Obama ‘Hesitant’ About U.S. Participation at Beijing Olympics
WASHINGTON — Sen. Barack Obama said he is conflicted about whether the U.S. should be a full participant in this summer’s Olympics in Beijing because of China’s human rights record.
“I am of two minds about this,” the Democratic presidential hopeful said in an interview aired Wednesday on CBS’ “The Early Show.” “On the one hand, I think that what has happened in Tibet, China’s support for the Sudanese government in Darfur, is a real problem.”
Still, Obama said, “I am hesitant to make the Olympics a site of political protest because I think it’s partly about bringing the world together.”
Obama also expressed concern about Chinese trade practices.
“I am a strong believer in free trade, but I think that we have not been very savvy negotiators when it comes to China,” Obama said. “I think they’ve played us. They definitely are stealing our intellectual property, and that has direct consequences in terms of the bottom lines for businesses here in the United States.”
Tibetans frustrated with Chinese rule rioted in the streets of Lhasa on March 14, and protests then spread to other parts of China. The Chinese government says 22 people died in violence; Tibetan exiles say the violence and a harsh crackdown afterward left nearly 140 people dead.
The events called attention to Beijing’s human rights record in the Himalayan region at a time when Chinese leaders had hoped for a peaceful run-up to the Olympics.
On Tuesday, 15 House members urged President Bush to reconsider his decision to attend the Beijing Olympics. Their letter cited the crackdown in Tibet, the Beijing government’s close economic ties with the government of Sudan and recent suppression of religious and human rights advocates.
In February, Hollywood director Steven Spielberg withdrew as an artistic adviser to the Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies over China’s support for the Sudan government.
I think it is typical Obama to stay right in the middle of the road. It provides for adjustment later. That being said, he definately is recognizing some of the major shortcomings of past administrations. We cannot sell out our liberties and our jobs to capitalism. Sometimes we must choose ideals over the almighty dollar. Let all the world come together for the Olympics. We might be able to use the situation to expose what China cannot hide from history forever.
Another time of indecision while he waits for someone to tell him what to do…………another vote of “present”. No one should be surprised by this. He’ll work his way into a decision in baby steps while watching the country to see how they react and if he gets it wrong, ten thousand supporters and newscasters will jump forward with the Obama campaign refrain……”What he REALLY meant to say was……….”
This is a tough decision for Barack Obama he doesnt want to appear to support Chinas behavior in Tibet and he doesnt want to appear weak on China this is a fork in the road and its his decision on which path to take on this issue he cant have it both ways he has to make a decision because these are some of the decisions that you would like to make as president of the United States. Obama 08!
Presidents or president want-to-be’s don’t have the luxury of being hesitant. They must be decisive. You can’t have it both ways so that later on you can say that you were right either way.
Politics and Olympics don’t mix.