Following on the heels of John McCain’s (see video below) “Neda” speech , President Barack Obama called a hasty news conference today and decided to talk tough.

In today’s press conference Obama said, "I have made it clear that the United States respects the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and is not interfering in Iran's affairs, but we must also bear witness to the courage and dignity of the Iranian people, and to a remarkable opening within Iranian society. And we deplore violence against innocent civilians anywhere that it takes place."

Obama, even mentioned “Neda”, now known to be Neda Agha Soltan.

"We have seen courageous women stand up to brutality and threats, and we have experienced the searing image of a woman bleeding to death on the streets," Obama said. "While this loss is raw and painful, we also know this: Those who stand up for justice are always on the right side of history."  (By the way, McCain was on Fox News a couple nights ago and made the comment that the U.S. had always been on the right side of history, but that now we are on the wrong side of history.  With so many  ways a phrase could be worded, it's interesting that Obama chose to use his former opponent's words verbatim.)

"It's heartbreaking," he said referring to the video of Neda. "I think that anybody who sees it knows that there's something fundamentally unjust about it."

Until now, until McCain’s speech yesterday on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Obama had described the protests and the violent reaction of the Iranian government as “a robust debate”.

Suddenly, Obama is “appalled and outraged” by the violence in Iran. President Obama also said that Iran would suffer consequences for the violence and death that is occurring.  He warned that the way Iran responds will shape its future relationship with the United States.  No specifics were offered as to what “consequences” might occur, nor how the future relationship between Iran and the United States might shape up.

Obama bristled when it was suggested that he was changing his response and tone due to calls for a tough denouncement of the Iranian election violence from Republicans.

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

Perhaps Mr. Obama is slowly coming to the realization that a U.S. President can not vote “present”.  A U.S. President must take a stand.  A U.S. President must choose sides and stick by it.

When it was asserted that perhaps the President had been slow to respond to the Iranian situation he said, "I don't think that's accurate. Track what I've been saying."

Here’s the problem, Mr. President; the election is over.The campaign has ended.  You won.  Now you have to stop talking, stop just “saying” and start "doing".“Present” won’t cut it any longer.