UPDATE, April 12, 2008: Bush unlikely to boycott Olympics
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Barack Obama is following Hillary's lead. He, too, wants President Bush to be a no-show at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing.
LEVITTOWN, Pa. -- Barack Obama joined Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday in calling for President Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Clinton had commended British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for announcing that he will skip the August ceremonies in China's capital, and called on Obama and likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain to join her in urging Bush to do the same.
Brown continues to insist that he never intended to be at the opening ceremony. His absence supposedly is not a political statement or connected to a boycott.
In effect, Hillary is commending Brown for his schedule that never included an appearance in Beijing for the opening ceremony in the first place.
Obama did later in the day; his campaign issued a statement in which, for the first time, he urged Bush to boycott the festivities.
...Obama said a boycott "should be firmly on the table," but that a decision should be made closer to the Games.
"If the Chinese do not take steps to help stop the genocide in Darfur and to respect the dignity, security and human rights of the Tibetan people, then the president should boycott the opening ceremonies," he said. "As I have communicated in public and to the president, it is past time for China to respect the human rights of the Tibetan people, to allow foreign journalists and diplomats access to the region, and to engage the Dalai Lama in meaningful talks about the future of Tibet."
Obama previously had said he was conflicted about U.S. participation, but that "there should be consequences" for China if it does not take steps to respect rights and freedoms in Tibet.
Obama seems to be playing catch-up with Hillary. He had to issue a statement after she was making headlines on the matter.
I think it's weird that Obama wants to talk to tyrants and terrorists unconditionally but he thinks going to China for the opening ceremony of the Olympics may be inappropriate.
He's concerned about human rights yet he said the war that freed the Iraqis from Saddam Hussein's torture and brutality was "dumb."
I'll say what I've said before:
Why has this opening ceremony taken on such importance?
Why has attendance become a sort of test of a leader's support for "basic human freedoms"?
That makes no sense to me. Bush has spent his tenure in office leading the fight for freedom; and the Dems have led persistent attacks against his efforts.
The opening ceremony, a few hours-- That's what matters. That's everything.
Of course, attendance at the games themselves and the closing ceremony wouldn't be a problem at all. For some reason, that wouldn't send the wrong message to the Chinese.
That's ridiculous.
This sudden concern about conditions in China ticks me off. What do Obama and Hillary think has been going on in China for DECADES under this oppressive communist regime?
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