Posted on 04/20/2006 4:43:09 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
A HECKLER from the Falun Gong spiritual movement, who entered White House grounds as a reporter, interrupted a formal arrival ceremony for Chinese President Hu Jintao today, prompting President George W. Bush to apologise to his guest.
After being welcomed by Mr Bush, the Chinese president was just beginning his response when a woman, who had been allowed into the press section, started shouting.
She was escorted away by a uniformed US guard.
"President Hu, your days are numbered. President Bush, make him stop persecuting Falun Gong," the woman yelled.
US officials later identified her as Wang Wenyi, 47, a reporter with The Epoch Times, an English-language publication strongly supportive of the meditation movement that is banned in China.
"This was unfortunate and I'm sorry this happened," Mr Bush told Mr Hu, according to Dennis Wilder, a senior official with the National Security Council.
The Secret Service charged Ms Wang with disorderly conduct under local statutes.
The US Attorney's office was weighing federal charges of "willing intimidation or disruption of a foreign official", said Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren.
Outside the White House, hundreds of yellow-clad Falun Gong disciples, Taiwanese nationalists, and Tibetan youth group members demonstrated against Mr Hu and his government.
The protesters denounced China's human rights record, its missile build-up near Taiwan and its 55-year-long rule over the Himalayan Buddhist region of Tibet.
"Communist Party = Tyranny + Lies", read a yellow banner, carried by one female member of Falun Gong, which China outlawed and brutally crushed in 1999.
"Taiwan is not a part of China," read a placard hoisted by one of around 300 Taiwan activists, who reject China's claim of sovereignty over the island. Tibetans, mostly US-based students, called for independence for their homeland.
A US official said Mr Hu's team was probably offended by the incident.
"The hardliners on Hu's team are going to ask, why did it take so long for us to pick her up. It is not a good thing," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Mr Zahren of the Secret Service said the woman had passed through "all appropriate levels of security", including a metal detector. She was allowed into the event under a temporary press pass.
Falun Gong, which thrives overseas despite being largely stamped out in China, alleges that government persecution of the group includes a vast system of concentration camps, where doctors harvest inmates' organs for transplants.
China has vehemently denied this, but a UN investigator is examining the allegation.
In remarks at Mr Hu's arrival ceremony, Mr Bush did not mention Falun Gong, but he said he would discuss human rights.
He urged Mr Hu to allow "the Chinese people the freedom to assemble, to speak freely and to worship".
Anybody who uses the already-worn-out descriptor "bootlicker" has no business calling somebody else's posts pathetic.
I'd bet Reagan actually was though probably not vocal. Walk softly and carry a big stick. Meaning visual presense of sea power.
"The lady committed a crime. She could have done it legally, outside, but she chose to commit a crime"
I wonder if Hu has ever committed a crime?
It's not enough that she's asked to leave. She has to be jailed on a trumped up federal charge. Par for the course in a country that criminalized even more political speech this week (the 527 stuff).
You lay down with dogs you get fleas -- except I don't mean to call her a flea. I mean that if you invite mass murdering tyrants to the White House you are sullying the place. Bush is not alone at all. I'd like to have thought in the past that President Bush would be the one to not act according to past precedent.
Hu is a mass murdering tyrant so I think we need to condone it.
Hu should never ever be invited to the White House for such a ceremony.
LOL!! What concessions did Nixon or Reagan get from China?
Great spin and diversion tactic taking my post to you saying the woman was a Medical Doctor in China likely with legit press pass and making it look like I hate Chinese. :>}
That's your interpretation, sport.
You know, this website is spiralling out of control in its hatred of people.
First it was Muslims, then Mexicans, now Chinese. When in hell are FReepers going to realize that we have to LIVE in this world with people we may not like, but we have to live with them, nonetheless?
I'm glad not a single hothead on any of these threads is in a position to influence legislation or policy.
I'd bet Reagan actually was though probably not vocal. Walk softly and carry a big stick. Meaning visual presense of sea power
I disagree. Bushs' policy is to defend Taiwan. He even has Japan in on it.
BTW, it is Reagan who usually talked more conservative, whereas Bush in many cases has a more conservative record.
Anybody who makes a fool of themselves by screeching like a banshee at a head of state in the presence of the President of the United States is a dingbat.
That is absolutely the case. I loved Ronald Reagan, but he would never have preemptively gone to war against another country in a million years.
Well out of his way. He lost his way on that mosque visit. Especially when the Imam standing two persons to his left was later shown on tape chanting "Death to America". But I guess no one was calling for Muslim leaders to "go out of their way" to make Americans feel that haters like him and Al Queda were not "representative" of Muslims at large.
They have been for a number of years now. That's why this happened.
I'm sorry this woman was treated like a criminal and am embarrassed by the apology. China is a criminal regime on par with the former USSR.
Yeah. So are the Russians. So are the French.
You like to point out when people go off the deep end with hyperbole.
Well, in this case you've just done it. Chinese communist thuggery is orders of magnitude beyond anything in France. Or in present day Russia.
This bit of relativism is not credible.
You are a little strong by calling him names. However, I do share your frustration with him and the Senate Republicans.
Americans know that people like that Imam are not representative of American Muslims. Only those eaten up with bile and vilification, like you, pile on an entire belief system the distorted views of a few.
Sure would be nice to see such a "follower of Jesus Christ" propose to cut a single penny from Planned Parenthood, wouldn't it? Or take some of the $30 billion in African "aid" and buy a few 3D Ultrasound machines for crisis pregnancy centers. Private citizen and Christian Patricia Heaton has spent $3 million of her own money to purchase several such machines, as has James Dobson, God bless them. Bush's actions on abortion have been notable in their absence.
Anybody who uses the already-worn-out descriptor "bootlicker" has no business calling somebody else's posts pathetic.
Had the president been Bill Clinton the threads would be several 2000 plus post threads of outrage. Everyone was too busy trying to cover their beloved parties hide they didn't even research enough to find out who they were actually flaming.
I think it is a little excessive. He is certainly not having a good stretch, but people are kind of piling on. I am kind of angry Bush apologized because China is a terible regime, but Bush was put in in an akward spot. The protest speaks for itself. It would be outrageous though if the woman is prosecuted.
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