Obama White House Labels Egyptian Protests as ‘Middle Class’ Uprising
- Posted on January 29, 2011 at 10:15am by
Meredith Jessup
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At least 20 people have been killed so far in widespread violent protests against the government and the 30-year reign of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
“I would not refer to him as a dictator,” Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday, calling Mubarak an “ally” of the United States and insisting his government should not step down in the face of protests now spreading across 11 of Egypt’s 28 territories.
“President Mubarak has been very helpful on a range of tough issues in the Middle East. But I‘ve always said to him that making sure that they’re moving forward on reform — political reform, economic reform — is absolutely critical to the long-term well-being of Egypt,” he told PBS News Hour. “And you can see these pent-up frustrations that are being displayed on the streets. My main hope right now is that violence is not the answer in solving these problems in Egypt, so the government has to be careful about not resorting to violence, and the people on the streets have to be careful about not resorting to violence.”
Instead, the vice president suggested the Mubarak administration should grant “a little more access and a little more opportunity” to the Egyptian people, labeling the unrest as an expression of “middle-class folks.”
“I hope Mubarak … is going to respond to some of the legitimate concerns that are being raised,” Biden said.
On Friday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs echoed the vice president’s remarks, once again characterizing the widespread political protests as being driven by the middle class.
When asked about the “composition” of the protest groups — namely what proportion of them may be involved in the Muslim Brotherhood — Gibbs suggested that the protesters belong to “the Egyptian middle class.”
The protests in Egypt closely follow recent uprisings in Tunisia and coincide with similar unrest in Yemen, Jordan and Lebanon.
“A lot of these nations are very dissimilar. They‘re similar in the sense that they’re Arab nations, dissimilar in the circumstance,” Biden insisted. “I don’t see any direct relationship, other than there seems — it might be argued that what is happening in one country sparks whatever concern there is in another country. It may not be the same concern. It may not be even similar, but the idea of speaking out in societies where, in the recent past, there hadn’t been much of that occurring. … I could be proven wrong. But I think it’s a stretch to compare it to Eastern Europe.”
“These protests underscore that there are deep grievances within Egyptian society, and the Egyptian government must understand that violence will not make these grievances go away,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added Friday. “As President Obama said yesterday, reform is absolutely critical to the well-being of Egypt.”
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Bernard
Posted on January 31, 2011 at 3:39pmObama cannot be more wrong. The middle class always succeeds under the writ of law and not under chaos. This is being orchestrated by the radical Islamic groups who like Pakistan hate the US supported government and a direct (strategic) attack on Israel.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on January 31, 2011 at 8:25amEP46, You are correct,sir(to quote Ed McMahon.)
Report Post »Cymry
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 1:55pmobama is a muslim. obama is a communist (stalinist variety). obama is an evil person. obama is an usurper to the presidency. obama is an anarchist. obama is insane.
those who support obama are 1. to stupid to know what kind of person he is. 2. people who know who he is and still support him. 3. people who don’t support him per se but see the anarchy he is causing as an opportunity for them to advance their interests.
Report Post »MUDFLAPS
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 1:46pmyeah thats funny. These people use every second they can to destroy the middle class. Im surprised that this nut case didnt say it was a middle class christian, gun toting,white, american group that started this.
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 11:25amOn Egypt’s protest….
NOT peaceful
NOT middle class
NOT understood (based on who is doing/backing this)
On Soetoro’s response to protest….
Was quick compared to Iran’s–why? What’s the difference?
Sided with ‘the people’s right to protest‘ and sided with Mubarak to ’gain control of the situation’ so that whoever remained in power at least Barry could say “Well we were there supporting you.”
Then the phone call to Mubarak and ‘poof’ for the 1st time in history Egypt has a Vice Prez!
Now Barry‘s camp talks about Egypt’s Middle Class? Huh? There’s no middle class. Only rich and poor–end of story. What does this mean?
Media Response to protest…..
Muslim Brotherhood
Young people, peaceful people
Hungry, starving people (like the ones in Africa?)
Who will fill the vacuum? Islamist Extremist?
Geraldo, “Let’s interview some Americans here that have been protesting in American streets, holding signs made by SEIU, ACORN and CODE PINK in solidarity with Egypt, their beloved country (even though they are American). “Tell me who do think should fill the vacuum and run your country?“ ”Uh, I/we don’t know we just come out to support our people.” (Never mind supporting your people, the American people that need you in the Tea Party though!)
Breaking News…..Fox News….Mubarak appoints Elbaradei as Vice President. (no info on his background though even though Breitbart and Atlas Shrugs has it)
No one has heard anything from Muslim Brotherhood, they have been very quiet. They are not the ones behind the protests, its the people just fed up with the corrupt government run by Mubarak and did you notice the tear gas canisters were made by us?
News Flash Everyone! Elbaradei has ties to Muslim Brotherhood! We are screwed!
