CNN

[...] Speaking of the Obamamessiah, why hasn’t he spoken out in favor of the Iranian reformers? Is it not supposed to be about change? Share This [...]

[...] BBC has been ordered out of the country. 3:53 update: Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana went on CNN today and said President Obama should take sides publicly in the disputed election in Iran. [...]

[...] Rep. Mike Pence had similar thoughts. And the Washington Post editors implore the administration to at least "make clear that a government wanting to be taken seriously by the international community should not use violence against peaceful protests, arrest opposition leaders and their followers, jam radio broadcasts, or block Internet use." [...]

How can any Republican make a suggestion on middle-east issue when they were mum for the past eight years? HYPOCRITES!!!

The biggest problem with our foreign policy is our leaders meddling in how and what other countries should do and think. We should stay out of the results of the Iranian election, and let them work it out. It is so disingenuious for Pence and anyone on the right to try to encourage our President to step into this mess. Because of them (the GOP), President Obama has enough of this country's own mess to deal with. President Obama has already, very eloquently and clearly stated where he stands, and we all know what games the repubs are playing. They are not fooling anyone, not even their greedy base.

I trust that CNN and its intelligent readers are discerning enough to remember that this same Republican Pence was thrashing Candidate Obama back in late 2007 as a "cut-and-runner" simply because Obama suggested America first "talk", as oppose to throwing young American bodies into harms way of politically challenging issues. Now this dope Pence is saying he wants President Obama to "speak a word of support for Mr. Moussavi"? What hypocrite is this Pence?!?!

[...] UPDATE: Mike Pence: Obama should speak out in favor of Iranian reformers. [...]

Who give US a right to mind somebody else's business? Iran is a sovereign country. Their people is the one determining the outcome of their election. Does Iran or any other country mind our voting business here? NO! Did they stick their noses during 2000 election? NO! What is wrong with Pence?

‘We can’t compete with Uncle Sam.’ - Isn't this the point of revamping healthcare? Saving money? If private insurance companies can't do it cheaper then the US government, then they should go out of business and we should all take advantage of cheaper healthcare. Oh, and we already ration our healthcare. Instead of doing it based on wealth and money, we will do it based on need and resources.

On another note, CNN, stop using the word 'Slam' and use an adjective that more correctly defines the response given.

As a Republican I’m so embarrassed. My party has gone from great ideas to irrelevancy. When did the idiots take over?

I see CNN prints everything this poster

Cheneymyhiney

has to post. Interesting.

Still attacking Bush-Cheney. If Obama goes all wrong Cheneymyhiney will still blame Bush.

BTW Moron – 9-11 was planned on Clinton's watch. The WTC was attacked first on Clinton's watch. The Clinton administration had the chance to kill Bin Laden but didn't have the guts for the job. Obama talks the talk – but he isn't serious about getting Bin Laden or ending Al Quaeda – he wants them all to have their Miranda rights read and a court appointed lawyer and nice media covered trials at a courthouse near you.

So, Cheneymyhiney – stuff your screen name and stuff your whining about Bush-Cheney. Get a life poofter.

Too late...Biden has already chipped in that he didn't think the election results were legit....

For Obama to comment on the elections would not be very savvy – it doesn't go hand in hand with his idea that you can talk to and negotiate with the ruling Mullahs (the Mullahs run Iran – not the President of Iran – he is a press secrtary – and in this case, a twit.)

Obama will learn the hard way that you cannot negotiate with t he Mullahs in Iran. Hopefully Obama's lesson in foreign policy doesn't get a lot of people killed or end up in a nuking of Tel Aviv.

As for the posters here who believe there is a "revolution" going on in Iran – uhhhh – probably not. The Mullahs have the guns and the money, oh yes, probably the "lawyers" too. The youth in Iran is ablout as capable of overthrowing the Iranian government as the youth in China were – remember what happened in Tinnenamin Square. The Muslim rulers are just as ruthless – remember, these are people who slice throats , video it and play it all over the Internet.

Sorry, there will be no reviolution in Iran this time.

All President Obama needs to do in order to be successful during his presidency, is to do the opposite of what every single Republican tells him to do.

June 14th, 2009 5:49 pm ET

Champly June 14th, 2009 5:44 pm ET

America has not been attacked in eight years. If we are attacked now it will be because Barack Hussien Obama has willed it.

What are you suffering dementia? 9-11 happens during the Bush years. He ignored the warning beforehand. Get you facts straight.

Cheneymyhiney, you should get your facts straight. Clinton had a chance as bin laden but chose to look the other direction. I lay the blame for 9/11 right at his feet.

@Champly – OOP i hit enter. Anyways, the economy has already been destroyed by the last administration, Obama is trying to fix it, give the man a break its only been 5 months compared to 8 years, but your probably a Bush supported who thinks that bush did nothing wrong. IDiot

Obama would have to renounce his radical muslim religion to speak in favor of the reformist. It will never happen.

@Champly June 14th, 2009 5:42 pm ET

Mr. Obama is a street wise Chicago thug. He will keep his mouth shut in most instances. But the proof is in the proverbial pudding. His intentional acts of destroying the economy, our health care system, our manufacturing base, and the state of Israel if evidence enough. He doesn't have to say anything, he just does it with the help of the other Marxist he has surrounded himself with at the core of the administration.

I do agree with him about Iran. Obama and Hillary both need to say something about it. That's all I agree with, though.

Champly – good luck with that. It takes a couple of years of getting through all the red tape to see if you even qualify, as I saw a family friend go through, with an actual disability. Freeloading off the government isn't as easy as one might believe. But the myth lives on.

A word of support from us would be as useful to the Iran situation as if Ahmadinejad had endorsed one of our candidates in our Presidential election. Best to let Iran work this out – if the desire to change is as strong as Mr. Moussavi claims they are, then change will occur without our assistance or endorsement.

It's time for us to think a bit deeper, put ourselves into the shoes of the Iranian people, and really think what would make me change. Fear, intimidation, and aggression is not the answer.

Ahmadinejad seems to be the Iranian version of George W. Bush.

Heck, he even looks like him. If you agree, say whoop!

Why...so you can criticize him for supporting the reformer? No matter what Obama does the GOP will be against it. That apparently is their strategy for re-election. RNC= Rush Newt Cheneny

Pence is not president so he should not be deciding what the President of the U.S . should do about the Iranian conflict. He only wants President Obama to jeopardize any chance for peace by speaking out on this Iranian unrest. GOP members are a bunch of jerks and that includes John King.

Pence is just another Republican loser trying to get his name in print.

Cheneymychiney
if you recall,Bush didn't have his cabinet in order ,because the Dems prolonged approving them.

Your President submitted {bowed} to a Arab King. That's why he can't say anything about their elections .

If this country is so bad! Why did he want to be the President ?
When it comes to speaking about this country on foreign land,
say something nice,or don't say anything at all. If he's not a proud American then resign. Remember people are running to our borders to live,work,and have freedom of speech. Were not running to theirs.

If you want health care than pay for it.I don't remember anything in the Bill of Rights granting health care to all.no one has given me,or my husband anything. We have work hard 24 years in are marriage to raise are children. We are paying for there college by saving and sacrificing,therefore no one can tell us what to do.That's what my parents taught me and what freedom has to offer.

Obama isn't God.He's just your savior,you freeloader.

To those who keep comparing Iran’s election to US elections you are either stupid or Crazy.

How can anyone with an ounce of brain compare United State of America to a Dictatorship like the government of Iran?

Very typical, CNN...posting only liberal comments....you're trying hard to make it seem as though the whole country supports OBama, when now, for most issues, it's <40% and sliding.....

...ah-ahh-ahhh...once again, the Grand Obstructionism Party folks speak drivel!

I'm not sure it would, they need to stand on their own feet and any support from the U.S. could be misconstrued, think of other examples

Some of you are so out of touch with reality is sad.

The elections in Iran have been rigged for the past 30 years.

The only difference is that the People of Iran are building up the confidence to stand up to the Dictator regime. The same Dictators that President Obama is willing to sit with and negotiated with no precondition!!

The choice should be very simple the United State is either going to stands with the Terrorist supporting regime of Iran or the People of Iran.

Pence can afford to be a member of the party of no, since he has great health care coverage, forget about Iran, what has pence done for Americans lately? urge the President to pass affordable health care for all Americans? Nope! Start name calling between the US and iran? Yes! Pence is a loser Obama has better things to worry about right now. The Iranians will kick ahmedinejad out when they can! That is not our problem! The GOP is in hot wATER why? Cuz Americans know u care nothing for them but put Party before country!

Yes...let's come out with a STRONG statement condemning this election! Let's jump to conclusions again that are not based on any fact whatsoever.

Kudos, Mr. President for gathering the facts before saying anything! That didn't happen the last 8 years. Bush used every sound-bite opportunity to grand stand and beat his chest. Just too bad he had his facts all wrong and now we've lost over 6,000 great soldiers. Sleep well Cheney...sleep well.

@JDB: "Why doesn't mr. pence believe we're all entitled to the same health care plan he receives? A little healthy competition is good for free markets ."

So vast are the powers of the US government that it essentially ruins competition in any market it enters–it's not "healthy competition" when one of the players has effectively infinite resources and an ability to make coercive laws.

We?

The United States of America??

We that just had to endure the worst eight years of leadership in our history from one that stole the election???

We that sat back and watched the thiefs brother aided by the states attorney general hand him the presidency????

We that sat back and watched the supreme court ordain his presidency (all small caps intended)?????

I think the term Glass House applies here guys.

