A Media – Obama Milestone … Pushing Obama’s Buttons and The One Clearly on the Defensive and Irratted by Questions … “Only I’m the president of the United States.”

Barack Obama has his Lyndon Johnson moment …

“Only I’m the president of the United States.”

And so it has finally happened. The head over heal love affair between the media and Barack Obama came to a chilly end yesterday during his presser. That is not to say that they still do not fawn over him; however, the dreamy eyed stares, amidst the dimmed candle light and a glass of merlot seem to be over.

  Major Garrett of Fox News also asked Obama, “What took you so long?” in responding to the Iranian Protesters being slaughtered in the streets

One would have to be blind or wearing too dark a shaded rose colored glasses not to have witnessed yesterday during Obama’s news conference that he was uncomfortable, irritated and defensive on many of the questions that were posed to The One. As Politics Daily stated, “Barack Obama  is one of the most disciplined, controlled and unflappable political leaders in modern times, except when he grows testy”.  That Obama testiness becomes a form of arrogance as this President has only been given softballs from the outset, so when a high hard one is pitched inside, Obama has no idea how to react.

Asked whether his rhetoric on Iran had changed in response to criticism from Senate Republicans such as John McCain, Obama at first deftly waved off the question with a joking, “What do you think?” Seconds later Obama channeled Lyndon Johnson’s belligerent “I’m the only president you’ve got” crack. (The milder Obama version: “Only I’m the president of the United States.”) Then Obama disingenuously claimed that “the Iranian people…aren’t paying a lot of attention to what’s being said on Capitol Hill and probably aren’t spending a lot of time thinking about what’s being said here.” (If that level of disinterest were indeed the case, then why did Obama go out of his way earlier in the press conference to solicit a question that had come in by e-mail from Iran?)

How does the Great Orator crumble like a house of cards when presented with a question on Iran? Thus we are given the “Irony of Obama”.

It’s kind of ironic isn’t it? The man whose primary political resource is his rhetorical abilities is rendered essentially speechless when it is only speech which is required to stand strongly by Iranians fighting for their freedom and rights and condemn their oppressors.

The Iran issue has been Obama’s undoing. How does “The One” stand in Cairo and give a speech that there are simple freedoms that all should have and then sit back and do next to nothing when a revolution occurs in Iran after an illegitimate election? 

When it comes to Iran, Obama has at times spoken in particularly mealy mouthed fashion because he is fearful (as he has repeatedly explained) that his words could be hijacked by the Iranian theocrats. Even during Tuesday’s press conference, Obama ducked condemning the Iranian election as totally fraudulent by carefully saying, “We didn’t have international observers on the ground. We can’t say definitely what happened at polling places throughout the country.” Obama – who more than most leaders understands the power of inspirational rhetoric – has been forced to keep his most potent weapon (his moral outrage) sheathed through most of the Iranian crisis.

Obama condemns violence against Iran protesters … Too little, too late.

I don’t know how this is going to play out. That is the justification that Obama takes in not making a definitive statement. That’s leadership?

Obama, who has been accused by some Republicans of being too timid in his response to events in Iran, declared himself “appalled and outraged” by the deaths and intimidation in Tehran’s streets – and scoffed at suggestions he was toughening his rhetoric in response to the criticism.

He suggested Iran’s leaders will face consequences if they continue “the threats, the beatings and imprisonments” against protesters. But he repeatedly declined to say what actions the U.S. might take, retaining – for now – the option of pursuing diplomatic engagement with Iran’s leaders over its suspected nuclear weapons program.

“We don’t know yet how this thing is going to play out,” the president said. “It is not too late for the Iranian government to recognize that there is a peaceful path that will lead to stability and legitimacy and prosperity for the Iranian people. We hope they take it.”