Balance of Power

But the president grew irritated when asked whether withering and persistent Republican criticism of his stance prompted a shift in tone.

"We've been entirely consistent ... in terms of how we've approached this," Obama said in response to one question, posed by a reporter for none other than Fox News. "My role has been to say the United States is not going to be a foil for the Iranian government to try to blame what's happening on the streets of Tehran on the CIA or on the White House, that this is an issue that is led by and given voice to the frustrations of the Iranian people."

When it was suggested that Obama's latest remarks sounded a lot like those voiced by John McCain, an unabashed critic of the Iranian regime, the president felt compelled to remind the assembled media who won the 2008 election.

"I think John McCain has genuine passion about many of these international issues. And, you know, I think that all of us share a belief that we want justice to prevail," Obama said. "But only I'm the president of the United States. And I've got responsibilities in making certain that we are continually advancing our national security interests and that we are not used as a tool to be exploited by other countries."

McCain was sounding a bit vindicated when asked about Obama's remarks a short time later, saying, "I'm glad to see that he's moved further towards defending Iranian people's inalienable rights," then rejecting the notion the United States should stay out of internal Iranian affairs.

"I've seen that movie before, and it was during the Cold War, when Ronald Reagan spoke up on behalf of the Polish people and the Czech people," McCain recalled, teeing up a zinger. "The same liberal left elite said, 'Oh, no, you wouldn't want to do that, because that would upset the Russians and it might cause problems for the people in those countries.' After the Berlin wall came down, they all said ... 'You are a beacon of hope and freedom.' "

McCain, as he often reminds us, clearly thinks he's on the right side of history. But asked by our colleague Adam Graham-Silverman whether he thinks Obama is on the wrong side, the Arizona senator replied he had no response.