Santorum criticizes Obama for not condemning Iran

Santorum: What we're not doing is “to go out and condemn the regime for being evil and persecuting their people.” From the February 12 edition of Fox News' On the Record with Greta Van Susteren:

SANTORUM: In fact, what we're doing is, in fact, not doing the other thing that we did in Poland and we did with the Soviet Union, which was to go out and condemn the regime for being evil and persecuting their people. Instead, what the president is doing is trying to engage them. Trying to talk to them. Trying to convince them to give up their weapons and instead -- their potential weapons -- instead of siding with the pro-democracy movement. He has not sided with them. He has said that they -- that Iran shouldn't torture them. But that's not exactly embracing the movement in trying to overturn the regime.

Obama has condemned “the violent and unjust suppression of innocent Iranian citizens”

Obama: “The United States joins with the international community in strongly condemning the violent and unjust suppression of innocent Iranian citizens.” In a statement made on December 28, 2009, Obama said:

OBAMA: [L]et me also briefly address the events that have taken place over the last few days in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States joins with the international community in strongly condemning the violent and unjust suppression of innocent Iranian citizens, which has apparently resulted in detentions, injuries, and even death.

For months, the Iranian people have sought nothing more than to exercise their universal rights. Each time they have done so, they have been met with the iron fist of brutality, even on solemn occasions and holy days. And each time that has happened, the world has watched with deep admiration for the courage and the conviction of the Iranian people who are part of Iran's great and enduring civilization.

What's taking place within Iran is not about the United States or any other country. It's about the Iranian people and their aspirations for justice and a better life for themselves. And the decision of Iran's leaders to govern through fear and tyranny will not succeed in making those aspirations go away.

Obama: [W]e support the human rights of the women marching through the streets of Iran." During his State of the Union address on January 27:

OBAMA: As we have for over 60 years, America takes these actions because our destiny is connected to those beyond our shores. But we also do it because it is right. That's why, as we meet here tonight, over 10,000 Americans are working with many nations to help the people of Haiti recover and rebuild. (Applause.) That's why we stand with the girl who yearns to go to school in Afghanistan; why we support the human rights of the women marching through the streets of Iran; why we advocate for the young man denied a job by corruption in Guinea. For America must always stand on the side of freedom and human dignity.