September 1, 2013 --

Critics of the Egyptian military's overthrow of the Morsi government point to the fact that Mohamed Morsi was elected president of Egypt by democratic vote. The critics, however, do not mention President Obama's statement, in his June 4, 2009 Cairo address that there is more to democracy than a democratic election. LPR here quotes from the president's Cairo comments on democracy:

"[T]here are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy."

LPR wonders if the president's June 4, 2009 observations on "true democracy" were intended as a lecture to the Muslin Brotherhood.

LPR would ask today's critics of the Egyptian military if they can state, without equivocation, that the Morsi government fulfilled, in all aspects, President Obama's test of "true democracy."

By the way -- in his Cairo address, President Obama also declared: "The richness of religious diversity must be upheld--whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or Copts in Egypt."

As of August 29, LPR is unaware of any comment from the president on attacks on Coptic Christians and the burning of their churches, apparently by Islamist forces.