We don't have to like what has happened in Iran but when it comes down to it. What should or could we do?

The Left posting here seem to think freedom of speech is the sole property of the Liberals. Since all we heard for eight years, from the Democrats was NEGATIVE; Bush bashing. Seems turn about is fair. Also Obama doesn't have the right to ditate to Israel what to do about housing being built in Gaza. It is none of our business.

"Pence: Obama should speak out in favor of Iranian reformers."

No, Obama should mind his own business. Internal Iranian politics are not the proper concern of the US. Not to mention the minor detail that, so thoroughly hated is the US in the region, an endorsement by Obama of one Iranian faction over another will likely backfire against that faction.

I don't think the relationship between doctors and patients is a problem in Canada, France or Germany. It is private insurance companies' greed that spoils that relationship. If we don't want these companies to be the sitting duck, the patients, us are the sitting duck in the mouth of private insurance companies. This alligator power had emboldened the private insurance companies to bet on investments they should not have been involved in and we, the patients/taxpayers had to bail them out. Is this logical in any way? I am neither Rep nor Dem, but this just doesn't make any common sense.

"The government competes in the private sector the way an alligator competes with a duck,"...."We can't compete with Uncle Sam."

So I suppose we should close all public high schools, state colleges, the Unites States Postal Service, all public transportation, all libraries, etc. by this logic. Since each one of these examples has to compete with a number of private companies. I'm sure FED-EX and UPS would love to see USPS closed down, but you would have to be an idiot to think the consumer would be better off.

The idea behind the superiority of market based economies is that competition makes us all better off...even if that competition sometimes comes from the public sector.

The president is appropriately taking a wait and see attitude regarding the Iranian elections rather than going off half-cocked with uninformed, inflammatory rhetoric like his predecessor would do. The republicans are so frustrated because we finally have a thoughtful president who responds with intelligence rather than emotions.

As a physician, I strongly believe that a public insurance option is necessary. Why is the private sector so afraid of fair competition?

At least President Obama can speak intelligently. Ole "W" said a lot, but not many could understand what the Devil was saying.

GOP, just SHUT-UP, you had "8" years to talk, but you were too busy telling Major League Baseball how to run their organization or trying to rule the life of Terri Shaivo in Florida.

Rove – oveR

Is Pence serious? POTUS determines the foreign policy of the United States, and no member of Congress should seek to tie his hands. What happened to the concept that politics stopped at the water's edge. Between this and the Republican Congressman (Mark Kirk, R-IL) telling China's leadership not to trust our budget numbers, I have to wonder if the Republicans deliberately want our President to fail. Is the Congressional GOP a 5th column?

Does Champly work for CNN? His posts are everywhere and they say exactly the same dumb things. He's probably Karl Rove too scared to speak publicly and reduced to saying slimy things via anony-mouse posts.

We don't need to "speak up" nor do we need to get involved- the people of that country need to sort their own government out. We would fare much better if we stopped sticking our nose into everyone else's business and take care of the mess we have here at home.

MW

Nobody cares to listen to what you have to say. SOS different day...

Already so sad about the Obama administration. Campaigned for him, voted for him and so far a total disappointment. The republicans are appearing to continue to be the worst nightmere this country has ever had, and Obama continues to cowtow to them. As we saw several times in the election process. No spine!

Lets support the demonstrations...?. What, is this guy an idiot. It seems helping to overthrow the Shah did not teach this guy any lessons. And he claims to be on the foreign affairs committee. Wow....

Why would Republicans be in favor of reform? They sure aren't here in America. They should have a group of Republicans fly to Iran,and party with their Taliban brethren over the landslide victory!!!

One more thought to you GOP'ers warmongers WE WERE NEVER attacked on the mainland until you and Bush and Cheney told the world that they must do it the GOP way or else . This from one of the millions of military who protected this country against attacks for 40 plus years until your 2bit grade B movie actor said Take down this Wall. Well my 22yrs of service along with those other millions did the job from1946 unti 2001 when you draft dodgers took over.and brought that attack on this country.

This nation did not elect Pence to be our President. Pence's advice is faulty and typical republican. like a bull in a china shop. Perhaps his object and desire is to prevoke another war and invade Iran. He has one supporter, Dick Cheney.

Yeah, that's the ticket! That will "really" help those who want change. If President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stays in power, oh yes, he will want to deal with the US! The Iranians have to want this! Like the South Africans did! Nelson Mandela was in prison 27 years, how many Presidents spoke up? This is the time for Iranians to chart their own course, let them!

We had a president that had his tongue waging when he should have kept his mouth shut for eight years. It is good to have president know what the situation really is before he bigins to wag his tongue.

We have lost way more repect in the world because of a loud mouth president that did not know what he was really talking about.

Any country has the right to elect the leader of the peoples choice if it is a democracy and we have to deal with that leader regardless if we like him or her so it is best to know the facts before our president starts running off at the mouth for a change.

When you and you hateful, spiteful war mongering GOP'ERS regain the majority and act like humans instead of war mongers killing other americans kids you might deserve a response from the preident. Hopefully that will never happen again

Hey Champly,
I don't mind buying you steak now and then.

Unfortunately the WH cannot publicly support Moussavi and the "reformers", doing so would only validate Ahmadinejad's claim that the opposition is organized by "enemy forces outside of Iran". Change must come from within Iran.
In response to another comment, I don't believe the US needs the trust of those in power in Iran. While some in the US are arguing that we need to be nice to Iran and even let them join the nuclear club, Ahmadinejad showed us that he will do anything to stay in power and not tolerate opposition. Another Tiananmen may be brewing, that is, if news can get out.

Dear Rep. Pense if you had moral backbone you'd be standing with your President for having the prudence that apparently your party (GOP) doesn't. By the way why don't you do you job and fight for your constituents. If you didn't notice we're having our own revolution here in the good ol US. A revolution of ideas. So in short, in the GOP and yourself don't come with some new one's I'd expect to see your resume on MONSTER.COM soon.

Champly or is the Chumply, you need to get a real life. Your brainless blogging always strays away from the article.

If Rep. Pence is so concerned about the cost of healthcare to tax payers, why doesn't he relinguish his taxpayer supported, extremely rich and generous health plan. For those of us who have to pay for our own coverage to the tune of $18,000 a year in premiums, I don't really see how the insurance industry needs any more of our "support". If insurance company executives can make $60-100 million a year and take home over $1 billion in compensation upon termination, I don't see how you can protray them as the victims. For Gods sake, is there not one ounce of common sense left in the Republican Party?

Right now private insurance companies spend most of their money for TV adds day and night.. plus Millions more for Lobbyists.. Therefor private health insurance.....is ...a ... Duck!

Just like this moron Bush spoke hard about elections in Iraq
and other cronies.

To : Afinbro in Houston:
There is no need to say anything at this point period.
------
Exactly the policy that we had during World-War II. What was the result? If Germany invented the atomic bomb before US, world population would be 1/10th of what it is today. Being an ostrich is not going to help. We need to deal with situations as and when we can instead of waiting until the last moment. Bush might have made a mistake on Iraq but nothing compared to our inaction before Pearl Harbor. Even on Iraq, not many people on this earth are sad that Saddam Hussain is gone. If our nations could support US solidly, like Gaddafi, all dictators (Including Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Kim Jong etc.) would be shivering with fear and stop suppressing people in their countries.

No olive branch, no tolerance, just go in with our troops a blow their heads off, that's the way to do it, show how great we are, ha, so what, it will cost of few soldiers lives and more civilians, what;'s important is the we show'em that god is on our side and geive'em democracy. Or perhaps that approach is wrong?

Dear Mr. Pence

Did you speak out when the party of no stole the election in 2000. I don't remember you speaking out. President Obama doing what he is suppose to do and that is staying out of it. So go and find something else to talk about.

Let's pray thing's get better in Iran,i feel for those people,i know from 2000,how it feel's not to have your vote count.

Right on Pence!

Let's get to a spreadin' sum damacracy over thar' in Iran Good Bushie style!!!!

Racist, rednecks and Republicans! Thebig three confederates are all for it!

So exactly what do they want President Obama to say, "my way or no way", threaten them, Threaten to start another war. Haven't we seen the cowboy diplomacy and what it has done for this country? Oh, yeah, let us not be seen as being weak. We know Democrats are afraid and weak. I mean, after all we don't have to worry about our military. It's not like they have been stretched to thin fighting two wars don't forget. Wow, Obama has ran the deficit up and has plans to spend what ! on health care. Of course he can't do that, after all we have to fight a war with Iran and North Korea. Get real people, now we know why Republicans don't want to fund health care. They want to fund wars instead.

It would be ludicrous for president Obama to make such a statement as it would change the complete dynamics of the situation on the ground. The Iranian government would simply point to the statement as proof that the “Evil Satan” the US is manipulating the opposition party and use it as an excuse to crush them militarily. Covert support would be much more effective and I am sure that the NSA is already on the job in this regard.

We don't know what happened in Iran's election so let's stay out of it.
We have enough problems of our own to solve. The Iranians need to solve their own election problems.

As to health care, I thought the Republicans were all in favor of competition. They keep telling us that's what's wrong with our education system, not enough competition.

@ New Day
I agree with you 100%.
All we can do is sit back and see what happens. We CANNOT invade another country because we don't agree with their politics. Thank God G. W. Bush or McCain aren't in office with their cowboy antics.

You are a representative for a few thousand people in Indiana. Shut up.

Oh, great, more sage advice from the folks that brought us Iraq, 9/11, and a wonderful reputation for our country worldwide.

