Obama Avoids Olympic Boycott Discussions

Political Radar:

Barack Obama doesn't seem to want to talk about the Olympics or Senator Clinton's call for a boycott of the opening ceremonies on August 8, 2008.

At a town hall in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Obama, D-Ill., was asked about U.S. policy toward Tibet and Darfur, especially in light of the forthcoming Olympics in Beijing this summer.

Read the whole story: Political Radar

Comments

[Hare]

10:47 AM on 04/11/2008

Old news, Views of his and hers are the same on this issue but then again...

This story does bring me to the real issue of the Olympic games.

They are a total disgrace this year. First, it was the deadly pollution of Beijin forcing the best of the best to stay away from the games since they don't want to ge sick , contaminated or die of thirst because apparently there is not even reliable water to drink. Second, it was the Tibetian monks and citizens of that vast land protesting but getting CHINATIZE by the communist power that controls them. The total information blackout of deaths and arrest was so swift much the world didn't even have time to blink twice...or did they?
The icing on the cake is this third one, The invisible torch, now you see it, now you don't. That big joke had me laughing this morning when they said on TV that the whole torch visit had no incident and was succcessful. SF couldn't get a glimpse of the idiotic torch and then calling their actions of hiding it on a wearehouse "successful" ? Give me a break. Of course is not like London or Paris where people actually got to touch it ...and blow it off . The whole thing is such a shambles, les't see what scandal happens next in this Olympic nonsense.

[seanosul]

08:16 PM on 04/09/2008

AS a UK resident, let me try and explain Gordon Brown to you. He is a Presbyterian authoritarian prude who lost all credibility because he chickened out of calling an election he himself started to campaign for. He is also a left wing politician that has actually increased taxes for the very poorest in the Country. A kind of reverse Robin Hood. He is the worst elements of George Bush Snr merged with worst elements of Jimmy Carter. The UK government is going to China, the Government will be fully represented. Brown is going to make sure he is at the handover as the games are going to London next and there is no way he is going to allow the Mayor of London to get all the picture credit.

[olandug]

05:46 PM on 04/10/2008

Is this how we do diplomacy, but continuing in the role as bully? Bush tried this tatic for 8 years and look at our mess. Now Obama's wants to take the same masculine role. Haven't we learned that when we push, we are pushed back. Obama has no experience or wisdom and perhaps is a plant by the Arab world to destroy this country. The Islamic world certianly has enough oil money to pull off such a coup.

[mrdontplay]

08:02 PM on 04/09/2008

Boycott the olmpics?

On what grounds?

That they tortured their people the wrong way?

Their indescriminant killing of innocents was coordinated properly?

America is basically a subsidiary of China in terms of balance sheet.

When they fart we better say we like the aroma.

If we boycott the olympics things are going to get ugly.

[AnninCA]

08:14 PM on 04/09/2008

At least Hillary has an opinion. LOL*

You're buying an empty suit.

[Shelly1970]

08:18 PM on 04/09/2008

I voted for Hillary.

Let me tell you. The amount of lies exposed about her lately has made me change my mind.

Everyone is learning who the real empty suit is.

It's not Obama.

If he were an empty suit, he would not be grasping for headlines the way Clinton is here.

That's a sign of cool confidence.

We all know Hillary is not consistent in her ability to stay cool and collected.

[Seattlelite]

02:16 AM on 04/10/2008

AnninCA - you may call it "an opinion" I call it having no opinion when you just go with what happens to be popular at the moment. Reminds me of what she did in regards to Iraq.

[spaceman3838]

07:55 PM on 04/09/2008

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-) If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

[Zhonni]

08:24 PM on 04/09/2008

New Talking Points? Thought so!

What 35year experience does Clinton have? You mean the overly INFLATED RESUME that is coming apart with time?

1) Are we to forget the "FISH TALE-lie" about BOSNIA?
2) Are we to forget that she did NOT HAVE A PLAN B after Feb 5th? The significance you say?
Bush did not plan for the aftermath of the war in Iraq. We are done with leaders who don't or
can't plan for the worst case scenerios.
3) Is it beyond your realm of reasoning to realize that Hillary is not Bill?
4) Why would you attribute her husbands achievement unto her? Isn't that wrong?

I would vote for a woman anyday but I won't be lectured into voting for a woman who can't stand on her own merits. Remember " THE BOYS ARE BEATING UP ON THE GIRL"? Hillary is a girl? I didn't realize that. You know there is a case waiting for the Clintons in a California court and it is not going to go away. I digress.

[JavaCityGal]

10:10 PM on 04/09/2008

All those "you might be an idiot" lines -- you think you're being cute, but between that and your single block of barely legible text, not many will have the motivation to try to decipher your tangle of a post.

[Zhonni]

07:42 PM on 04/09/2008

This boycott business is really NONSENSE!

1) Did our eyes just open to the injustice in Tibet?
2) How many times has the Tibetan leader visited our country in the past?
3) What did we do about his concerns?

