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".
Those of you who are still angry that he was diplomatic and gracious to Muslims need to get a grip on reality.
As has been previously stated, this President has done more to destroy Islamofacism than any previous President. Open up your eyes.
btw, the African aid has been in conjunction with Franklin Graham. Is he not a Christian in your book either?
I repeat........ praise the Lord that we have a follower of Jesus Christ in the White House! Things have been happening that those of you who aren't paying attention may never know........but I guess that's the only way you can gripe about everything all the time, and that's apparently what you guys want.
Wonder how many DU trolls have used the line "I voted for Bush twice" on this forum, Meg? It's standard fare, and IMO, never to be believed.
And a pastor?? LOL! Like Fred Phelps is a pastor, methinks......
This thread
Your first post was despicable and ugly..........NOT the work of a Republican or a Christian.
I don't care where you say you fall politically. The words you chose are the words of disdain and hate (not just 'over the top'......'out of control'), and not the words of a conservative.
This formal state visit of someone whom we must maintain some form of diplomatic ties was not an excuse to make the kind of false personal attacks on President Bush that you made.
There is NO excuse for the words you used..........unless you're a leftist, and don't have the morality or self-control to contain the bile inside of you.
btw, my son would be very angry with you for attacking the character of his Commander in Chief as you did......but thanks for thanking him anyway.....
Diplomacy sucks.
So why is he trying to vivisect Israel to create a new terror state in the Holy Land? Why did he permit Sharia Law to remain in Afghanistan, and begin to take hold in formerly secular Iraq? Why is he resuming aid to Hamas, after promising not to? And all this AFTER 9/11. I'm sorry, to compare him to Clinton and Carter is just not enough. Of course they were much worse. But we expect better of him.
I could see in one post that the President has more character in his little finger than you do in your entire person.
Bile is ugly, even in black and white.
Nice post to celebrate your seventh anniversary here - thought you must be a newbie.
Let's see, a foreign policy made up of yanking the chains of countries who are or were nominally our allies and then making up for it by bending over in front of a pack of communists, murderers, and thugs.
What was I thinking? That should work just swell.
It may never happen, but the goal is most certainly Christian.
As for Afghanistan, they are now a sovereign nation (thanks to our awesome military and their Commander in Chief). You guys claim to be conservatives, but now you not only want him to be a dictator here in America, but you want him to dictate what goes on in other countries. Kind of a double standard, don't you think?
(btw, great diplomatic pressure was put on Karzai by Bush and Rice to do the right thing with the Christian on trial, and it happened).
All this is off topic. I know you want to think the worst of President Bush, and nothing I say will change that.
I, on the other hand, am able to separate political desire from faith, and don't have to agree with every decision to understand the character of the man God has chosen to lead us right now.
You and I will never agree until you can do the same.
We will certainly have our disagreements. But I appreciate your never making it disagreeable (as some others like sinkspur always do). You always bring facts to the debate rather than insults, and I admire your faith. Your class is a credit to this forum. Have a great weekend.
The sun is shining, and I may just go and soak some up.
Have a great weekend yourself! :)
Well said.
President Bush apologized for the "scene," just as you would if your kid or your dog embarassed you with inappropriate behaviour with a guest in attendance.
Very appropriate. I believe it is up to the American people to stand up and defend the protestor/doctor.
We should not allow her to be marginalized. She exhibited passion for a cause that needs to be front page news.
Believe me when I say President Bush was well aware of the persecution of Falun Gong prior to this "scene." I am sure that President Bush's people have been made aware of the concerns of Falun Gong practitioners. It is the general public and the media that need to understand the story behind the woman's passionate cries.
Is your name Bob Celeste?
Good Grief..I had not even read this one! "Pastor??" ...I see the fraud..and he's posting!
If only Saddam would have agreed to provide slave labor and manufacture cheep goods perhaps he would still be in power
Lets see in the bushbot mind:
China=good
Taiwan= renegade province
Shara Law in Iraq=Good
Saudi Tyranny=Good
Islam= Peace
Big brother domestic programs = doubleplusgood
Oh for heavens sake..That is ridiculous.
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