As you falsly malign everyone else's health care based on Republican talking points and the attack ads paid for by the health care industry, know this: The thing that keeps Canadians ever on the alert that our universal health care is NEVER in danger from any politician is that we DO NOT WANT anything to do with the health care in the United States.

Fraud, bankruptcies, people not covered, 1 200 dollars more to bulid a car in the US than our country because of your costs, no pre existing conditions....quit criticizing other countries and clean up your own messes.

Our greatest hero as voted as on by Canadians was Tommy Douglas who was the father of our system!

Just like the Repukelickins to want to go out and tell everyone else how things should be done. Look at what a great job they did, and you'll soon realize that thet're really good at tellin', but not so good at doin'.

Pence should know better then to ask the President to comment.

As usual, an important overeas event, the election in Iran, receives the silent treatment from Mr. Obama. This again shows the utter lack of experience from this president on how to project an apparent interest on issues that matter most. One has to interpret this action on the President's part as his way of hoping this issue would just fade.

I'm not sure why MIke Pence is the guy to offer commentary to on elections in Iran. His most recent claim to fame seemed to stem from championing opposition to reviving the Fairness Doctrine, an agenda that interested no rational person in the Democratic Party. But his desire for the U.S. President to begin actively inserting himself into Iran's political process by openly endorsing opposition to the current regime seems naive at best. Obama promised a return to grown up pragmatism with our foreign policy. He recognizes that while we may not much approve of the current folks in charge in Iran, they will likely be the very people we have to deal with to deter nuclear expansion. Cheerleading those who oppose them seems like a childish and absurd position to in which to place the President. And his characaterization of our current approach as "olive branch and apology" just sound like regurgitation of Fox News talking headdom.

Well, if anyone had any doubts about who's stuffing this republican senator's bank account, one need look no further than the lobbyists for obscenely rich for-profit health care cartel.

We need single payer health care. We do not need for-profit health care of any kind in this country, get rid of it.

This is their deal. The last thing Iranians on either side want is foreign intervention of any sort. How would Mr. Pence have felt if Iran had taken sides in 2000?

I thought Obama's reaction and comments about the Iranian elections was weak and watered-down. But I also thought Hillary's comments were just as weak. How much does Hillary Clinton have to speak the Obama line? I wonder if Hillary feels conflicted about what she says when she has to placate the Obama image? If anything, I hope the world wakes up and smells the Irianian corruption. Who runs the Iranian government – those religious men wtih their beards and turbans – the election was a puppet show and the world should be outraged as should Obama.

This is precisely why I'm glad Obama is President and not McCain. Just because Moussavi has positioned himself as a "reformer" doesn't make it so. It's a shame Repubs are so simple-minded that they'll fall for Iranian PR for Moussavi.

Repubs are reactionary dummies.

How come we are not talking about Rep. Mark Kirk's treasonous behavior with the Communist Chinese.

Pence must have his head where the sun don't shine because all that is coming out of his mouth is manure. Let's hear the details of a public health insurance program before we start bashing it. Maybe the public health care plan will have private insurance carriers involved with it similar to the FEHBP (Federal Employee Health Benefit Program)..

I recommend all Americans go to that website and read the details and how the plan works. If the public program is similar in structure and detail to that program, then it is a winner.

Let the Iranian people decide their own fate. If they think the elections were a fraud, then let them keep up the protests and put the pressure on Ayatollah Khameini and the ruling Mullahs. Words of support won't change anything. What will change things is the Iranian people taking to the streets and taking their country back.

@Champly.Well I think you do have serious mental health issues and are in dire need of help.Lets hope your serious about finding help before its too late.

Oh sure...close the door just like a Republican always does. Instead, Obama should keep his mouth shut and work behind the scenes. Why? Because this country (Iran) will be the start of WW3. Are you really ready to fight this war now?

worse you can do is supporting Irans reformist! because they use your support as a reason to hit harder on them!!!

Obama speak out in support of Iranian reformers? Those days are over. We now want to extend an olive branch to the dictators instead (lord chamberlin)...

Latte anyone?

Obama is elected by majority of American public to reform Health care system and he should not listen to any of this republican leaders.

It's easy for Pence to say stuff like this. He's not the one who has to deal with Iran.

ib-Wimp Obama is not going to speak out except to make an apology for what America has done in the past. He's to busy kissing butt instead of worrying about protecting this country. I hope all you liberals are happy with your "change".
--------------------------------
As a matter of fact I am pleased with the direction President Obama is headed. He has a long way to go, it''s going to take longer than 5-6 months to undue the 8 years of damage tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber inflected on this country but he'll get there. Speaking of kissing, wasn't that your boy bush holding hands and kissing some Saudi ?

Ron in VA,

I totally agree you with you man. Iranians need to lead and wage the fight against what THEY deem as the opposition force. The fact that this election was held in the first place says a lot about what Iranians want for their country. Let the Iranian people take the lead in this process; thinking people understand where America stands in terms of democracy, and our President is doing the right thing by letting this process play out and be controlled by the people of Iran...The fight for democracy has just begun in that country, and the people are spearheading it.

Yes Iran should have speak out for Gore and Kerry about our 2000 and 2004 election.

Speaking out and support the reformers is absolutely not a good idea.
If the reformers doesn't win, US will have to continue to work with the current Iran president and things will be a lot harder to deal with.
The smartest thing to do is observe with care
jumping the gun will only ended up killing yourself

Pence ...

A nobody speaking the same old sound bites ...

Period ...

The Party Of NO ... sadly so ...

Dearest Cheneymyhiney – Will you testify to my dementia ? I am going to file a claim with the U.S. government for disability and sit on by rear for the next 3 1/2 years and let you Obamots feed, house, and provide medical care for me FREE. I will need your statement.

Pence with more pointless tough guy positioning. That strategy is so 2008.

Good thing McCain or W aren't in office other wise we would be sending more troop to Iran in return of more body bage heading back to Andrews Air Force Base!

Let's just take a deep breath and be impressed with Iran for holding an election that is at least as "free and fair" as Florida 2000.

I am glad to see that there was na opposition in Iran. If Im-a-nut job doesn't watch it that opposition will grow.

Democracy like water to the sea will eventually find a way.

Hey...I am with all of the Obamots here. Free health care for everyone. Free, Free, Free. And lets have free food. I want those $100 steaks the Obama's serve at the White House from time to time. I want one every day. And MIchelle Obama has the neatest shows, costing $350 or so. I need a pair to lift my self esteem. Lord knows what a falling level of self esteem will cost in mental health benefit from my government health plan. Probably thousands of dollars. And I want you Obamots to pay for it. Every last dime.

hehehe I guess the new ditto head line is "empty suit." Oh well, the puppeteer needs its puppets.

To the point, if President Obama does, Republicans will come out and slam him for having done it.

I think the wise thing to do is to wait and get the facts. After all, we have learned Bush's lesson on charging in half-cocked all too well, have we not?

I would love to see the faces on some of you when his polices are working and working well. I want to be that fly on the wall.

The first thing the GOP has an actual position on since January is picking sides in another country's election controversy before we know for sure what has really happened there. Ready, Fire, Aim. Bush would be proud.

As for health care reform, their answer is the usual 'No' to anything that would actually reform the health care system.

The Congressman has the right spirit, but care is required. "Speaking out" for dissidents has the unfortunate result of sometimes getting them killed. We need to support *reform* in Iran. I'd be very leery of taking sides. I thought Obama was choosing his words very carefully and deliberately in his comments, as has Biden.

There is no need to say anything at this point period. It will not do anything but fuel the tension and increasingly strain the relationships further between countries. Now this is something that the Republicans want him to do, ( a semblence of G.W. Bush) the cowboy, which ruin Middle East relationships badly. Secondly, who is this Pence think he is anyway, who has no right more like (unpatriotic) to challange the US President to make a foolish statement like that at this time. "Going from the Gut" days are over Republicans, so get used to it. The puppet days are over, we had eight years of this and there were a lot of unintelligent decisions were put forth and look where it got us.

Pence has been sniffing the poisoned corn too long.Another talking clueless rightwing radical.

Champly June 14th, 2009 5:44 pm ET

America has not been attacked in eight years. If we are attacked now it will be because Barack Hussien Obama has willed it.

What are you suffering dementia? 9-11 happens during the Bush years. He ignored the warning beforehand. Get you facts straight.

Obama won't speak up his teleprompter is not programmed yet.
Obama is weak and the weak will not speak up against bullies.

Don’t do or say whatever the republicans demand Mr. President. Their advice and actions for decades have let the United States into utter ruin. As we all know their leader Rush Limbaugh wants you to fail. You are doing an excellent job Mr. President. Keep up the good work.

Pence is simply emitting more Conservospeak. Pence does not recommend this strategy because it's the best thing for the nation or the president, but because it will enable him to later get headlines by saying, "You see, Obama doesn't have the nerve. He's soft on Communis ... er, Terrorism."

What does Pence recommend Obama say about the Communist Chinese leadership and their elections? Nothing because his corporate contributors are making big money doing business with the Chinese.

We need to get rid of Conservatism once and for all.

GOP = Goofs on Parade

I absolutely disagree. This needs to be Iran's fight. If we step in NOW, just as the Iranians are starting to rise up against the Mullah's, they can again say "Look, the West wants the Reform, it must be a trap!"
Let the Iranians fight their own internal battles.

why are they telling the president what to do. The American issue is more important than this. Since they accumulate enemy for the American people, why don't they speak up since they are not doing their job for they were elected for. The president has more important issue that concerns the AMERICAN PEOPLE There's more problem here. Than watching the election result in Iran. Amadinajab has been trhe president even during the time of the Bushco, he's harmless.

