President Obama spoke before the United Nations General Assembly this morning in New York. He began and ended his speech speaking of Chris Stevens, Ambassador to Libya, who was killed in the recent violence at the embassy in that country.

He told the world’s delegates gathered there that Stevens embodied the best of America and pointed out that the attacks on American civilians in Benghazi was an attack on America, and he went further to say that the assault on America was an “assault on the very ideals that the United Nations was founded.”

While the president said that he condemned the violence that has burst forth from various cities in the muslim world, he condemned the film that was the spark that set off the demonstrations. While he condemned the film’s message he defended America’s free speech.

Obama made it perfectly clear that the United States had nothing to do with the film that he called “crude and disgusting,” saying it was an insult not only to the Muslims but to America itself, but also pointed out that our constitution protected the right to free speech.

He told all in attendance, “Here in the United States, countless publications provoke offense. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs. As President of our country and Commander-in-Chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day —- and I will always defend their right to do so.” The statement garnered both laughter and applause.

Voicing that he knew that not all countries “share this particular understanding of the protection of free speech.” He went on to say, “But in 2012, at a time when anyone with a cell phone can spread offensive views around the world with the click of a button, the notion that we can control the flow of information is obsolete. The question, then, is how do we respond?”

Obama related that the violence that is tolerated in the Islamic world against the United States and the west inevitably cannot be contained and ends in violence against those who tolerate it. Obama invoked Gandhi when he said it was “time to heed the words of Gandhi: “Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.” He went on to say, “Together, we must work towards a world where we are strengthened by our differences, and not defined by them. That is what America embodies, that’s the vision we will support.”

On Syria the president said, “In Syria, the future must not belong to a dictator who massacres his people. If there is a cause that cries out for protest in the world today, peaceful protest, it is a regime that tortures children and shoots rockets at apartment buildings.” He said tha the U.N. must stand with the people who believe in a differnet vision.

He told Iran that the United States wanted to resolve the nuclear issue with diplomacy saying that “there is still time and space to do so,” but also said that “time was not unlimited.” He told the diplomats gathered that the “United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

The president also called for a peace between Palistine and Israel, stating, the future must not belong to those who turn their backs on a prospect of peace. Let us leave behind those who thrive on conflict, those who reject the right of Israel to exist. The road is hard, but the destination is clear — a secure, Jewish state of Israel and an independent, prosperous Palestine.

President Obama’s speech was well recieved at the United Nations, but not so much in Republican circles, one of Romney’s senior advisors, Dan Senor, said “nothing new” in the speech, saying it was a version of what Obama said before.

In an exclusive interview with Newsmax TV, Former contendor for the Republican nomination said, “First of all, it’s unfortunate that the president, instead of standing up for free speech, ends up once again apologizing for what was an excuse [to attack American interests].” Gingrich went on to say, “He sent exactly the wrong signal.”