the worldwide press. :blush:

[thewiseguy]

2. His statement had angered many Iranian Americans as well as those in Iran

This was a step in the right direction.

[SpartanDem]

3. His larger point still stands

Ahmadinejad is one in power and the one we have to deal with, on some level we just have move on.

[Becky72]

8. To many, the larger point was whether he was elected or not

And Gibbs now did what he had to do: not pass judgment on the fairness of the elections.
Was he elected? Who knows. There weren't even international observers from the UN present, as far as I know.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

4. Yesterday you wanted Gibbs to declare the election stolen.

*that* would be a mistake, IMHO. I felt that way yesterday and I feel that way today.

[DrToast]

5. Basically he said the same thing

He just added a wink.

[masuki bance]

6. Whatever Obama or Gibbs say, some here will defend it to the death.

If it changes tomorrow? Then they will say that's exactly the right thing.

Shameless, really.

[Cha]

7. ANd some here will post negative shit on Pres Obama

until their dying day.