It is interesting how Republicans complain about unfair competition regarding the U.S. Government entering into the U.S. health care market. First, the U.S. Government created private health care markets through Medicare and Medicaid HMO products. Second, where are these Republicans when it came to unfair private market competition and lax antitrust policies under the Bush administration? Unfair competition did not seem to matter then; did it?

Pence is one of the classic, corrupt, politicians in American history. I cannot for the life of me understand how politicians like Pence can continue to go before the people of this country lying as they do. Pence is a Republican Congressman from Indiana. As a congressman, he enjoys the very best health care program in the nation, a health care program paid for by the federal government out of taxpayers pockets. Now, he stands before us telling us how bad a federally funded national health care program is and why such a program will bankrupt private industry. Yet, we hear that the many large corporations as well as small businesses want the federal government to take over health care because the cost of private programs is bankrupting the business community. Mr. Pence, is it any wonder the people of this country think you and your Republican colleagues really do fit the dictionary definition of rascals?

America has not been attacked in eight years. If we are attacked now it will be because Barack Hussien Obama has willed it.

Mr. Obama is a street wise Chicago thug. He will keep his mouth shut in most instances. But the proof is in the proverbial pudding. His intentional acts of destroying the economy, our health care system, our manufacturing base, and the state of Israel if evidence enough. He doesn't have to say anything, he just does it with the help of the other Marxist he has surrounded himself with at the core of the administration.

Watch it Josh. You will upset the Repubs that want us to build democracies around the world. Of course they may object a trifle if other countries decided to interfere in our own country.

Pence is right. Obama is a weak man, an empty suit. He is the very epitome of "The Candidate." He has proven that he cannot deal with foreign or domestic crises. 2012 can't come quickly enough.

Translation for republican response – let's nuke em! You know shoot first, then figure out why we did something later.

When President Obama speaks, Republicans want him to shut up but when Republicans want to hear the war drums beating they want him to speak up and beat the drums without knowing all the facts. The late Gov. of Texas spoke of former President Bush by saying "POOR POOR GEARGE. HE WAS BORN WITH A SILVER FOOT IN HIS MOUTH". If she was alive today I think she would be speaking those words to the Republican party. They are the party of war and aggitation.

First, Mr. Pence, our president should stick with what it possible and not merely speak because he thinks he's the president of the United States and is, therefore, some sort of moral leader. NOTHING that Obama could say would advance the cause of change in Iran.

But second and more importantly, Mr. Pence, why not start with the Mideastern countries that are much, much less democratic than Iran, e.g., Libya, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia?

Oh, that's right, we in the US only promote democracy in countries we don't like; if a particular country supports us, we support their brutal dictators wholeheartedly.

Geeee ... I am surprised that good ole Repub Mike Spence of Indiana did not call for an immediate bombing and invasion of Iran! He will be losing points from the right-wing extremists in the GOP.

Whether the bombs fall on the protestors in Iran or not wil not be a concern of the folks like Cheney, Rush, Rove, Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter and the other fools.

Empty Republican vessels are making much sound now. The bluster of Republican regime only brought untold misery to thousands and brought our country to its knees and now they want more of the same. I wonder if this guy has ever been outside Indiana.

Good Lord. Watching some of these Republicans make foreign policy suggestions is like having a ringside seat at amateur hour!

Think about it for a second, Pence. The Iranians are extremely touchy about outside interference in their nation and political process. This is especially so regarding the U.S. If you don't know why, I'd suggest you do a little bit of research about our overthrow of Mossadeq and support for Shah Pahlavi. If we want the reformers to win, and we certainly do, the last thing we want to do make them seem like stalking horses for U.S. policy. Their only hope is legitimacy in the eyes of the Iranian people. If we publicly support them, they lose that, and Ahmadinejad and Khamenei can claim that the opposition is all a U.S. plot against them.

Seriously, folks, even my 9th grade history class could tell you that. . .

I do not think its is right to interfare in another country's internal election and politics. It should be up to the Iranian people and the opposition parties to settle disputes. I agree the results are quite different from what the pollsters had predicted. But how accurate are the polls anyway in most cases?

I also do not understand the Iranian nuclear threat that media claims. Isn't Israel the nuclear armed country between Iran and Israel?

What a stupid fool. The American people must support the Iranians, but our government needs to stay the heck out of situation or risk making it worse.

Lieberman had a similarly stupid statement.

FAIL.

What an idiot. Why does he think interfering in internal politics in the Arab world is a wise thing? It's just more Bush/Cheney arrogant foreign policy that weakened the US ability to influence other nations.

Pence can go soak his head. Obama is right to shut his mouth NOW. Iranians will use his opinion as ammunition against the youth of the country. Now is not the time but it will come soon if this fraudulent election develops into a revolution. Everyone knows it was fixed. The GOP never learns from past mistakes. It is still the good ole white boys club using cowboy diplomacy.

No, what we need to take a "half-step back from" is more of the typical right wing lunk-headedness that the last 8 years have proven do nothing. Their their revolution needs to come from within. If the U.S. starts making speeches for the reformist then Ahmadinejad will only spam them 24×7 on state-run TV to propagandie people in his favor. Talk about taking the wind out of the reform sails.

It seems the right still hasn't heard of the term "keep your friends close, enemies closer" in their failure to understand Obama's "apologies" - you slide in close to your enemies with smiles and hugs, not shaking fists.

It's not our business to interfere into another country internal affairs, let's remember how Bush won the elections.

Let's stay out of other people problems and spend more time taking care of our problems.
Also, talking about socialized medicine, can somebody tell me what we offer to our congress representatives? Us, the taxpayers are paying.
Let's eliminate the insurance coverage for all of them and let them get a private plan.

At least ONE Repub is willing to point out that our country's debt didn't start the day Obama took office.

What the President should do is NOT take his cues from a two-bit congressman. The President is smart. He doesn't go out and about talking loud and saying nothing.

The election could have been stolen. They probably learned from the Republicans how to do it.

Maybe in Obama speaks out then the American media will report on this.

One question for this guy, where was he when bush started a war on an innocent country. Where was he when bush was strum strumming his guitar and wating cake during Katrina. How about when all the jobs were going overseas. When cheney took a supreme court judge on a trip to coax him into ruling in his favor on a court case. And you could go on and on and on....but all we hear from republicans like this is whine and cry and moan and jump up and down trying to blame the democrats for everything. Even before they took office. Gee maybe next they are going to try to pin the releasing of a CIA agent's name to gain political points. Disgusting. But then who ever said republicans had a caring honest bone in their bodies.

Unfortunetly we are in Mr. Pence's disctrict. Just be aware that not everyone agrees with him. We need health care reform and we need it now. We cannot go on as we are . I do believe that we need some form of public health plan. Private insurers are for profit only and could care less about the people they insure. That was not the purpose of the original health care insurers. Please republicans ,and especially Mr. Pence ,look at what is happening to the people of your state.

I agree. This is a prime opportunity for our President to use his political respect and capitol that he earned from his brilliant speech in Cairo to voice his support for the youth of Iran to rise up and take what is rightfully theirs.
I only wish our people here in the land of the brave, had the courage and conviction to do the same thing in 2000 and 2004.

Just like we expect foreign governments not to meddle in our elections process, especially the 2000 Bush vs Gore dispute, I expect my government not to interfere in other countries affairs. We poke our nose in other countries affairs and we wonder why they hate us? Obama is doing the right thing and GOP should keep quiet.

Perhaps Pence was watching on Friday to hear Rick Sanchez announce on CNN that the reformer candidate had won.

Sanchez quickly had an Obama supporter on the air to announce that it was due to the influence of Barack's rhetoric.

Pence should talk to Rick Sanchez and find out what went wrong?
Seems like the reform candidate lost.

Pence should know that this administration like all others has little influence even when we provide aid, often military aid! See Pakistan or Israel – they are like the Addams Family: they do what they wanna do, dance how they wanna dance, ...

How can the Obama administration make a statement about Iran's election after the way American elections have been handled?

I understand what the senator is saying – but I don't think we can go ahead and say that there has been fraud and the like in Iran...because the United States of America still can't have trouble-free elections ourselves.

Blah, Blah, Blah. Sorry, Mr. Pence, you cannot be trusted to tell the truth.

Rep. Pence should not be pushing Pres. Obama to make statements about internal affairs of other nations. Not yet anyway.

I too think there may be something terribly wrong with Iran's election–demographics (50% women, average age 29) and also the logic of changing leaders in failed (economic or other) times both suggest Ahmadinejad should not have won. And not by 33 points! The last US landslide was Reagan over Mondale, 1984, by 18%.

However, Iran is not the USA and for all its lack of transparency this may be a legitimate election. One must be careful how they phrase this, but the culture in much of that region leans to autocratic authority rather than blatant democracy. It may be, Rep. Pence, that the majority of iranians just don't see things the way we do here. So just where do you want our President standing if that turns out to be the case?

When do alligators ever bail out ducks? The analogy falters.

Typical republican rhetoric...blah blah. I believe that Obama will speak up, and take a stand with the reform party. However, unlike the republican leadership, Obama likes to learn all the facts, understand the situation fully, before taking a formal, public stance.

It's amazing what intelligent leadership acts like, uh republicans??

that's right, stick are nose into someone's elses election. Isn't that what Bush did... Wanted a democratic election in the Middle East, then when Hamas won he had himself a hissy fit. They Iran figure this out for themselves without the US sticking it's nose in it.