Report Post »cece959
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 10:46amMiddle class uprising…HELLO. Now where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, the Tea Party. Okay, Obama administration, are you paying attention here? We will be remembering that you are supporting the ‘middle class uprising’ in Egypt when it happens here in the US…and it WILL happen here.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:07pmANOTHER subliminal message.
Report Post »matt5214
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 10:28amOn Gibb’s clip…..great example of what someone looks like when they search for an answer they don’t know, and then resort to made up information.
Report Post »Lssmc
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 10:19amReading all these posts is pretty scary. I’m a proud Tea Party Patriot and protested at the polls. And, because of my vote and millions of others of like mind, we saw real change Nov. 2, 2010. Revolution does not happen overnight. TPP will continue to weed out others in the years to come. We have relatively fair elections in this country, unlike Egypt. A knee jerk reaction like we are seeing in Egypt of looting and violence is not the answer, although understandable. We need to get behind those candidates we installed in November and continue to kick out those who are out to undermine the Constitution of this great country.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:30pmThe point is that socialists are HOPING the middle class here will get angry and revolt. SO FAR we have proven them wrong and will continue to use our VOTE as our most potent weapon. We will not give them a reason to shut down our internet and remove our means of communication. We will NOT fall for their trap of race baiting or class warfare. THAT is what is driving the anger from the left right now. What’s happening in Egypt is not just a knee jerk reaction, but a calculated uprising and the middle class is not responsible! We won’t let them manipulate us. :)
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 10:10amElbaradei has ties in his past to the Muslim Brotherhood and now that he has been put into power it is something we need to be afraid of. Why do you think the MB has been on the side lines, very quiet up until now? They know who will be in power soon, they do not have to show their face–yet!
The people over here, the ones saying they are American, protesting in our streets in solidarity with Egypt…..ask them who they want to be in power and they don’t know, according to one interviewed on Geraldo last night. I don‘t believe her for one minute she doesn’t know who she or they want in power over there! Of course they know! You cannot topple a government without knowing who will take over and they know–end of story! They have their man in power and Elbaradei is NOT who I am comfortable with based on what I have read on him. Red flags here. Same kind as the ones that keep popping up with Barry Soetoro! We all FEEL somethings not right with Barry and we SEE by the people that surround him and the policies he crams through that somethings not right. Now with Barry and Elbaradei in power and I’madickjob giving his approval–not good! Something here stinks!
Report Post »hogtrashhd
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 9:18amhahahahahahaha the white house sure knows some good jokes.. the middle class war.. hardy har har.. there they go again pretending to know something and saying the dumbest things.. geez don‘t they know how to think at all or do they think everybody just loves ’em so much they don’t need to know anything??? every time they make a pronouncement of any kind it shows how stupid they really are.. hey dumba$$es crack a book once in a while.. did you notice hillary got out of town.. what bad jokes they all are.. bet obama will come up with something to hightail it out of this..
Report Post »New-American-Saviors
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 2:34amThen you’ll know exactly what to expect here if they keep pushing.
Report Post »RockyMountainMosaics.Com
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 2:24amComing to a neighborhood near you…?
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 2:15am“Middle Class” in Obama world is a code word for union member. If you aspire to be a member of the middle class, you must join an union. The middle class used to be those earning decent wages, who were able to afford a modest home. Many of them were small business owners. That would be gone under the oppressive Obama Care. No small business owner will be able to provide their employees with mandatory healthcare, with the “everything must be in it” to be approved by Big Government. Obama Care = the end of small businesses.
Report Post »Arc
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 1:54amWashington just wishes the revolt was only middle class. They were caught with their collective heads in the sand not realizing that while Mubarek may take our tax dollars he still will treat the citizens of Egypt with contempt. Judging from what the Egyptians here in the US,say Muslims and Christians seem to be getting along fine.even in revolt. I support the Egyptians right to live free just as I support my fellow citizens rights. DC is chasing its tail.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 1:06amMy understanding there is NO middle class in Egypt.. there‘s the top and there’s the bottom NO MIDDLE.. and BOTH sides were out there.. so it‘s NOT a have and have not thing it’s a freedom thing.. I have to say Obama talks out of BOTH SIDES his mouth.. he is saying turn on the internet in Egypt while he’s trying to get control to shut ours down.. Since we all PAY for our interent what right does HE have to shut it down at his whim? and he want’s NO judicial over site on this power meaning HE (or whom ever is in office) can do it without a the courts and WE the PEOPLE have NO PROTECTION.. not even congress.. call your senators MONDAY and keep it up till it’s thrown out.. or we will like EGYPT next..
Report Post »penguin848
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 9:02pmWhat this administration better realize is that a similar “ Middle class uprising” is happening in this country, it’s called the tea party. unlike Egypt this uprising isn’t stoked by religion but it is about freedom and throwing the yoke of government off our back. BE CAREFUL WASHINGTON what you see in Egypt could come to the streets of Washington soon
Report Post »screwauger
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 9:45pmunfortunately I think they realized from the start that their agenda could lead to such an uprising. Hence the early on classification of homegrown terrorists being their biggest threat (memeber the vets were to be watched) and then Obowmao’s plan to have all the yut owe time to the govt for their education or some such nonsense. They would gun us down in a heartbeat.
