Posted on 08/28/2004 5:16:27 PM PDT by Hildy
America's biggest Olympic hero yesterday accused George Bush of exploiting the Athens Games for his own political advantage in the run-up to the presidential election. Carl Lewis, who won nine Olympic gold medals in athletics in a record-breaking career, condemned Bush for using the presence of Iraqi and Afghan teams in Athens in a television advertisement to boost his chances of re-election.
Criticising Bush for linking his foreign policy with the two countries being allowed to compete here, Lewis said: 'I felt that was disingenuous. It is funny that we boycotted the 1980 Games [in Moscow] in support of Afghanistan, and now we're bombing Afghanistan,' he told the Athens News yesterday.
'Of course, we've invaded Iraq and are in there and are using it for political gain. It bewilders me, and I understand why the Iraqi players are offended.
'To support the players or the community is fine, but for political gain I disagree.'
Iraq's footballers, who unexpectedly reached the semi-finals here, made clear last week they disliked the advertisement and regarded American soldiers in Iraq as occupiers rather than liberators. Bush was planning to visit the Greek capital and attend yesterday's football final if Iraq had been involved, but they lost in the semi-finals last week. He was also criti cised for misusing without permission Olympic symbols, which are protected emblems.
Carl better get his history straight. It was Jimmy Carter who made that decision.
Evidently, Carl still holds a grudge.
As Laura Ingraham would say in this case, "Shut up and run!"
As Laura Ingraham would say in this case, "Shut up and run!"
ooops
Carl wouldn't be a Muslim by any chance?
I guess Carl has forgotten the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 with the "Power salute"?
You know the one that Kerry keeps giving.
It's good you're athletic, Carl!
You'll never win any golds for that brain.
Who cares? He's got an IQ of 70.
Carl Lewis, great American thinker. Humph
Shame on you Carl for exploiting President Bush for your own political reasons.
Really???
What a dumbass - we're "bombing" Afghanastan to liberate it - and it's happening! Short-sighted moron.
FWIW, my tutor in college was an olympian from Ghana who met Carl Lewis. Said such tutor that Carl Lewis was the most obnoxious and arrogant man he met *lol*
Go back to Fallujah, boys. You have an appointment with some gold medal infantrymen.
Don't know about drugs, but Carl and Greg Louganis have something in common besides being medal winners.
Carl Lewis is yesterday's news...AND a fruit cake.
Oh, and biggest Olympic hero?
Further proof that the anti-Iraq war Left is really anti-any war that we engage in. If this was 1942, these self-hating cretins would oppose our fighting the Japanese after they attacked Pearl Harbor. Leftism is a mind-poison that is eating away at the soul of America and the rest of free world.
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