Definitely, it's time for Obama to give one of his killer, inspiring speeches, to help bolster the opposition movement in Iran.

wow, another Iranian election stolen.... surprise! The world should reject his presidency and his country should revolt. Ahmenastupid needs to go away.

"slow to speak but quick to listen" that's what we need.

The US should mind its own business. Barack was elected to fix domestic affairs. Not meddle in foreign ones. He knows it and the GOP knows it too.

Yes, brilliant suggestion Congressman. An American president supporting an Iranian politician will play really well there and assure him victory in this election. Is there a single republican left in this country with 2 brain cells to rub together at this point?

The Republicans have been in trouble before with knee-jerk reactions. Please don't think that President Obama is not formulating a well-thought out, intelligent response to this difficult situation. If he reacted to everything all the "wanna – be Republican leaders" wanted him to do, he'd be dancing around like a puppet on a string. Maybe they ought to be formulating a leadership plan of their own, deciding on focus and unification of their party and identification of their leaders and leave the leadership to our elected leader, President Obama.

Violence is the last resort of the thoroughly incompetent.

The repugs continue to bait President Obama to agitate foreign affairs unnecessarily. Hopefully it does not work. Why? Innocent people would end up murdered. The repugs would not care, but would welcome it. That's evident by their edging and faintly supporting the death of Americans in recent violence episodes.

What would Pence have the Prez do-ask the iran prez to resign much as some in the No congress should do. Do we push statements on other countries phony elections. As for as health insurance why not give same health coverage as Congress with payments based on income. Daresay most low income folks worked/work a helluva lot harder than most white-tie-rs, judging by their jowls and girth as they make their too frequent tv appearances. Maybe Pres Obama saw how easy the Repubs came up with money for 8 years thought he would give it a shot too. Just another good ole boy

[...] Mike Pence (R-Indiana) argues along similar lines: “First and foremost, we need to take a half step back from this administration’s olive [...]

Doing what Pence says is EXACTLY what Ahmadinejad wants us to do. Seriously–he would like nothing better than to turn this into an election about international issues (rather than the two biggest issues in Iran–availability of housing and unemployment rates). It is critical that Moussavi not be seen as a tool or stooge of the US. Anything that smacks of US pressure or desire to see a particular person elected (or another defeated) plays to Ahmadinejad's favor (and against Moussavi). While Iranians are probably the middle eastern people (outside of Israel) that are the most pro-US, they still resent our efforts in the past at controlling who their leaders are. And Ahmadinejad has always tried to use US efforts to isolate Iran as a way to defuse the opposition and demand the true Iranian patriots rally around him.

Pence should shut his yap. His comments will play well back home in district but they're bad politics and they'd be providing aid and support to Ahmadinejad if we do as he says.

i just don't get the laughable hypocrisy of anyone in the US having anything to say about fraudulent elections.. we live in the nation that gave us the obvious fiasco of george bush winning florida in 2000. we live in a nation that has rod blagojevich selling senate seats.. and we're going to talk about voting irregularities ?? we live in a nation that chastised those who protested bush going into iraq.. and now we know, the entire war was a contrived LIE... the US is in NO position to have anything to say about how other countries are run..

Who is he to tell Obama what to do, say, or act on???????????? Slam, slam, slam! That's all the Republicans can do! How about backing their president once in a while? Iran, health care, the economy, not one ounce of support!!!! The Republicans are a DO NOTHING CROWD! Find fault.......100%!!!

Obama will probably speak out for Ahmadinejad, In fact he probably got ACORN to go "community organize" for him.

Wimp Obama is not going to speak out except to make an apology for what America has done in the past. He's to busy kissing butt instead of worrying about protecting this country. I hope all you liberals are happy with your "change".

Considering that the US is no stranger to stolen election it seems like we have lost our ability to "speak up" about Iran's voting irregularities.

Pence. Get a life! There is nothing the President can say about Irans elections.

I agree with Pence that Obama needs to speak out more, but for him to knock Obama's speech in Cairo while commenting on the turmoil in Iran is ridiculous. Pence paints a false, misleading, and irresponsible link, and in turn, betrays his Americans with his irresponsible and dangerous rhetoric. Obama's speech was not aimed at extremists like Ahmadinejad and right-wingers like Pence, but at moderate Muslims like the folks protesting in the streets of Iran today. Of course neo-cons like Romney, Pearle and Gaffney are somehow blaming Ahmadinejad's stolen election win on Obama. Next thing you know they will be blaming the recent right wing shootings on Obama...oops some already have.

this man thinks he the next man running the gop watch out newt hes comeing for your top dog of the gop!!!

The reps. should just shut their mouths if they have nothing positive to say all they do is complain. They had 10 years to do something about various problems and did nothing. What do they want we should bomb every body then what. go to war with every one . Most of their kids will not go to war. Maybe we can send cowards like Limbaugh, hannity, Cheney beck and orielly to Afganistan.

The USA should get out of being the negotiators for all foreign countries. Stop being the worlds police force, bring home all foreign troops and concentrate on our country only. Let the UN and NATO do it all.We are always condemd for trying to help , and there is no thanks. We can't even solve our own problems. Too long trying to run the world

I disagree Mr. Pence, the Iranian elections are none of America's business. whereas health care FOR ALL AMERICANS, is America's business, and I suggest all of the 46 – 50 million Americans speak out loud and clear on the subject.

I'm tired of Republican political hacks from Indiana putting in their two cents because they think they might have a chance in 2012. Please.

Wow CNN, I can't believe you allowed this to be shown on your website. This isn't Order of the Democrats propaganda stuff here.

Yeah, Obama should do this or that, but when or if he does he'll STILL be criticized...

Let's be clear, it's UNWISE for this administration, or ANY American administration, to take sides in foreign elections... Like the outcome or not, we'll be forced to deal with whoever WINS – not whoever we wish had won...

Pence should shut up and try to figure out health care.

Lets follow another isolationist and declare war on every country who does not think like we do--that's the answer, never try to solve problems just continue the bush/cheney/limpbaughs approach to peace. that will work just like it always has.

Perhaps, Mr. Pence, we could keep our American nose out of the internal affiars of Iran. Just as we would have expected other nations to keep their noses out of our Election 2000 fiasco.

Sad to say, but my fellow Hoosier hasn't a clue. What is needed is a firm diplomatic effort out of the public spotlight. Pence forgets the "Axis of Evil" and all the rest of the Cheney-Rumsfeld-Bush rantings that not onlly achieved nothing, but put a goodly portion of the Muslim word looking for a fight.

Certainly our goal should be the resumption of diplomatic relations with an Iran that respects human rights and freedom of assembly. To loudly chastise Iran in public would be counterproductive to say the least.. Do we ever learn anything?

Find a trusted diplomat who is fluent in Farsi and have at it.

BO does not not have the will-power to speak up on this issue. Also, his speech-writers have the weekend off and he needs to wait for the operator of the teleprompter.

Uh huh.

1. "Sound" foreign policy. Engage Iran by challenging their elected president (legitimate or not) ... that'd do a LOT to open up relations with Tehran.

2. Health insurance companies need to go out of business; and CONGRESS needs to BE on whatever single-payer plan they come up with.

if the private sector is really for helping us with affordable healthcare why are the so upset about the prospect of a private healthcare program? if they know they're being fair with the american people they don't have anything to worry about. The truth is they KNOW they are not being fair with us! The only thing that rules the healthcare industry is greed! All these repubs saying let the private sector work it out. The only problem with that? They've had YEARS to "work it out" and they did NOTHING! Now they're scared they will lose their LARGE profits at the expense of the american people. It all goes back to greed. Shame on you repubs that feel PROFIT is more important than affordable healthcare!

[...] GOP Congressman told CNN he wants President Obama to "speak a word of support for Mr. Moussavi and for the dissidents [...]

What Iran truly needs is a SECULAR state. The religious leaders in the past 30 years have only manipulated Islam to justify their wrongful actions. RELIGION IS WORKING AGAINST US. It is keeping women veiled and chained to the degrading way of life that they have been forced accept. Let's escape from this regime. Within the last thirty years, the United States’ relations and foreign policies with Iran transformed from well-developed diplomacy and support to complete opposition.

We need Iran to be the secular, thriving country it once was under Shah Pahlavi.

A country that had built strong ties and relationships with the U.S. and other countries. We keep forgetting that the current Iran wasn't always like this.

Let's bring back Reza Pahlavi!

Right now we don't know how the situation in Iran is going to play out, I think the Administration's cautious response has been appropriate so far. As for Health-care there really needs to a public option, however I don't think it will happen as centrist Dems and Republicans are opposed to this option.

A republican talking about improving healthcare for those not rich in America is about as sincere as Chenney's re-telling of why we went to Iraq.

Ouch, that made me wince. Just to clarify, a person from Indiana is not an "Indianan." We're "Hoosiers." The sentence should more appropriately read "Hoosier Republican Rep. Mike Pence." I've never heard a single Hoosier refer to themselves as an "Indianan."

The Republican right wing consistently states that Obama has "apologized" to US enemies. Someone please post the quote or quotes from Obama's statements that contain these apologies. To whom, and in what context, has he said, "The United States apologizes to you for..."
I'm not defying anyone to do this; I simply want to know if these claims that Obama has apologized are statements of fact or if it's just another attempt by ideologues to twist facts. Thanks for any light that anyone can shed.

You'd think Pence would figure out that every time he opens his mouth he just reinforces his image as the stupidest person in Congress (a distinction with lots of contestants).

