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Afternoon Thread: Candidates on an Olympic Boycott |
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No matter which major presidential candidate you prefer, your candidate is moving toward supporting a boycott of the opening ceremonies at the Beijing Olympics.
In a statement released by her campaign Monday, the New York senator pointed to recent protests in Tibet; and to the Chinese government's failure to pressure the government of Sudan to end the violence in Darfur.
"These events underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China," said Clinton.
"At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government."
Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Thursday he would not attend the Olympics' opening in Beijing, if he were president, unless China made concessions toward Tibet and the Dalai Lama.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Wednesday called for President Bush to consider a boycott of the opening ceremonies of the summer Olympic games if the Chinese don't take steps on Tibet and Darfur.
Perhaps surprisingly, Obama is the most cautious.
When I first brought up the idea of an Olympic boycott here and at the Agonist a few weeks ago, many people expressed deep skepticism. A boycott, even just of the opening ceremonies, would be a complex action. But if nothing else, it's amazing how quickly so many world leaders have come to embrace or at least consider the idea.
Interestingly, as FP Passport (via PRI) reported yesterday, "if Bush did go, he would be the first U.S. President to ever attend an opening ceremony on foreign soil".
Food for thought…
Democratic leaders are calling on President Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing this summer. Hillary Clinton said Monday that she believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China. "At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government,%u201D Clinton said in a written statement.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several other House lawmakers had previously urged Bush to skip the opening ceremonies. Her opponent for the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama, said recently that he was conflicted about whether the U.S. should fully participate.
The threat of a presidential boycott could be a symbolic slight to China, which takes face and respect for itself very seriously. But it also could do damage to relations with a country that has huge investments in the U.S. and that generates massive exports here.
I say no. Why on earth would President Bush boycott these games? A boycott would be hypocrisy with a capital "H", and I do not mean Herbert. Let's look at the reasons why the nation, and the world are protesting the Chinese Olympic games…
The illegal invasion of Tibet in 1950?
By our standards and time lines, not only did China have the right to invade, they even have 100 years to get out (they have 42 years to get out).
A gluttonous demand on the world's natural resources of energy and building materials?
They are following in our footsteps since the 1930's.
The use and sanction of the use of torture?
That's too easy. The Bush administration has employed the techniques of torture since 9/11. And have either denied the use of torture, or simultaneously defended the need to torture, up to / and including the employment of secret torture camps around the world.
A pollutinous global footprint on the world?
The U.S. are the leaders in pollution for a century now, and have only just now seen the light of their ways (thank you Al).
An assault on personal and individual rights?
Three words: The Patriot act.
Should President Bush stay away in some sort of hypocritical slight on the only developing super power? I say NO. Not only should he go, while he is there, he should apply for residency and run for office. He is their kind of people.
I like the way you think…