As we all know Iran recently allowed it’s citizens to participate in elections that ended up being a mere façade of legitimacy. President Obama first stated that he was “concerned” about the increasing violence that was unfolding and that America does not want to be seen as “meddling” in Iran’s affairs. Later, after failing to initially support the protesters who were being shot, beaten, jailed, and threatened, and after taking much criticism about his lack of response, the President, in a press conference, stated that he, “strongly condemns the unjust actions.” Obama also reminded the world that he “is not at all interfering in Iran’s affairs.” Yet Iran’s violent response to freedom seeking voters subsequent to the President’s soft-line press conference on the matter has been to propose execution the Mousavi coalition leaders.  

Liberals such as Nancy Pelosi have long claimed to be champions of human rights. Yet very little criticism of the way in which President Obama reluctantly condemned the situation has emerged by liberal leaders such as Pelosi.

In 1999, when the Clinton administration sought to free up trade relations, then Rep. Nancy Pelosi stated that such a policy was “a failure” and that to normalize trade relations with China would be “very abnormal, in fact grotesque” due to China’s human rights record. Pelosi also later said, “The Clinton administration policy has been a failure in terms of promoting human rights.” As late as 2008 the Speaker suggested that former President Bush boycott the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics due to human rights violations. The Mullahs in Iran are violating human rights and the whole world is watching. Yet Mrs. Speaker is quiet on the way in which Obama is handling these murderous rampaging oppressors.

When speaking on the Iran situation in 2008 former President Bush stated:

"There are good and decent people who cannot fathom the darkness in these men and try to explain away their words. It is natural," Bush said. "But it is deadly wrong. As witnesses to evil in the past, we carry a solemn responsibility to take these words seriously. Jews and Americans have seen the consequences of disregarding the words of leaders who espouse hatred."

Obama is not espousing Iran’s hatred and violence towards freedom seeking individuals. But he definitely is passively dismissing it as something not of American concern. And its unfortunate leaders that claim to have been champions of human rights in the past, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, refuse to call him on it. It is unfortunate that our legislators have been caught up in the celebrity that has taken the place of America’s Presidency…for freedom is paying the price.