WASHINGTON — In dueling holiday addresses, President Barack Obama appealed for public support of his domestic programs and Sen. John McCain said Americans should side with Iranian election protesters.
The 2008 rivals for the White House both cited the spirit of the nation’s founders in their radio and Internet broadcasts Saturday.
Obama said an “unyielding spirit is what defines us as Americans” and led people during the nation’s history to explore the West, persevere during the Depression and build a robust industrial economy. “That is the spirit we are called to show once more,” he said.
McCain, R-Ariz., said the U.S. has a moral obligation to publicly denounce the Iranian government and support Iranians who feel cheated by the election. “Today, we stand with the millions of Iranians who brave batons, imprisonment and gunfire to have their voices heard and their votes counted,” he said.
