| Iranian Protest: The Green Revolution | | | | Like other Democrats who spoke Sunday, Sen. |
| President Obama and his administration have been | | | | Dianne Feinstein backed the president's approach. |
| taking heat by some in Congress and the Press | | | | "It is very crucial as I see that we not have our |
| on why very little has coming out of the white | | | | fingerprints on this," she said, "that this really be ... |
| house about what's going on in Iran. | | | | truly inspired by the Iranian people. We don't |
| As the drama of the Iranian protests unfolding on | | | | know where this goes." |
| television across the U.S. every day more and | | | | A day earlier, Obama invoked the American civil |
| more people are wondering why hasn't the | | | | rights struggle to condemn violence against |
| president of the United State spoken more to the | | | | demonstrators, some of whom have carried signs |
| Iranian people with strong assurances of solidarity | | | | in English asking, "Where is My Vote?" |
| and to the government of Iran with stern | | | | It was his strongest statement on what has |
| warnings of restraint. | | | | become the most significant challenge to Iran's |
| Obama's measured statements so far attempt to | | | | ruling structure since the Islamic revolution 30 |
| speak up for human rights while preserving U.S. | | | | years ago, but it stopped short of demanding a |
| options and lessening the chance that he becomes | | | | recount or new election, as many of the |
| a scapegoat for the cleric-led government, which | | | | demonstrators seek. |
| has blamed the West for stirring up street | | | | He avoided mentioning either incumbent President |
| protests that turned into bloody clashes with | | | | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or his principal challenger |
| police and militia. | | | | by name, and said nothing about his oft-repeated |
| Tehran's streets fell mostly quiet for the first | | | | campaign promise of a fresh start in diplomatic |
| time since a bitterly disputed June 12 presidential | | | | talks with the main U.S. adversary in the Middle |
| election, but there were reports that government | | | | East. |
| forces appeared to be pressing arrests of defiant | | | | Obama has tried to hold a middle ground as the |
| protesters after the official death toll swelled to | | | | crisis unfolds, and found the ground shifting by the |
| at least 17. | | | | day. His advisers say any thunderous denunciation |
| The White House did not book any surrogates on | | | | of Iran's rulers would invite them to blame |
| the Sunday talk shows to defend or explain the | | | | Western interference and might worsen the |
| administration's approach. Republicans used their | | | | violence instead of end it. |
| broadcast appearances to call the president timid | | | | Both the House and Senate voted overwhelmingly |
| or feckless, while the Democrat who leads the | | | | last week to condemn an official crackdown on |
| Senate Intelligence Committee said the U.S. had | | | | the mostly peaceful demonstrations, a stronger |
| no hand in the disputed election. | | | | action than the White House has yet taken. |