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Obama Says Bush Should Boycott Olympics If....

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April 09, 2008 7:02 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: In his strongest language to date about the Olympics, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said that President Bush should boycott the opening ceremonies of if the Chinese do not take steps to stop the genocide in Darfur and respect the human rights of Tibetan people.

Regarding the full Olympic games this summer, Obama says a decision to boycott the opening ceremonies would be on the table but should be made close to the start of the games.

"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 said in a statement.

The Democratic presidential frontrunner had seemed to want to avoid talking about the Olympics and Sen. Hillary Clinton's call for a boycott of the Olympics opening ceremonies on August 8, 2008. The junior Senator from Illinois has a particularly tricky balancing act when it comes to the subject of the Olympics: Chicago is vying to host the 2016 games and one of Obama's top campaign advisors and close friends, Valerie Jarrett, is the vice chair of Chicago's bid committee.

Here is Obama's full statement:

"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. 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. I am also deeply concerned about China's failure to support efforts to halt the genocide in Darfur. Regarding the Beijing Olympics this summer, a boycott of the opening ceremonies should be firmly on the table, but this decision should be made closer to the Games."

April 9, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (239)

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HILLARY AND BILL HAVE DAMAGED THIS COUNTRY FAR WORSE THAN ANY OTHER FIRST COUPLE IN THE AMERICAN HISTORY!

MONICA LEWINSKY
WHITEWATER
SEXUAL HARRASSMENTS CHARGES AGAINST BILL
RAIDING THE WHITE HOUSE
REFUSING TO TAKE OSAMA BIN LADIN
NAFTA
IRAQ WAR VOTE
COLOMBIA FREE TRADE
TATA CONSULTATIONS-OUTSOURCING AMERICAN JOBS
MIDDLE-EASTERN GOVERNMENT SHADY DEALS
CAYMEN ISLAND OFF-SHORE INVESTMENTS

WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANYONE BE STUPID ENOUGH TO REWARD THEM WITH 4 MORE YEARS?

Posted by: JORDAN | Apr 9, 2008 7:40:54 PM

This is just too funny. After sensing that what he said doesn't look good (actually, looks really weak and reflects lack of conviction), he comes back two hours later to amend his statement.
After first saying that we shouldn't offen "our banker", he retracts, changes his mind, then acts like he is the really thoughtful one here.
This guy looks worse and worse every day.
To the person pointing out the fact that HRC is going to lose, yes, most of us know that. But that still does not change the fact that the democratic candidate, BO, is weak, unsure of himself and his positions, and lacks experience and courage. It's easy to give speeches with no real WORLD impact. But when confronted with a major challenge, how to handle relations with the Chinese, he has proven himself to fold like a deck of cards.

In other news, a certain Republican claims that HRC is a viable Commander in Chief while BO certainly is not.
In other news, Edwards' wife endorses HRC's health care plan (give it 2 months and BO will also switch over to HRC policies, which seems to be his pattern)

Posted by: JA | Apr 9, 2008 7:44:08 PM

He sounds like all the other presidents, tring to tell other countries what to do. Thats whats got us into the mess we are in today.

Posted by: outlaw104 | Apr 9, 2008 7:44:41 PM

Looks Obama's surrogates are either they are too naive to believe he can win W.H....

or they are just purely Clinton-haters....

Posted by: True Truth | Apr 9, 2008 7:44:48 PM

There you go!! That wasn't so hard, was it???-----------------------------------------I wil forgive your this time but TRY TO MAKE FASTER DECISIONS NEXT TIME, OK!!!

Next time, don't wait for other couragious leaders like Sen Clinton to make a pronouncement ahead of you.

Posted by: politicsIsdirty | Apr 9, 2008 7:46:05 PM

JOCK59801-

don't go acting so righteous!

I've read you blogs and you come across more hateful and divisive everytime. don't go trying to reprimend anyone when you're doing the same thing...silly.

Posted by: jj | Apr 9, 2008 7:46:46 PM

politics is dirty-

Hillary waited for Nancy Pelosi...the TRUE MOST POWERFUL WOMAN IN THE FREE WORLD...don't go acting like Hillary is this trailblazer...she only called for a boycott when her sh-t hit the fan!

Posted by: stacy | Apr 9, 2008 7:48:51 PM

The Truth:

The junior Senator from Illinois has a particularly tricky balancing act when it comes to the subject of the Olympics: Chicago is vying to host the 2016 games and one of Obama's top campaign advisors and close friends, Valerie Jarrett, is the vice chair of Chicago's bid committee."

