Referring to American exceptionalism-believing neo-cons, Digby riffs….
These people really believe that the way to keep America on top is to behave like a crazed, hysterical bully lashing out at every slight and insisting that everyone acknowledge our moral superiority even though it is patently untrue. Exceptionalism means never having to say you're sorry.
Although Digby's context was the current Republican talking point which calls Obama's mentioning of American involvement in the overthrow of the democratically elected Iranian goverment in 1953….a continuation of his "apology" tour……I will apply her comment to the advice now being offered up to Obama by elected Republicans concerning the current Iranian election dispute.
First…Obama's explanation about his administration's stance on Iran's election and it's aftermath….
"The easiest way for reactionary forces inside Iran to crush reformers is to say it's the U.S. who is encouraging those reformers. So what I've said is this…it's up to the Iranian people to make a decision. We are not meddling…and ultimately the question that the leadership in Iran has to answer is their own credibility in the eyes of the Iranian people. And when you have 100,000 people who are out on the streets peacefully protesting and they're having to be scattered through violence and gunshots, that tells me the Iranian people are not convinced of the legitimacy of the election."
The 'America-is-right-about-everything' crowd in the Republican Party (including neo-con Joe Lieberman), using American exceptionalism "reasoning", launched their "We should meddle" meme beginning yesterday….
Mike Pence (R-IN), "The American cause is freedom, and in this cause the American people will not be silent, here or abroad. If the president of the U.S won't express the unqualified support of our nation for dissidents in the streets of Tehran, this Congress must. Today I'm introducing a resolution that will do just that. It will condemn the violence against demonstrators by pro-government militia in Tehran in the wake of the elections. It will affirm our belief in the universality of individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections. And lastly, and most importantly, it will express the support of the American people for all Iranian citizens who struggle for freedom, civil liberties and the protection of the rule of law."
Eric Cantor (R-VA), "We have a moral responsibility to lead the world in opposition to Iran's extreme response to peaceful protests."
Senator John McCain (R-AZ), "I think they (Iranian leaders) should be condemned, it's obvious this was a rigged election. Depriving people of their democratic rights is really a sham they pulled off and I hope that we will act."
"He (Obama) should speak out that this is a corrupt, flawed sham of an election. The Iranian people have been deprived of their rights. We support them in their struggle against a repressive oppressive regime."
To many Republicans, and to all neo-conservatives, everything that happens in the world is about America. In this tunnel visioned understanding of the world, America has not only the right to dictate the terms for the ultimate destiny of other nations, we are obligated to dictate those terms. The U.S, alone, is exceptional in all things…..and because we are…..we, alone, should instruct other countries on what they should do and how they should do it.
The American war crime in Iraq is a case study in that misguided national narcissistic thinking.
The Iranian election is not about America, and therefore it should go without saying that the U.S. has no right to instruct Iranian leaders on what to do about their nation's disputed election.
In 2000, when America was experiencing their own disputed election, was it any other nation's right to condemn the undemocratic decision by 9 black-robed men and women to decide who would be America's president? Absolutely not. And isn't it true that if any other nation's leaders would have condemned the 2000 election as undemocratic, flawed and corrupt, Americans would have been justified in telling those critics to go pound salt?
Why would that same basic rule not apply to the Iranian election?
American neo-conservatives, and most Republicans, have lost all self-awareness on international issues. They are hopelessly enamored with their own unrealistic view of American exceptionalism. Contrary to the views of these national narcissists, America doesn't have all the right answers. As Digby said, America is not morally superior to other countries…..no matter how many American-mirror-gazers stamp their feet insisting otherwise.
Obama's response to the Iranian election is the proper response. Republicans and neo-conservatives would have us side, loudly, with Iranian street-protestors, giving current Iranian leaders the justification they need to kill and imprison many more reformers in the name of protecting their country from outside influences.
Republicans and neo-conservatives don't much care about any of that. As they admire their reflections in the America-is-exceptional mirror, they tell themselves, over and over, that American exceptionalism means you never have to say you're sorry…..about anything.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I guess you take back that post about the Israeli settlements, then.
All it take for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
larry…Excuse me, what?
King….That's why Obama is speaking out about Iran the way he is. So that American neo-con evil doesn't triumph.
Yeah, evil, com'on Rev. He is afraid, that is why he is speaking out like that. Iran just went through a Chavez-"esque" type of election. It was a fake and a fraud just like ours was in 2008. It was pre-determined. The people aren't speaking, the govt is and it's private entities are buying the votes to be able to influence the governments around the world. Just like the recall in Akron. Wanna get some free food and entertainment. The pro Plusquellic people are have a dinner and a band today at some resturant. Right after they can climb on the bus and do soome good old fashioned absentee pre-election voting.
"It was a fake and a fraud just like ours was in 2008."
That's the first I heard about fraud in the 2008 election. Obama won by almost 7%, some 9 million votes. I think what happened was the American voters elected him.
He should have won by 4x's that much seeing how he spent 6x's as much money. Rev if McCain would have won by that much with the amount of shady dealings that went on during that election, Ahmadeanajad would have been questioning us.
I do feel that it is none of our business and we have no right to question another countries election.
We agree then……on not interfering with Iran's election.
Cheney thinks the appropriate response is to launch nukes. And hey, his ratings have risen to a whopping 26% approval, so who can argue?
Launch nukes where? Iran? Come'on Rev….
Several prominent neo-cons argued for the use of nukes in Iran to destroy alleged nuclear sites buried deep under the ground.
Cheney, himself, may not have called for nukes….but there's no question that he wanted to attack Iran and change the regime. Bush, to his credit, late in his administration, wouldn't go for it.
Rev, you just said Cheney thinks nukes are the appropriate response then you told me he didn't actually say it. I know a guy that can get you a job at MSNBC or FOX or even the top spot at the White house.
Did you see that Congress is coming up with a statement condemning Iran on their election. They need to mind their own business. Why are they overstepping the president? This bugs me.
Bugs me too.
The Republicans introduced the bill to dare the Democrats to vote it down. The Democrats are so wimpish and yellow-bellied they voted for it rather than be called weak and unmanly by the GOP.
This stuff makes me sick.