No, the President should not support the progressive candidate. It further risks future relations with the country should that candidate not win, which he probably will not, even if foul play was involved. It is not our election and not our country, no matter how much we want the results to go our way.

P.S.
Republicans should probably stop misconstruing statements of truth for apologies.

Actually our president needs to stay out of this election situation until the Iranian people decide who their leader is.

We have a similar issue happening here in the US with the Franken vs Coleman election. I wouldn't think Pence would want our President to speak out in favor of Franken to the people of his state, and not let the state and courts resolve the election dispute.

And the Pence's idea of 'rationing' healthcare is just not true. We know that the focus of the public option is best practices that deliver the highest level of success for the patient. Unlike the current process which is for doctors and hospitals to offer the most services at the highest price for the most profit possible, regardless of the health outcome of the patient.

We know that the republicans are only focused on protecting the insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies that support them financially.

I really don't know Rep. Pence and what his positions have been in the past, but this article is pretty much on the money. President Obama, stop being apologetic for who America is, look Iran and North Korea in the eye, and tell them that either we work together or we will work you over. As far as government run healthcare goes, we need to understand that too much government is a big part of the problem. And the man is right on excessive spending. We can't improve on the previous administration's errors by making bigger errors. This isn't a basketball game, sir. This is the big time, and you need to stand up and lead.

If the private sector can't compete with the Government's public option, than let them fail!

Afterall, that was the solution the GOP gave Democrats against bailing out the auto industry that couldn't compete against foreign automakers.

Obama is a socialist, which leads to totalitarianism. Read. Read 'The Road to Serfdom.' So why would he criticize his buddies like the soon-to-be dictator Chavez or any other one doing a power grab like himself?

Ahmadinejad won in a lanslide and Obama's Egyptian speech has been totally rebuffed by Iranians....

Obama has also been rebuffed by N. Korea as they continue to build nukes that will someday reach Los Angeles.....

And finally, Netanyahu has rebuffed Obama by saying they will continue to build housing on the West Bank......

It was a bad weekend for Obama--his answer will be to give another useless speech.

Reckless showboating, Rep. Pence. Lives are at stake.

yeah that bully strategy has really been working for us Senator ... why don't you leave Obama alone and let him pursue an intelligent strategy .... i-n-t-e-l-l-i-g-e-n-t s-t-r-a-t-e-g-y ... there I know you are a Repugnant so i spelled it out for you ... that other cowboy approach has got 3000 AMERICANS killed for nothing and a lot of your friends are richer for it ... what a moron

Obama is NOT the leader of Iran, nor is he the leader of North Korea.
These nations will figure it out on their own, or should I say, the people of these nations will correct their own sinking ships.

Obama ain't no W. He's a coward and doesn't believe in life, liberty, and pursuit if happiness. He supports terrorists. He believes the US is the terrorist nation, and thanks to him that's the truth.

This is a planted RNC comment. It insinuates that if Obama says nothing about the Iranian election that he is tacitly approving its results. The last thing this country needs to do is give the appearance that it is trying to meddle in the affairs of another country, especially one in the Mideast. If Mr. Pence has any evidence at all that there was fraud in that election, then he's the one who needs to speak up. Otherwise, he needs to shut up. Not many Americans like Mr. Ahmadinejad, but that does not automatically translate to voter fraud. Ahmadinejad had significant support in the rural areas of the country, just as voters in the rural areas of the U.S. are routinely more conservative. My guess is that Mr. Pence has zero information about this election and that he was told by the RNC to throw out this useless comment.

I'll trust my President's judgment on this. Pence stick to being in the minority and let President Obama handle the situation in Iran. Haven't you Republicans caused enough mess in the Middle East already? Sheesh.

Obama speak up? Give me a break. His Secretary of State has already said there are more important things in the world than human rights.

Oh Pence. Are you running for president in 2012 too?

Government-run healthcare (which is exactly where Obama is going) will be a disaster. I feel for the 50 million who don't have insurance, but it's time they take care of themselves and not rely on the government (i.e., taxpayers) to do it. All entitlement programs do is punish the taxpayers and make the recipients lazy.

Nice work Mr. Pence. You are a rising star in the Republican Party and for the conservative movement.

Here, as in Minnesota, the loser ties the election up in court for years....do the Republicans have " empathy " for the loser???

It's pretty apparent that Pence is in the pocket of the insurance compamies. His suggestion that we "strengthen" them shows how much the right cares about the people. The GOP is moving at light-speed toward irrelevancy, GOD willing.

... and how does he feel about Mr. Moussavi and for the dissidents and the reformers within Iran commenting on our elections?

If insurance companies respected that doctor-patient relationship, then the government wouldn't feel it had to step in. We already have rationed health care: If you are uninsured, or the doctor chooses not to accept your health care provider ... you get no care. The emergency room is not the answer!

Just try to get insurance with a pre-existing condition: The insurance company's bottom line is profit – not your health... and they really don't care if you live or die.

"... alligator competes with a duck?" poor, poor insurance industry. Pence would like everyone to believe that the same insurance industry (for many decades) that raises your premiums, imposes many restrictions, less coverage is not ready for competition even among itself. here's metaphor. let's give the insurance industry what they want. something like letting the wolf guard the sheep.

Another idiot republican demonstrating his cowboy mentality. What Pence does not understand is that Obama through words and actions has already demonstrated the proper approach. The reformists in Iran understand clearly that when Obama speaks of dialog with Iran, he speaks of the country and its people, not just one person. Clearly the right people in the middle east are embracing this an attempting change. Under the former administration and republicans like Pence those people, reformists or otherwise, had no faith in America to be any kind of friend. Mr. Pence and others of his inclination will continue to see more and more things change for the better.

No new ideas from the hate spewing right, just unabashed criticism toward a President that they don't want to succeed, under any circumstances. For RepubliCONS, it's not about the people, it's about the power. They can care less about mainstream America. And slamming President Obama in one sentence for reaching out to the Iranians and the Muslim world, then suggest he open a dialogue with Moussavi is just the typical type of hypocrisy that the right is notorious for. Mr. Pence and the rest of his right-wing ilk are nothing but a cancer to society.

Speaking out would NOT help. Such advice is beyond amateurish – but I'm sure it sounds good to the 20% of the American population that always thinks the GOP is right.

The United States should not do as Pence states. It was not that long ago the U.S. had a questionable election. We did not want the Iranians getting involved with those still questionable results. Pence needs to keep his mouth shut and let Obama take care of business in his way.

What Pence should say is that they, the GOP, want Obama to say something which they can come back and pin on him later. Isn't that right Rep. Opportunist?!

President Palin would have missals on the way to Iraq already... I can almost hear her now... "What do you mean it's not the same country, close enough, besides, I gave you an order, I expect obedience!!"

Pence said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. “First and foremost, we need to take a half step back from this administration’s olive branch-and-apology approach to enemies and countries that have been hostile to the United States of America and our allies,”

Pence is an idiot, if the Bush administration hadn't screwed up our foreign policies as much as they did for the past 8 years we wouldn't need olive branches or apologies. It is truly amazing how the Republicans did nothing to move the needle with foreign policy and then criticize those that are trying to make a difference. Rep. Pence, go back to the cave you crawled out of.

It's called payback buddy, you guys have had the socialized heath benefits cost by our tax dollars, and now you worried the private health companies won't have a competition! Your party is so pathetically wrong in every issue so far, no real set proposals just hot air. I believe it's now americans get health benefits, what should we do wait til you decide its time. When? when we have another break down in our economy and then were in a bigger mess.

Yeah...that's a great idea, because meddling in the political affairs of Iran has worked out so well for us in the past!
While many of us would like for Obama to be publicly supportive of the Iranian people who were so obviously cheated out of a fair election, I think the wisest strategy for the time being would be to sit back and wait to see what happens, because worsening our ties with Iran's current regime, if they end up holding onto power, is not going to do anyone any favors in the long run, least of all the Iranian people.
What we as the public can do, and as responsible citizens of the world, is let the Iranian regime know that we aren't going to stand for this type of crap and that there is no seat at the table for a country that so blatantly twists election results to fit their needs.

Me too I so hate it when people steal elections BTW when did the GOP come out against that? "the times they are a changin"

Typical of Pence: Hey, Mike... Should we just dismiss the fact that the great promoter of democracy, the Great and Wonderful U.S.A. overthrew the democratically elected government of Iran in the early 1950s? Or facilitated the democratically elected government of Chile and put in that dictator and strongman Pinochet? Or will you make some mealy-mouth excuse that "That was a long time ago" or "Those were special circumstances."

Is your parochialism and political blindness so bad that you can't conceive of the possibility that people in other parts of the world see the U.S.A. in a different light and yearn for some real openness and honesty?

It's a good thing Pence isn't in foreign relations. ANYONE with any sense knows better than to butt into another countries' election results – Especially now.

I think if or when our PRESIDENT says something, it will be better thought out than what Pence belched out.

[...] I'd like to ask Rep. Pence if he has spoken with Mr. Mousavi in the last 24 hours.  Does Rep. Pence know for certain that Mousavi even wants his help?!  This is a dangerous game.  (Video available here). [...]

Pence's language shows that he is just trying to create even more opposition between the GOP and Obama. This is the reason our level-headed president is president and an irrational partisan stooge like Pence is not.

Sure, let's give empty encouragement to the Iranian dissidents, just as we did to those in Hungary in the 50s, the Chinese in Tiananmen Square and the Georgians in the recent upheaval in that country. Let us convince a few more poor souls to throw their lives away to bolster our foreign policy objectives.