The Olympics is an apolitical event and needs to remain so. You know, they might as well have OLIVE BRANCHES going through those interlocking circles. This and the Soccer woeld cup are the only two occasions when warring countries get to paticipate without shooting at each other. It is a time to put differences aside and entertain the world. WE HAVE THE REST OF THE YEAR TO PRESSURE THE CHINESE. Using the Olympics as a political football is what is spineless and distasteful.

[harriscrl3]

07:38 PM on 04/09/2008

Its NOT smart to do. we are BROKE thanks to George W Bush. You dont anger the country that you OWE HUGE SUMS of money to. This is what the Villiage Idiot has done to this country we are POWERLESS. Countries can treat us like crap and we cant do anything cause we OWE them our children's future. Petraeous can't get us out of Iraq we are stuck there who do you think is going to loan us the money to continue our this diastrous war.

If Bush has an ounce of brain he would take his sorry self and go to that Opening ceremony.

Carol

[HaveyouPerspective]

07:37 PM on 04/09/2008

Anyone who has a grain of knowledge about Chinese culture and Chinese politics knows that you do not disparage or rebuke the Chinese publicly. To do so does not allow the Chinese to save face, which is paramount in the culture (http://www.chinese-forums.com/archive/index.php/t-2509.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_(social_custom)).

Obama understands this infinitely better than the Clown in Chief we have now and is exercising excellent judgment in not jumping on the band wagon, which is the obvious and easy thing to do from the western perspective. And it would be precisely the wrong thing. Notice how the Chinese stance gets more firmly entrenched the more flak they get? This is not a coincidence. Now they are talking about "severely dealing with demonstrators" in Tibet (as though they have not already) and claiming the Dalai Lama is a terrorist leader. This seems foolish to those in the US, but it is the Chinese perspective that dictates this response and it will only get worse if we try to force their hand.

Additionally, China is in fact lending the US huge sums of money to finance the war in Iraq, and holds a very favorable position with the US in trade. Added together- the prudent thing is to go easy on the Chinese publicly, and bring some heat in private.

This requires diplomacy; something the current administration has none of, and Clinton only in short supply. She doesn't get it.

[Binea]

07:20 PM on 04/09/2008

Have we ever boycoted the olympics before ? I guess I should go look it up.

[presto]

07:43 PM on 04/09/2008

Yes.

[JakeEasy]

07:16 PM on 04/09/2008

The Obama supporter consensus in this tread avoids the issue of the article. Using the old Texas side step, they argue the merits of a boycott. That would be find if Barack had said he didn't think a boycott would work.

But he didn't. He is avoiding an issue because it wouldn't be safe. He has spent his short career moving ahead by playing it safe. If he thinks a boycott wouldn't work, why doesn't he say so. Because that would cost him the fawning support of the extreme left and many of his celebrity supporters.

[AnninCA]

07:22 PM on 04/09/2008

He really does avoid. It's interesting that once again, Hillary differs from Bill's opinion.

We're starting to see the woman in the "pantsuits." *haha

[JavaCityGal]

08:20 PM on 04/09/2008

Yeah, your woman is advocating boycotting the Olympics and then what will she do when China stops financially bailing us out, hmmm? THINK, a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[JavaCityGal]

08:19 PM on 04/09/2008

Perhaps you need this spelled out for you. China is financially propping up our sorry butts and a boycott would be a public slap in the face to them. What will happen to our economy if China stops bailing us out, hmmm? This is a delicate issue, not one that easily fits into a 10 second sound bite. Do some thinking about the issue before posting or you make yourself look foolish.

[DocJerome]

07:01 PM on 04/09/2008

Calling for a nonsensical and ultimately ineffective boycott of the olympic opening ceremony is not exercising leadership, it is political grandstanding. If you really want to initiate an effective boycott, then boycott all goods (imports) from China. I am willing to say with 100% surety, that no one has the political will to do this, nor does the American public have the will to execute such an act of moral virtue over their perceived right to have their goods sold to them at a cheap price.

That's right folks, we are partly to blame for China's audacity and our dying economy. They are not separate and apart from one another. Tell Sen. Clinton the boldly propose this, and see what happens.

[AnninCA]

07:23 PM on 04/09/2008

It is THE major story of the day.

He's just chicken.

[JavaCityGal]

08:21 PM on 04/09/2008

And you are just typing brainless as usual.

[Shelly1970]

08:36 PM on 04/09/2008

Yeah, this story is HUGE!

*eyes rolling*

:)

Next.

[kipmartin]

06:52 PM on 04/09/2008

i'm thinking Obama is just not into using this as a political moment. personally, i dont think all boycotts work. someone mentioned Rosa Parks and MLK--they werent boycotters, they engaged in civil disobedience--big difference. boycotts DONT work as well, otherwise Cuba would be the casino capital of the western hemisphere, North Korea would be making our Nike gear, and gas would be $.40 a gallon.

i DO think bringing the western media and our values into that country may be more productive.

so let Hillary turn her boycott into a self-serving promotion. Obama may think there are more important tyings than being pissy about an international tradition.