Principles out the window when your friends (Rezko, Wright, Ayers, now Jarrett) are involved.

Truly a disappointment.

Posted by: JA | Apr 9, 2008 7:48:57 PM


Obama’s supporters would cover the world with smoke and mirrors to try and make Barack Hussein Obama look good, regardless of all his lies and ties to radical anti-Americans. Obama could butcher a kitten on the White House lawn and his followers would try to make it look like a good thing.

I imagine some of the people who have already voted for Obama would like to change their votes! Obama, along with Dean and Pelosi, are destroying the Democratic Party. They say we have 48 states … not 50.

Hillary '08!

Posted by: CONCERNED | Apr 9, 2008 7:49:55 PM

jj - How am I hateful or divisive? I have never called anyone stupid on here, and I defend both candidates.

Posted by: jock59801 | Apr 9, 2008 7:50:03 PM

He plays follow the LEADER once again. What a coward !

Posted by: catherine in nm | Apr 9, 2008 7:50:19 PM

JA-

WRONG! You are giving Hillary too much credit...tell me, how do you defend a woman who wrecklessly voted and sent american soldiers into a senseless war.

How do you defend a woman who claims she has the experience to be Commander-in-chief when she was too lazy to read any intelligence on a war she was voting to start.

How do you defend a woman who claimed to be against NAFTA, only to get caught
with her pants down...and it turned out she actually lobbied for it.

HILLARY GETS CAUGHT WITH HER PANTS DOWN and you want to reward her with giving her the presidency...what's the matter with you?

Posted by: megan | Apr 9, 2008 7:53:43 PM

"Hillary waited for Nancy Pelosi...the TRUE MOST POWERFUL WOMAN IN THE FREE WORLD...don't go acting like Hillary is this trailblazer...she only called for a boycott when her sh-t hit the fan!"

First of all Sen Clinton doesn't always agree with Rep Pelosi.

Second if let us say for the sake of argument, Sen Clinton waited for Rep Pelosi then Sen Obama waited both Sen Clinton and Sen Pelosi before making a decision?

Posted by: politicsIsdirty | Apr 9, 2008 7:56:15 PM

Obama sets conditions ?? This guy is a total washout. I have little faith in him.

Posted by: KURT | Apr 9, 2008 7:57:03 PM

megan, how old are you, 5 maybe 6

Posted by: jimt | Apr 9, 2008 7:57:07 PM

first earlier today he says we shouldn't boycott the opening ceramonies so we dont offend china which he called our banker,now that he has taken flak about it and hillary has been praised for her stand he copies her.WHAT A PIECE OF S___T ,all of you claim how opportunistic hillary is when really it been consistantly obama,i do have to admit he is a good snake oil salesman.

Posted by: don tufts | Apr 9, 2008 7:57:10 PM

catherine in nm-

Hillary plays follow the leader...

Instead of taking a stance against the Iraq war...she followed the polls.

Instead of taking a stance against NAFTA, she followed her husband.

Instead of firing PENN, she demoted him.

Instead of...and the list goes on.

NOT MUCH OF A LEADER IS SHE?

Posted by: joanna | Apr 9, 2008 7:57:51 PM

Megan,
I have said it before, and I'll say it again, I am not a rabid HRC supporter. In fact, I'm pretty neutral between her and McCain. I'd go with Nader if the guy had a chance in he11, but he doesn't.
Now tell me, rather than addressing my points against BO, why do you change the topic?

PS BO stated that he would have voted for the war at the time had he been able to do so. Of course, he pulled that speech from his website.

Posted by: JA | Apr 9, 2008 7:58:45 PM

don tufts-

Hillary hasn't received praise for her call to boycott.

In cased you missed it...all the news coverage and headlines read:

"Hillary Clinton changes the subject."
"Politics 101...change the subject"
"Hillary deflects bad press, calls on Bush to boycott olympics."

GET THE FACTS!

Posted by: megan | Apr 9, 2008 8:00:20 PM

don tufts: yu are absolutely right. this guy has no substance, except for the stuff him and the gay guy did in the limo before homo-sex. anyway, i believe he will be nominated thanx to the young educated (in school only, not in real life) yuppies. that will ensure 4 more years of neocon rule under mcshame. the repub. hit machine will tear this false profit to shreads, michelle will not be proud of her country again, rev. wright will blame it on whitey, and america will suffer.

Posted by: jimt | Apr 9, 2008 8:01:24 PM

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