This from someone who enjoys a government-funded plan - not to mention the financial support of the private health insurance industry. Rationing treatments? Private insurers already do that. Put private insurance companies out of business? How could that be if a public option is as terrible as Pence and his pals tell us it will be? The scare tactics worked once. Now they're just silly and a little sad.

although the gesture would be seens favorably by americans I'm not sure if that would help Moussavi's cause. I think Obama should use his power within the U.N to make a more broad statement from the international community that the Iranians will see as a world wide show of support for Moussavi rather than from just the U.S, whom lets be honest they dont trust.

Here we go again...sticking your nose into another nation's polictics...Take your pence and go away...

A Republican giving anyone advice on

-diplomacy
-the economy
-the environment
-healthcare
-civil liberties

is like a morbidly obese person offering diet tips.

Hey Mr. Pense,
Government can provide healthcare for less than private secore can. So suck on that twit.
Now that you have described the Healthcare insurance industry as a duck, it is high time to waddle the hell out of Dodge and let people NOT have some foreign telephone answerer dictate to them what test or procedure they can or cannot have. Putting non-americans in between my and my doctor. The healthcare industry needs to be KILLED. The profits they have been excising from the provisioning of healthcare has been astronoimcal and disgustingly huge.
The ride is over buckeroos.

mike i think we hve had all the gop advice and ideas for the last yrs. thanks but no thanks. put amizzle on sarah and u might get my respect.

Sounds like a good idea, but it is more likely to make things worse. Iranian leadership already feel themselves backed to th wall. Iranian are the answer. They need to claim what they gave up nearly 20 yrs ago, their freedom.

Pence: Not Pensive!
Not everyone who has a mouth is meant to speak and not everyone who speaks is meant to lead, Mr.
Pence. For decades, we have silently lived with a health care system which has aligned the pockets of investors, pharmaceutical executives and their related businesses with trillions of dollars as health care premiums and expenses continually increased for the average patient/client.
The doctor-patient relationship is not being jeopardized but merely being tested to allow options for payment security for both parties. Our Government needs to stay the course and level the playing field somewhat within some of the basic services such as medical treatment and medicine.
Most pharmaceutical companies began shifting their business model to welcome change almost a year ago. This is not something new.
This is not rational thinking Mr. Pensiveless Pence!

These Repub's need to shut up. They think that they are better and smarter than everybody else but won't admit that they are the ones that got us into this mess. I wish that they and their supporters would just shut up because when thay talk nothing comes out but hot hot air.

Vote them Repub's out.

Pence, should stick to domestic issues. Leave the international issues to the elected or appointed people, who have this as their job of choice, or at least job they were trained for. The world may run a little smoother, with fewer problems if this policy were implimented.

Why ? to come accross as though we are meddling in their internal affairs and give the current dictator leverage to use the "Iran against the world " excuse. Would you want Ahmadinejad to weigh in on one of our election results ? Why do we as Americans feel we have to involve ourselves with other countries problems. Last I heard, we had quite a few of our own. Stop the petty distractions. Focus on Innovations – America has done it and can do it again. But first we need to AMERICA priority #1 then let the rest of the world be the rest of the world.

Am so sick of these hot air politicians doing and saying anything they can to get in front of the camera and getting the headlines.
Am even more sick of the media constantly catering to them as if
their actions are anything of substance.
They are all such hypocrits.

Obama will not come forward with any answers!!!! just more spending and apologizing... How is that working out for you Obama???

And what would Mr. Pence say if countries like Iran or even England would have come out in support of Al Gore in the 2000 election here? What could the US do? Are we looking to recreate Venezuela? There's not much that can be done right now but let the process sort itself out.

Obama listen to him please

...with all due respect to Mike Pence (mike pence?)...what does a representative of 90,000 Republicans in rural Indiana know about anything outside of Crawfordsville?...christ...spare me from the know-nothings...

As far as health care, it is time Private Health Care system have some completions. The Private sector health care plan have suck the life from most of us American people. TIME FOR CHANGE!

Then there is the debt created by Pence and Bush over the past 8 years as pointed out by the NY Times last week. They had 8 years, did nothing, and now blast Obama for not stepping up to the plate when they did not. Agree or disagree, but Obama at least identifies funding sources for health care, climate change and education.

Pence is a hack who has no competency to issue advice on any subject. He is a right-wing idealogue who supported the deregulation of the banking industry, restriction on financial institution oversite, and rubber-stamped the Iraq war.

That CNN's King would give Pence a platform to spew Republican bovine scat is no surprise, CNN's owners are part of the cabal that is destroying America in favor of corporate profit.

As far as I am consider the Republicans are irrelavent because they have showed the American People that they have not plan other than to cricize the Presdient for the next 4 years. We do not care what you have to say and more. We have move on and 2010 we the people of the American will speak loud and care again. You Republicans still can not figure out why you lost the 2008 election yet. American people are really tried of all this negative coming day in and day out for you Republicans.

Kudos to Pence. This was a blatantly rigged election and it needs to be addressed at a worldwide stage. Although I did not vote for Obama, he is the President of the United States and the most influental man in the world right now. We need to make a stand and let other nations know that this can not be tolerated.

What a great idea. Let's get involved in another country's politics before we know the facts. Let's tell them what to do even if we have no game plan or exit strategy. Can kind of see how the GOP got us into Iraq or now advocates the bombing of North Korea.

What a false argument-- that public health insurance would unfairly compete with Private Insurance.

Proof is in reality-–the Postal service has not put FedEx or UPS out of business.

Pence is about as believable as Cantor, Boehner, 0r McConnell.

Shows how out of touch Pence is. A statement like he suggest plays into Ahmadinejads accusations of outside meddleing. I would not be at all surprised that Obama has made his feelings known and that message has made it's way to Moussavi. All Pence is doing, is trying to do is advance Republican talking points. Note his comment of "this administration’s olive branch-and-apology approach". Which I did not hear an appology, but an offer to Iran of a differant way to being a partener in the Middle East. A message i think the people heard, and are responding too.

Hi:

Mr. Obama keeps trying to get the high polls and that is his only purpose. He never concerns about anything else but the public polls. So please do not waste time to tell him anything good for the U.S. or Americans or the world. Trust me, he will wait to see how the public opinions are and then will say something to make people like it, that is all. Mr. Obama does not have his own principle, does not have any personal character, does not have his own opinion on anything. People can see it quite clear now.

The US needs to stay out of the events of Iran. This is an internal affair. It's family business. It would taint the events if it were percieved that there were American interests behind the scenes trying to pull the strings.

We should sit this one out until things have calmed down

If Pence spoke sincerely, then these comments paint him as a one-step thinker when it comes to foreign affairs. Does he really believe that overt US support in the form of presidential backing would be /beneficial/ to Mousavi? Right now, Mousavi is petitioning the Iranian clerics and jurists to have the election's results nullified. The chances are slim that they will do so, but they become far slimmer if it appears, in the slightest, that Mousavi would be indebted to the US for that decision. The best way to help Mousavi, is to take the course that the President currently seems to be on, and that is not to issue an official statement on their behalf.

All of that said, I doubt Pence was sincere in his statement. More than likely, this is an opportunity to politically attack the President on an issue that might be subtle enough to stick.

The ast time America tried to meddle into Iranian affairs it lead to this islamic revolution that still endures. for once lets keep our dirty hands out let the people of iran figure this out.

And the Republican response to Iran worked so well for the eight years Bush was in control, right.

And If he had the Repulicans would have been all over his case. You can't win with these people.

Boy, this blog sure contains all the Repiublican talking points in one "last Word" from John King's biased Republican show. I am sure King did not question one thing that Pence said nor ask him to elaborate on his statements.

Haven't the Republicans learned to keep their noses out of other countries' business.

Netanyahu refused today, to stop the normal growth of Israeli settlements in direct opposition to what Obama demanded....

At the same time, Iranians rebuffed Obama by electing Ahmadinejad in a landslide....

And N. Korea said it will continue to expand its nuke program and weaponize its plutonium.

Can Obama do anything right besides giving meaningless speeches?

Obama needs all the help/advice he can get. He's in way over his head.

“I keep hearing the word ‘competition’,” Pence told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. “The government competes in the private sector the way an alligator competes with a duck,” said Pence.

Just so long as you understand that the FOR PROFIT Insurance/HMO industry are the Alligator in this scenario.

The Conservatives have not business telling anyone about increasing the debt. They have done nothing in the last eight years but increase our debt. Anyone who believes they have anyone but themselves in mind is a fool of the highest order. They have done nothing but misrepresent the President proposals at every turn.
First off, on Healthcare. The goal: to make sure that everyone in America, if they need medical attention, should be able to get it and it should not bankrupt them. Let get our ideology out of the way and do this.
On Israel: As long as they think that they are the chosen people of GOD and everyone else is less than them there will be no peace. This must be addressed but as yet no one has the guts.

With all due respect to Pence, the way private insurance bureaucrats make profits off of denying me health services that 'duck' was the size of a size scraper already, feeding off the poor! We need an alternative, to drive down health costs. The reason why health insurers complain that they 'can't compete' with that is because they've already way over-inflated their fees. If there is a cheaper alternative, I will take it. My health should not be exploited for profit!

It's Hoosier, not Indianan

Who cares what Mike Pence thinks!! The guy is irrelevant as is the GOP. If the GOP had the answers to the foreign issues we face, then they would have been solved!!! I don't know how these people who have been in Washington so long can criticize a man on everything he does. THE GOP IS A JOKE PERIOD!!! They have no answers!! If they did we wouldn't be where we are now!!

