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Change the Subject 101: Clinton and the Olympic Boycott

April 07, 2008 1:36 PM

A bold PR move by the Clinton campaign. Desperate to change the subject from their demoted strategist Mark Penn, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY -- following in the footsteps of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. -- is calling for President George W. Bush to boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing (though not for an overall boycott of the Olympics by athletes and the U.S. government in general.)

ABC News' Eloise Harper reported this news just a few minutes ago, following a Clinton campaign leak to cyber-giant Matthew Drudge.

Members of the House have called for the president to personally boycott attending the games -- though not for the U.S. to boycott the games.

We talked about the Olympic ceremony boycott debate last month after hearing a debate on NPR between a human rights activist and an official of the International Olympic Committee about this notion.

Human rights attorney David Kilgour, a former Canadian member of parliament, originally had supported a complete boycott because of China's abysmal record on human rights. But now he feels that the games are bringing greater scrutiny to that record -- in Tibet, Darfur, with the Falun Gong and more generally -- so he's instead calling for a boycott of the opening ceremony by government officials. Now is the time to exert some pressure, he said.

Former U.S. rower and IOC member Anita DeFrantz — who missed the 1980 Moscow games after then-President Jimmy Carter pulled out the U.S. to protest the USSR invasion of Afghanistan — argued such a boycott wouldn't work.

What do you think the president should do?

- jpt

April 7, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (57)

User Comments

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I would rather take my chances with Obama...who you say has no experience...but has (it is a proven fact) done and passed more bills (important bills, bills for the poor and middle class people) then Hillary in the 35 years she says she has served. Then to vote Hillary into office. I will take my chances. Hillary people are just voting for her because she has them fooled with her "experience". She does have experience.. experience in how to lie...and how to deceive the people of the US. Oh wait... sounds like she has that one down.

Posted by: Becky | Apr 7, 2008 3:59:13 PM

Jockman,
You sound like your worried that Hillary might beat you in a bowling match.
========================================
Obama bowled 37!
Obama will be lucky to get 37% in Pennsylvania.
========================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 7, 2008 3:37:29 PM

It's really funny to watch the democrats sniping at each other over which candidate is more worthless, Obama or Hillary. meanwhile, we'll get us four more yeas of Bush policy via his grumpy new BFF, John W McBush, whose legacy will be to introduce early bird specials in the white house cafeteria along with a maverick program to finally keep those damn kids off your lawn. And oh yeah, another guaranteed 100 years of vigilance for the military-industrial complx. Way to go. War is peace.

Posted by: BW | Apr 7, 2008 3:37:17 PM

Vicki,
You are joined by thousands of teachers across the nation that recognize that Hillary Clinton is their only hope to get relief from the insanity of "No Child Left Behind"
========================================
Hillary stands up for teachers!
Hillary stands up for all voters!
========================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 7, 2008 3:34:41 PM

Hell yes, keep the politicians away from sports, let's keep it noble and pure and steroid free, because a boycott would mess up many a fine and well deserved endorsement of those fine products like track shoes that the chinese happily provide for us. If you want to be a good American, get your ass down to the nearest Walmart Supercenter and pitch in by buying some crap. God bless the USA!

Posted by: BW | Apr 7, 2008 3:31:32 PM

Fact is, we are so much indebted to China that it ties our hands politically where China is concerned. It would be unwise and childish to boycott the Olympic ceremony to embarrass China; besides, it would make it difficult to talk to or solicit help in the future from China. I think Bush has no choice here but to appease. You simply do not bite the hand that feeds you!

Posted by: TK | Apr 7, 2008 3:25:39 PM

Richard,
The state legislatures of Michigan and Florida disenfranchised and abandoned their own constituents.
I guess we should also bail out everyone with an adjustable rate loan too since that can't be their fault either. Someone made them take the house and the payments.
Michael
"The sheer force of the event will do more than any boycott to move China along the path to a better human rights record"?
Don't take that to Vegas.
China wants to show that in spite of its human rights record it has the world's moral approval.
A better and much more effective boycott would be a consumer boycott on Chinese made products. But that's too much trouble . . . and the inconvenience!
I'm fine with an opening ceremony boycott. A lot of people are going to think we should have stayed home when China wins a gang of medals.

Posted by: John Teal | Apr 7, 2008 3:10:25 PM

At this point, Hillary could dye her hair day glow yellow and run around naked on the white house lawn. That would not change the fact that she can't manage a campaign and can't seem to figure out how to tell the truth.

