Obama: ‘If You Lead a Country ... You Prefer Everybody Just Praise You’

Speaking Saturday in Brisbane, Australia, President Obama admitted he understands why tyrants want to shut down free speech on the Internet: "I promise you, if you lead a country, there are times where you are aggravated with people voicing opinions that seem to think you’re doing something wrong," he said. "You prefer everybody just praise you."

Obama was speaking about America's support for democrats in countries like Burma, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

And so here in Asia and around the world, America supports free and fair elections, because citizens must be free to choose their own leaders -- as in Thailand where we are urging a quick return to inclusive, civilian rule.  We support freedom of assembly, and freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, a free and open Internet, strong civil societies, because the voices of the people must be heard and leaders must be held accountable -- even though it’s uncomfortable sometimes.  I promise you, if you lead a country, there are times where you are aggravated with people voicing opinions that seem to think you’re doing something wrong.  You prefer everybody just praise you.  I understand. But that’s not how societies move forward.