NYC Letter: Reverse-O-Bama, Part V

Day 197 of CHOPE

Featuring Robert "Eggshells" Gibbs.

HARD TO SAY
Legitimate. Illegitimate. He's Our Guy.

Q: But does the administration recognize Ahmadinejad as the legitimate President in Iran?

He's the elected leader.

Robert Gibbs,
WH spokesperson, affirming the administration's
accedence to Iran's rigged elections
PRESS BRIEFING
WASHINGTON August 4, 2009 (White House)

One day later the White House can't say for sure what it said plainly the day before.

Q: Do you have any reaction to the swearing-in of President Ahmadinejad in Iran today?

Well, let me correct a little bit of what I said yesterday. I denoted that Mr. Ahmadinejad was the elected leader of Iran. I would say it's not for me to pass judgment on. He's been inaugurated, that's a fact. Whether any election was fair, obviously the Iranian people still have questions about that and we'll let them decide that. But I would simply say he's been inaugurated and we know that is simply a fact.

Q: Do you recognize him as the leader, elected fairly or not?

It's not for -- it's not for me or for us to denote his legitimacy, except to acknowledge the fact.

Q: Does the White House believe the election was fair?

That's not for us to pass judgment on. I think that's for the Iranian people to decide, and obviously there are many that still have a lot of questions.

Robert Gibbs,
WH spokesperson, affirming the administration's
lack of judgment on Iran's rigged elections
PRESS GAGGLE
AIR FORCE ONE August 5, 2009 (White House)

This administration just cannot bring itself to say the obvious: The Iranian presidential election was rigged. Here is Joe "Foreign Policy Expert" Biden's tortured exchange mincing Mr. Ahmadinejad's legitimacy, July 5, 2009:

Q: Let me turn to Iran. We're three weeks out from their election.

Yes.

Q: Do you have any doubt it was stolen?

Well, look, what I don't want to do is play into the hands of the supreme leader and Ahmadinejad like they're blaming the British now. You know, there -- that the reason why there was unrest is outside influence.

Q: They're saying they have confessions from reformers saying that.

Well, you know, they say a lot of things. That's simply not true. The -- I think the dust hasn't settled yet in terms of [unintelligible].

Q: Still, three weeks ago.

Well, no, now here's what I think. I mean, I think it's clear that the consequences of the way the election was conducted and the way that the election was declared -- who was declared the winner and how, is going to have a rippling effect.

What that effect will be, I don't know. I think we have to wait to see how this settles out and -- before we can make a judgment.

Q: But there's no doubt now that they responded violently to the election.

So. [We peer into the dark of Mr. Biden's mind.] When things "settle out", the administration will make a judgment. [Tortured pause.] If Team Barry waits any longer for things to "settle out", Iran will be into its next rigged election cycle. (You may recall this administration was not so deliberative in making a call on Honduras.)

Alas, Team Barry's tippy-toe diplomacy does not just dispirit besieged reformers, it also manages to insult the illegitimate government, the object of its conciliating equivocations.

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD LAMBASTS WESTERN SNUB
AS VIOLENCE RETURNS TO IRAN

August 5, 2009 (Telegraph) - The United States refused to send Mr Ahmadinejad a customary note to congratulate him for his controversial victory in June's election, although it stopped short of refusing to recognize him as Iran's legitimate president.

... Visibly angered by the slight, Mr Ahmadinejad struck a characteristically defiant note despite hundreds of protesters chanting "death to the dictator" almost within earshot. Mr Ahmadinejad, in an acceptance speech before the Iranian parliament:

We heard that some of the western leaders have decided to recognise but not congratulate the new government. Well, no-one in Iran is waiting for your messages. The Iranian nation neither values your scowls and threats, nor your smiles and greetings.

[Hat tip: Hot Air]

CHOPE.

Loving the "smart power". Works like a charm.