AMERICAN IDEALS? - AT 8:13 A.M. ET:  The Iranian opposition is marching, and the American response is, well, un-American.  The Wall Street Journal issues a powerful indictment of the Obama White House, which has gone out of its way not to make any emotional connection with the democracy demonstrators who've once again taken to the Tehran streets, this time to break up an anti-American march: 

Tens of thousands of protestors yesterday braved police batons and tear gas canisters in the streets of Iranian cities to denounce their theocratic rulers and call for a change of regime. In spite of repression by the Basiji thugs and the West's short attention span, the Green Revolution lives on.

On this, the 30th anniversary of the hostage taking at the U.S. Embassy, their message was to a large degree intended for America and President Obama. The opposition hijacked the day, usually an occasion to denounce the Great Satan, to declare their desire to break with that past and build a free Iran. They marched alongside state-sanctioned rallies, before their protests were broken up violently.

And the response from Mr. Obama?  Not exactly, "Tear down this wall!"

Knowing the opposition was planning to march, Mr. Obama issued his own statement the night before that instead chose to reach out to the regime. America, he said, "seeks a relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran based upon mutual interest and mutual respect. We do not interfere in Iran's internal affairs." He went on to list the Administration's various efforts to appease the regime. So far and on all counts, the mullahs have rebuffed these entreaties.

The President made no mention of democracy or reference to the opposition directly, though in the last paragraph he did allow that "the world continues to bear witness to [Iranian peoples'] powerful calls for justice." Is this what he meant when he talked, at the start of his Presidency, about "restoring U.S. moral leadership"?

COMMENT:  I'm afraid that Mr. Obama comes from that class of left-wing "intellectuals" who regard democracy as simply one "narrative," no better or worse than any other "lifestyle choice."  So far, his has been the most freedom-indifferent American administration that we can recall. 

Mr. Obama's stark refusal to go to the Berlin Wall this week to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its fall proves the point.  Not interested.  Not important.  Old Reagan-era stuff. 

This is America?

November 5,  2009