Report Post »I am 'We the People
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:33amWhat ‘we’ don’t understant is that they are ready for our “uprizings” even with all 30+ million firearms. What ‘they’ don’t understand is the tea party. They can’t comprehend a non violent, completely unorganized, majority group of people. They fight to prove them non-existant.
If we ever have to go to arms in revolt against tyranny in the unknown future, we had better pray for proper militia organization and proper government reestablishment. If the riot type revolt is used here only the revolters will die and we will end up with a worse system then before.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:55pmyes, this Mubarak is just another Cuba Bautista, or Marcos of the Philippines, and Biden is as “swift” as ever. This is not the middle class rising up, its the citizens rising up to repulse a tyrannical elite class that is careless of anything but their own power. Does that ring a bell – like what the Marxist Socialist Progressives in the US government are trying to do.
Report Post »hempstead1944
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:07pmDoesn’t look all that “middle class” on TV……looks like the muslim brotherhood…..similar to the Black Panthers standing outside polling places……
Report Post »downbad
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:31amThe government wants you to think its the muslim brotherhood. these are real people revolting against a tyrannical government (kinda like where we are headed). What really bugs me is that they are highjacking the movement by setting up a fake leader. The mainstream media is already reporting that ElBaradei (the guy at the IAEA who refused to look into Irans attempting nukes) as the “next in charge.”
Report Post »chfields62
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 3:27pmI would like to know, if making less than $2 a day is middle class, what is poverty level???? There si no middle class in Egypt, there is the elite and the poor. The protesters don’t look like elites to me……………….Just shows how out of touch the pos er potus really is….
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:59pmThey think this is middle class uprising, WTF, its because people are being kept in poverty! They have no potential to move up in society! The same thing is happening with the US! Obama, is trying to eliminate the middle class! Though he says spreading the wealth is his primary goal too help out the poor, its not. If this is the case, why are things costing more? Why do we have more wellfare programs, why does he want more wellfare programs? It just F-ing never stops! He says one thing and at the same time, he’s lying to us! We have no need for this want to be Dictator!…
Report Post »VoteBushIn12
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:25am@DOCGREEN
You know nothing of politics and you have made that very clear in your post.
*************************
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:33amReally a commie overthrow? Radical students? Muslim terrorists? Union thugs? If the marxist White House says one thing, it’s really another.
“Gentlemen, please rest your sphincters.” -Hedley Lamarr, Blazing Saddles
Report Post »iheartusa
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:58amI have long wanted to know, what the term “middle class” means? Is it how much money you have or it is it how many things you have aquired? What does it mean?? It seems to me to be measured by how much you have. Is it a good thing or a bad thing to be in the middle class? I have worked since I was 12 years old and have not amassed alot of material things, but have had invaluable experiences along my one path of life. I have lived without for a large part of my life monetarily, but I do not base my real self worth on money. What is the real definition of middle class?
Report Post »EP46
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 6:48am@VoteB
Report Post »DOCGREEN is correct in his understanding of what is taking place. Out of one side of his mouth obama says ‘we have to help the middle class’ out of the other side of his mouth he has created the environment, policies, and regulations that are destroying the middle class. He must reduce the middle class to a poverty level in order to ‘control them’. As long as the people of the middle class are self sufficient he cannot create his socialist society. The MIDDLE CLASS is the ENEMY of MARXISTS. Look very closely at who is hurt by these things. The rich are getting richer. The poor are not improving. Only the middle class are feeling the continued erosion of the standard of life they have worked to maintain. Inflation hurts those who are working….decreasing home values hurt those who have worked a lifetime to own a home….loss of jobs hurt those who have always worked…regulations on business and banking hurt the middle class the most. Obama’s goal is to destroy the middle class so there will only be the rich and the poor. Extended benefits to those who do not work only increases the burden on the middle class. Instead of letting business grow jobs and put people to work so they can have self pride and have a future, he is doing everything he can to increase unemployment and make people dependent upon the government. Using politics to destroy America through her economy is what is taking place. If you do not see that perhaps you could closely study the events that are collapsing this nation and the economy. And let us each pray that he does not succeed in bring down the greatest Republic that has ever existed on earth.
Ruler4You
Posted on January 30, 2011 at 9:12pmIt will become VERY important for the government to foment class warfare between the middle class and any other groups it can. It has already tried to use the “rich” against the other ‘classes’ to little effect. But, you can predict what their intentions are by what they are telegraphing in their rhetoric. The “hope” is to “change” so they can steal our freedom.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on January 31, 2011 at 8:20amDoc,
Report Post »Obama knows to have a totalitarian government take over you need s as many people as you can out of work,out of money,and dependent on the government. If you want FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE you have to have a a majority who fears losing their entitlements. And you have to make sure that there are no alternatives for those depending on the government welfare.