Posted by: erica | Apr 7, 2008 3:07:11 PM

Jake Trapper,
What are trying to say? Hillary is an experienced politician?

I have news for you, Obama is an experienced politician.

Of course Hillary is moving on. She has to try to stay two steps ahead of an incredibly hostile media, while Obama continues on a honeymoon.
========================================
Hillary stands up for all voters!
Meanwhile, Obama is politically immature!
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Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 7, 2008 3:02:33 PM

For the U.S. to boycott the olympics because of perceived Chinese torture is hypocritical to say the least. How can we stand in judgement while our own leaders keep prisoners in jail without benefit of due process? It isn't up to the candidates to decide. George W. Bush is still president, and he needs to get some backbone.

Posted by: grammy | Apr 7, 2008 3:02:22 PM

Note to Hillary and all the other politicians....It should be illegal for you to even speak about sports!GO AWAY!We don't care about your political posturing to make yourself look relevant in an area you have no business interfering with, while pandering to the minority of malcontents who drive the daily media doom and gloom. .Leave the athletes and sports alone.To most ,the olympics are an opportunity for the best to compete and the rest to admire and enjoy.Let us enjoy the Olympics, which we are only treated to every 4 years,and you can go back to telling the populace how bad off we all are and how much we need you to rescue us!

Posted by: jockman | Apr 7, 2008 3:01:07 PM

There have been so many slips and "boneheaded mistakes" by Obama. So many lies and things that could have been followed up on and drummed into us daily . If you look at the blog listing on this site it's all about Hillary, all the time, and all negative. If she does something positive, it's always spun as inauthentic, a pr move, a supporter with a hidden motive. Obama is always genuine and his motives are always pure. He has gotten a giant free pass, anyone can see that. This blog could easily still be talking about Rev. Wright under hush orders now in the $1.6 million "retirement" home that Obama and his church built. Or it could be talking about Rezko and the phony loan that got Obama his house. Or so, so, many other things. Free pass for Obama makes us all losers. He is an inexperienced, unknown who is being given nothing but pillows by the media.
Vote No on Fawning Media. Vote No on Obama!

Posted by: hopesprings52 | Apr 7, 2008 2:58:21 PM

We the United States should learn from our past mistakes and keep quite, offer no opinion, do not boygott anything and just go about our business of running our country and finding solutions to our issues.

RW

Posted by: Richard | Apr 7, 2008 2:56:32 PM

No wonder Penn stayed so long. Is this really the best her new "team" can come up with?


Stick to gas prices, job creation and domestic issues. That's what people in the remaining states care about.

Also don't abandon Florida and Michigan voters. Someone needs to stick up for them.

Posted by: sherr | Apr 7, 2008 2:54:46 PM

Grandstanding.

Her husband campaigned heavily in opposition to Bush Senior's China policy. Yet, under his presidency, the 'made in China' age began in ernst.

Since she makes much to do about her vast influence on Bill's tenure, she must have agreed with the Chinese free trade shift of policy. Some might call this hypocrisy.


You can look it up.

Posted by: Surelock Homes | Apr 7, 2008 2:53:34 PM


Hillary you better concetrate on
your fundraising which is
continuing to be anemic.

Whether one boycott or not, this
will not change China's stand!

By the way why not call on boycotting
g borrowing money from them!

Posted by: Peace | Apr 7, 2008 2:50:53 PM

Some people’s fascination with and support of Hilary Clinton, despite all her lies and “mis-spoke” incidents is quite mystifying, bordering on blind acceptance. This is not about gender or some media conspiracy as some people try to make it out to be, but rather, it is about trust and credibility, and the scarcity of truth in Hilary’s statements.

Posted by: Realist | Apr 7, 2008 2:49:46 PM

Hillary's only talking about the China Olympic boycott as a political pr move?
This blog is just a steady diet of daily Hillary bashing, a non-stop barrage of free negative advertising for Obama. Vote No on Media Fawning. Vote No on Obama!

Posted by: hopesprings52 | Apr 7, 2008 2:44:59 PM

I think this whole olympics thing calls for a really futile gesture on our part. Let's show those damn chinese that they can't lock people up and torture them without even charging them for a crime. Let's show China that it's time to get serious about human rights and get out of guantanamo. oops, wait, that us. never mind

Posted by: BW | Apr 7, 2008 2:43:07 PM

maybe we should be boycotting "made in china" products, instead of asking our politicians to skip a ceremony...

Posted by: JonathanR | Apr 7, 2008 2:42:36 PM

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