Someone Forgot to Tell Democracy Activist That Obama’s Terrible on Democracy Promotion

Mr. Abraham is too cute by half. My point was that Obama shifted the focus of examining the actions of the Iranian government, from whether the election had or had not been rigged or stolen — an argument that will never be resolved empirically, since the regime is sitting on the paperwork — to the question of whether it is respecting the “universal value” of allowing citizens to dissent, which is to say, to protest peacefully. That sets up a criterion for judging the regime that can be employed by people on the ground or by external observers: Are they blocking and suppressing protest? Since protest is a legitimate way for the people to express themselves, repression of nonviolent demonstrators is equivalent to stealing an election — the regime de-legitimizes itself by doing so. It doesn't become illegitimate because an American president says so, it becomes illegitimate by failing a test related to universal values.

WTF, Spencer?

I can't tell what point you're trying to make. Is this an attempt at snark?

I understood DeVall's point and thought it was pretty sharp.

Or was that your point, only garbled?

Coherence, Spencer, coherence: It's the first duty of any writer.

I think he is saying Kagan is a loon and he agrees with DuVall, and, thus, Obama.

good point Spencer, this will go on the site tomorrow

Last October the Secretary of State of Georgia was notified, with full evidence, of Mexican Government functionaries registering voters in U.S. for U.S. elections: the “Hispanic” vote in part delivered by Bill Richardson.

At least two weeks ago the U.S. Department of Justice also.

The very sovereignty of U.S. elections has been breeched by the Mexican government and thus the very sovereignty of the U.S..

The U.S. Constitution does not empower the federal government to involve itself in the election of itself much less any foreign power; and now Americans are in the ridiculous position of having to expect their own federal government investigate itself.

So? Let's all pay strict attention to Iran's elections.

Let our government intone to the rest of the world how both Iran should respect
elections and not expect the U.S. Government to involve itself in Iran's elections.

After all, Iran is a sovereign nation.

While our government pretends the U.S. is.

thank you for this

That's what I meant. Sorry for the lack of clarity. Jack & I have talked since this post went up and cleared up any confusion.

thank you for this

That's what I meant. Sorry for the lack of clarity. Jack & I have talked since this post went up and cleared up any confusion.

[...] commentator Spencer Ackerman notes some Democrats’ concern at the Obama administration’s cautious response to events in Iran and finds that some democracy promotion experts are pinning their hopes for a more [...]

[...] all – the longtime activists for the democracy movement in Iran and experts in the region have said that America must be careful in how it responds to these [...]

Seems a little odd to me that we can be so self-righteous to see the sliver in Iran's eye but not the beam in our own. How long since we have had a presidential-election that was not rife with voter fraud? Jim Crow, Mayor Daly's Machine, Florida recount, Michigan, Watergate, Carter burglarizing Wallace HQ, and not counting thousands of military absentee-ballots are just a few of the voting irregularities. Ever stop and think about how recounts produce such different figures? What if some other countries pronounced our own tyrant must resign because of ACORN's illegal activities or Obama's total lack of citizenship? The Obama regime is running roughshod over our constitution.