Obama Tweets Message Against Scottish Independence Ahead Of Vote

Obama Tweets Message Against Scottish Independence Ahead Of Vote

President Barack Obama reiterated his stance against Scottish independence with a tweet on Wednesday.

Obama said he hopes the UK remains "strong, robust and united." The Scottish independence vote takes place Thursday, Sept. 18.

Obama first commented on the vote in June.

"We obviously have a deep interest in making sure that one of the closest allies that we will ever have remains strong, robust, united, and an effective partner," Obama told reporters after the G7 summit. "But ultimately these are decisions that are to be made by the folks there."

Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the vote is a "decision for the people of Scotland to make," but echoed Obama's comments.

"I will certainly respect their right to cast their own ballot without interference from people on the outside," Earnest said. "But, you know, as the president himself said, we have an interest in seeing the United Kingdom remain strong, robust, united and an effective partner."

Former President Bill Clinton has also spoken out against Scottish independence, saying he hopes "the Scots will inspire the world with a high turnout and a powerful message of both identity and inclusion."

Before You Go

No: Barack Obama
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The American electorate may have gone off their president after five and a half years in office but Barack Obama still enjoys 2008 levels of popularity in the UK. People from the No Campaign probably fainted when Obama said "the key word is 'united'" when asked about Scotland.
Yes: Sir Sean Connery
Danny Lawson/PA Archive
Austin Powers may be against independence but James Bond isn't. Sir Sean has told his fellow Scots that independence "is too good an opportunity to miss". He also said the potential boosts to the film and creative industries are "particularly exciting".
No: Hillary Clinton
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"I would hate to have you lose Scotland," the potential next American president told Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight. "I hope that it doesn't happen but I don't have a vote in Scotland. But I would hope it doesn't happen." She added: "I would think it would be a loss for both sides but, again, I don't have a vote."
Yes: Brian Cox (Not That One)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The face of BBC science has not declared for or against Scottish independence but his namesake, actor Brian Cox is firmly in favour of it.He has provided the voice of Duggy Dog, an animated Highland Terrier created by the Yes campaign who aims to "sniff out fact from fiction" in the independence debate.
No: David Bowie
Martin Rickett/PA Wire
Since dabbling in right-wing politics in the 1970s, Bowie's views appear to have mulled somewhat.When Kate Moss collected his BRIT award earlier this year, she read a statement on behalf that asked Scotland to "stay with us".The statement said: "In Japanese myth the rabbits from my old costume that Kate's wearing live on the moon. Kate comes from Venus and I from Mars, so that's nice. I'm completely delighted to have a Brit for being the best male, but I am, aren't I Kate? I think it's a great way to end the day. Thank you very, very much and Scotland - stay with us."
Yes: Alan Cumming
Andy Kropa /Invision/AP
This Scot is firmly pro-independence. So much so, the New York-based actor bought a flat in Edinburgh last year so he would be able to vote in September's referendum. Unfortunately, it was deemed not to be his "main address" and, by extension, he will not be able to vote.
No: JK Rowling
Ian West/PA Wire
JK Rowling, who wrote her first Harry Potter book while living in Edinburgh and still lives in the Scottish capital, has given £1 million to defeat Alex Salmond.She wrote she was "no fan of the Westminster government".She added: "The simple truth is that Scotland is subject to the same 21st century pressures as the rest of the world. The more I listen to the Yes campaign, the more I worry about its minimisation and even denial of risks."A Twitter account digested this and reflected: "What a #bitch after we gave her shelter in our city when she was a single mum."
Yes: Billy Bragg
Jonathan Short/Invision/AP
Always outspoken, Bragg's take on Scottish independence is that it would be as good for his native England as it would for north of the border. The left-winger said: "Scottish independence throws up the possibility of a more progressive England. We won’t be British any more, we’ll be English."
No: The BBC, According To Protestors
Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
On Sunday, 2,000 people gathered outside BBC Scotland's Glasgow headquarters to protest what they saw as its pro-union stance.A couple who attended the protest said: "The BBC is paid for by all of us whether Yes or No but it doesn’t reflect both sides of the campaign. They don't cover stories that damage No, but are always headlining stories against Yes."
No...ish: Pope Francis
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pope Francis voiced concerns about Scottish independence - but his comments were non-commital to the point where both the yes and no camps welcomed them.Speaking about secession movements across the world, the infallable representative of God on earth said countries breaking away from larger states should be considered on a "case-by-case basis".He acknowledged the case was "clear" in in some cases but listed Scotland as one of the cases where "I ask myself it is so clear".He said: "Let's think of the former Yugoslavia. Obviously, there are nations with cultures so different that couldn't even be stuck together with glue."The Yugoslavian case is very clear, but I ask myself if it is so clear in other cases - Scotland, Padania, Catalunya."No campaigners said the Pope was "right to warn about the impact of division" while No campaigners said: "As His Holiness says, these matters should be looked at on a case-by-case basis."
Yes: Glasgow's Sunday Herald
Sunday Herald
The Sunday Herald became the first Scottish paper to back the yes campaign in May with this front cover. It wrote: "We understand the past, as best we can, and guess at the future. But history is as nothing to the lives of the children being born now, this morning, in the cities, towns and villages of this country."On their behalf, we assert a claim to a better, more decent, more just future in which a country's governments will be ruled always by the decisions of its citizens.''
Yes. No. Wait, What?: Elijah Wood
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sir Sean appeared to win an ally when Lord of The Rings actor Elijah Wood said Scotland should "fucking go for it" with independence.But he later backtracked, claiming he had misunderstood the question he was asked at the Edinburgh Film Festival. Speaking to the Scotsman, he said: "You know, in truth, I thought they were talking about independent cinema. I mean, it’s a film festival.”

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