[AnninCA]

08:15 PM on 04/09/2008

You think you might want to elect someone with a mind of his own. Is he waiting for the polls to come in?

[Shelly1970]

08:22 PM on 04/09/2008

Everyone knows who the poll-driven candidate is.

It's not Obama.

:)

[Seattlelite]

06:48 PM on 04/09/2008

So our current President and a current candidate (Hillary) running for President who invaded another country telling China how they should treat people? I think it's going to be a very long time before a US President is able to tell any country what their policies should be in regards to human rights. That saying you should practice what you preach comes to mind. I think it was very wise that Sen. Obama not make himself look like a hypocrite.

[NexusSix]

06:38 PM on 04/09/2008

I thought Obama supporters were supposed to be the optimists and not CYNICS. Most of the responses of Obama backers on his stance (or lack of it) seems to be that boycotts don't work. Tell that to Ghandi, Rosa Parks or MLK. People around the world are expressing their anger and frustration over the Chinese govt and we have a rare opportunity to pressure our leaders to represent our voice. A number of European leaders had already expressed their opinion about boycotting the opening ceremonies. That sends a powerful symbolic message. It may not significantly change China's position, but it certainly taints the prestige of the Olympic events in the eyes of the world. It will become an issue, people will talk about it. If anything, people will become more aware or interested of the situation regarding Tibet, Darfur, or Myanmar. If more people are aware then it's much more likely that things will change. I'm not certain that it will, that's why they call it HOPE. Obama supporters should be acquainted with that notion, especially since it's written on their signs.

[mponti]

06:51 PM on 04/09/2008

If the Clintons feel so strongly about Tibet, what did they do during their 8 years in office? China staked its claim on Tibet in 1950.

[NexusSix]

07:15 PM on 04/09/2008

I wasn't talking about the Clintons. Read my post. I did not mention Hillary, Bill, or Chelsea. I don't know why you even brought them up. I was talking about the right of the people protesting these events and the responsibility of their leaders to support them. Clearly, the Chinese govts policies have angered a lot of people and their leaders have a democratic responsibility to represent these voices. The Olympics is a very visible event in terms of viewers and media coverage. People want to make an impact. Why deny them this chance by claiming that it will not affect anything.

[castrochavez08]

06:55 PM on 04/09/2008

Yes NexusSix.

Watching the gyrations, back tracking, rationalizing and pure bullshit on display here from the Obamanistas is enough to make a person sick.

I agree that Hillary Clinton is in no position to criticize China, and her right wing views are irrelevant. She is unelectable and dangerous.

Why is Obama so cowardly that he can't make just one clear statement that China is wrong on Tibet?

The simple truth that Obama is ever so slightly better than Hillary Clinton is not sufficient reason to blindly follow him like a bunch of lemmings.

This guy is proving to be a triangulating political leopard who can dodge the truth every bit as well as Hillary does.

His followers commenting here, justifying his actions are fools. Or they are Obama plants who think that everyone here is one.

Barrack stand up and say one clear thing about China killing, enslaving, torturing and imprisoning Tibetans, please. What is wrong with you?

[Seattlelite]

07:10 PM on 04/09/2008

castrochavezo8 - Sen. Obama has vices his views of China's human rights. What he's not said anything about is rather Bush should attend the opening ceremony and being the smart man he is I doubt he will have anything to say in regards to what Bush should or should not do, why would he.

[Seattlelite]

06:38 PM on 04/09/2008

Head line --- Bush snubs China by not going to China for Olympics Opening Cermony, NEXT DAY Headline -- China calls in US debt.

[Seattlelite]

06:32 PM on 04/09/2008

My husband has a saying, pick your battles carefully and only go to battle when you know you can win.

What exactly does Sen. Obama have to gain by picking a battle with China over the Olympics? And what exactly is going to change in China just because our President doesn’t show up for the opening ceremony? It’s just these type stupid meaningless actions that have caused us to lose our standing in world. If we really wanted to make a stand against China’s policies on human rights; stop taking their money and stop trading with them. Anything short of these measures they couldn’t care less about.

Sen. Obama is not the President of USA (yet) and he has no influence in rather Bush goes to China or not. So I ask again, what does he have to gain by pissing off China at this point? Hillary has taken the position to piss China off, once again quickly jumping on the “what’s popular train”, fine but who do you think will have a better chance to start on a good foot with China?

[rojo7449]

07:06 PM on 04/09/2008

That's your husband's saying, eh?

[JavaCityGal]

08:39 PM on 04/09/2008

"Hillary has taken the position to piss China off, once again quickly jumping on the "what"s popular train", fine but who do you think will have a better chance to start on a good foot with China?"

That's an excellent point. HIlary is once again jumping on the bandwagon without thinking about the issue and the consequences, just like she did with Iraq.