Are you kidding? The last time an American president spoke out in favor of an Iranian reformer, the opponents of reform in Iran used that against the reformer! This Republican Pence guy needs to realize that sometimes opening your mouth at the wrong time actually hurts your cause, rather than helps it.

I truly hope sane individuals will realize the impact on our health care should the government intervene and oppose this type reform. I personally do not want health that my Canadian and British friends experience nor do I want the government dictating the type of care I can receive for my particular condition. Do proponents not realize the Obama's and friends will have private insurance (like the Brits) to open the doors to a better level of care?
Obviously, Bush was right about the axis of evil North Korea and Iran certainly have not changed their ways with Obama's apologies and olive branches. How will he handle our enemies now? I hope effectively and not blame this too on past administrations!

We sure like to lecture other countries about how to conduct their elections... And yet we are the ONLY democratic nation in the world where the person getting the second most number of popular votes can still become president. We continually disenfranchise millions of our own citizens. And while we boss around the world, we sure get upset in case other countries protest our president, their world dictator!

A republican wants Obama to speak out about a rigged election. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA All the democrats did that in the BUSH stolen and rigged elections and what happened? YEA that's right nothing and that was in the United States of NO Democracy.

Freedom and liberty are the essential parts of a democracy. Bush, Cheney and their cohorts did everything to destroy the USA by riding roughshod over these basic elements.
Now Mr. Obama is doing a hell of a job trying to make America a credible, strong country again, and it's the toughest undertaking in the world. He handles every tough problem with aplomb and dignity and even humour, unlike the bumbling embarassment called Bush.
This Pence thing is not worth tuppence, as opinions are like you- know-what, and everyone has one. What plan do repugnicans have, solid, sensible plans to lead and serve America? NONE. They only want to say 'NO' to everything and everyone, and blast Mr. Obama at every turn. Their saber rattling and violent ways are all they know. Did I mention greed? Whiney, pouty and dangerously misguided are they.
GOBAMA!

Mr. Pence,

If government insurance is good for you than it should be good for the rest of the country. I want the same health insurance you have, Rep. Pence

Do shut up, Mike. You don't know what you're talking about and are just embarrassing yourself.

He's right you know.

what evee he wants to do he has to do it before it is tooo late

Nothing in the President's public reaction to Iran is conciliatory to our enemies. This Pence appears to be a dangerous psychopath and whose voice is, mercifully, in the minority. I recommend that he be sterilized so he cannot procreate, thus preventing contamination of future generations.

I agree that the inusrance companies won't be able to compete they way they run things today. That is the point that goes over the republican parties heads though. WHY do think they cannot compete? coul dit be the Bilions and BIllions of profit they make now? If a competitor came along and put that money into healthcare instead of thier billions in bonus and fat salaries, of course they could not compete. Repuclicans keep pretending that the they system we have now is working. Just like they did with the economy, "everything is fine the way it is" until it is too late to fix it without a disaster like the one we are dealing with now. You are either for the billionaire fat cats or the people, its treally that simple.

Thanks, but no thanks, Mike. We need to stay out of it. The last thing we need to do is choose sides.

Don't these clowns ever stop?

uh... there are a lot of us that feel that the republicans STOLE the election in 2000, and some of us still feel there were a LOT of irregularities in ohio and elsewhere in 2004... it cracks me up so much that they care when it's not THEIR country rigging elections! are you kidding me???

And alligator vs a duck? Perhaps: Fat, self-interested, usurious ducks who do nothing to advance the health or healing of anyone. We can only hope to see such a competition.

I think cnn should have Rusty Depass comparing Michelle Obama to a Gorilla. What's with the GOP

Apparently, you were not listening when the President spoke in Cairo. I disagree with your position because the United States already have bad relations with countries in the Middle East as a result of the previous administration. We should let the Iranian reformers attend to their own business of reforming their country and keep our mouths closed.

Why is Pence so afraid of public health insurance? That's what he has as a congressman. If it's good enough for them, why not good enough for all citizens?!

Mr. Pence would have our great president accused of interference in the internal affairs of another nation.

There is no way President Obama can get involved in this election if we want any further relationship with Iran and Pence knows this. His olive branch and apology statement was absolutely irresponsible and ridiculous.
The republicans are working their way to becoming our nations most dangerous domestic terrorists.

complete rejection of Obama's speech in Egypt......

Countries like Iran and N. Korea have no fear of Obama because he is all words and no action. Obama keeps threatening them but never follows through--people become immune to that after a while.

“I’m hoping, before the end of the day today, the President of the United States will speak a word of support for Mr. Moussavi and for the dissidents and the reformers within Iran,”
-What part of not interfering with the government of other sovereign nations does this guy not get? Someone needs to go back to high school for a history lesson. Look what happened the last time we interfered in Iranian politics. Iranian hostage crisis ring any bells?

Iranians rejected Obama's apologetic speech in Egypt.........and they will move forward with their nuclear program just as N. Korea is doing...

They all know that Obama is weak and only wants to give speeches that are meaningless.....people want to see actions and Obama leaves them wanting.....

G ot
O
P lans

Please help this guy out. Obama is in way over his head. He thinks he's king of the world and that we're his subjects. If he would stop stroking his own ego, he might see what he SHOULD be doing as President.

The only goal of chicken-hawks like Mike Pence is to stir up conflict. The President will support the "reform" candidate when and if we determine that the election was rigged. To do otherwise is to taint the process in Iran and make it more difficult for reformers to attain legitimacy in Iran.

these people are 20 years from civility; but, what about netanyahou saying he will entertain an unarmed palestine; but, it's ok for israel to have all the weapons known to man, and more; but the palestinians, keep using your rocks, and sticks, and we will use the power of the press, ( cnn,msn,abc,cbs,fox ) to show your defiance worldwide, imagine your stones up against, us made tomahok missles,m16 carbines, and don't forget that nuclear thing..how dare you threaten us with stones..

The moment is ripe to topple the mullahs and restore Iran to a truly democratic and free society. If only W were still President...

And we should listen to this guy why? We tried being hostile and not talking to Ahmadinejad for the last eight years. We did not exactly get the guy to fold now did we? Shut up and let President Obama do things the logical way for a change. Its not as if he can make a bigger mess then the Bush Republicans did.

This is why the disingenuous Pence is NOT part of a majority, and his LIES are part of the GOP. Again with the "apology" nonsense...I challenge you to find one "apology" or "sorry" in President Obama's respectful addresses overseas. That's Republican propaganda!

Secretary of State Clinton diplomatically said it best yesterday, hoping the results represent the will of the Iranian people and recognizing we have to work the ultimate outcome.

On health care, Pence sadly resorts to the same old fear-mongering (again).

Regarding debt, Pence and his GOP have "NO" credibility after enabling Pres. Bush's irresponsible spending! Give me a break.

How can Obama speak out in favor of Iranian reformers, when he HIMSELF wanted to be DICTATOR of this country. Get REAL people!

While young Iranians RISKING their lives for DEMOCRACY, the people of this country are GIVING IT AWAY without a fight to Obama and the Democratic Party. Y'ALL MUST BE STUPID!

As PRAVDA have said in their column, the American people GIVE UP whatever freedom they have so EASILY without a fight and call themselves FREE people.

I find his opening statement that "First and foremost, we need to take a half step back from this administration’s olive branch-and-apology approach to enemies and countries that have been hostile to the United States of America and our allies" a bit tenuous. First, a retreat from the so-called "Cowboy Diplomacy" of President Bush does not imply that President Obama will be following some "apologize-because-we're-American" approach to foreign policy; there is a large middle ground between those two extremes, and he is likely seeking to land somewhere in there. Secondly, Iran, like it or not, is a sovereign state with its own government – we have little to no right to try to nudge its elections one way or another, regardless of how favorable one outcome might be to us. Such diplomatic grandstanding would be akin to the President of Iran actively endorsing candidate Obama last November. I highly doubt Representative Pence would have taken kindly to that.

What's he complaining about? The Iranian Republican won...

As a democrat, I must say I completely agree with Pence. I hope Obama speaks out today in support of the Iranian reformists. On the other hand I totally disagree with Pence on his protectionist statements in favor of the Health Insurance Companies that are nothing but parasites who suck billions of dollars out of our economy, and contribute nothing.

Where to start on this one. We do not need to speak out about the Iranian election. We need to wait and see how this ends. We WILL have to work with the winner.

On health care. Why doesn't the Rep drop the insurance we pay for him. Try and get a good deal on a family of 5 without it. I am guessing about $900.00 a month.

we didn't elect Pence and never would.

he's just another republican propaganda bully.

limbaugh talking points – not news – move on folks.

It would have cut into the profits of the Military Industrial Complex if Iran ousted their fanatical, religious fundamentalist leader as the US has done recently. Too many rational, reasonal leaders is bad for businesses like Blackwater.

No, President Obama should not speak out on election results in Iran. To do so would only give fodder to the Iranian power structure, the religous Mullahs. They already believe the U.S. is trying to foment disruption of their society. They see us as the evil non-believers. We need to continue to be honest brokers and earn their respect; I don't think we will ever regain their trust. With time, we must hope that the opposition parties will grow and take Iran back from their religous right.

Don't you think it'd be better to wait and get all the facts before leaping head-first into another countrys business?

I'd prefer a more pragmatic approach than the cowboy approach Pence is calling for.

Why doesn't mr. pence believe we're all entitled to the same health care plan he receives? A little healthy competition is good for free markets – or are republicans agains free markets now too?

Something you are saying smart... Yeah we need to support the reformers in Iran....