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".
Like you son I have also gladly fought for our country. Which is why I am so angry about what is being allowed to happen to it. EG unchecked illegal immigration, playing kissy face with dictators, ect
I do question someone that has no problem with the leader of the free world apologizing to a murdering tryrant for a US citizen telling that murdering tyrant what she thinks of him
Are you unaquainted with Ronald Reagan? Richard Nixon? Are you really that naive? Or are you a DU plant just trying to stir the pot and turn conservatives against each other?
Acquaint yourself with the facts and get back to me.
Until then, stop wasting your precious and obviously volatile emotional energy being mad at absolutely nothing.
There are REAL problems in the world. Try dealing with them for a change. That's what conservatives do.
They're working very hard to make this into something it's not.
You know, wireman, I've been thinking about this.
The 'Pastor' hates the President, yet claims to have voted for him........not once, but twice.
Now what do we know about this President? He says what he means, and he means what he says..........and he has governed exactly as he said he would, and has tried to accomplish what he campaigned on.
So let's say this 'pastor' fellow voted for Bush in 2000. Then he watched him govern for four years, and campaign on what he had governed on, and heard what he said he would do if he got a second term. AND, has watched as the President has proceded to do exactly as he said he would since then.
I would say, that this 'pastor' guy is extremely dumb to have voted for a man he hates and who does what he says, when the pastor hates both what he says and does, wouldn't you?
I would say that this 'pastor' guy has set a new record in stupidity......... OR he is a liar, and didn't vote for Bush at all.
In either case, he's not much of a 'pastor' now, is he?
If we're fighting China economically as another poster suggested, you could have fooled me. I can't see how we can defeat them in a financial war if we are helping them to defeat ourselves. Our business dealings with China have only helped prop up the current regime. I just don't see the creeping development of Democracy in China some have predicted. Perhaps it works like evolution, LOL!
We were able to force the demise of Soviet communism because they were on the brink of economic collapse. I can't see why that tactic wouldn't work with China and other brutal regimes also.
Absolutely right! : ) Such acts of courage bring tears to eyes of many, including mine. She is an inspiration!
Mexico and the Phillipines are like that. ... I personally think the Chinese are excessive in cracking down on non-violent religious groups like the catholics. But I agree with their policy on Islam.
Yes, which is why they sometimes disagree with the president, refusing to blindly accept everything he says and does.
I'm sorry but the above line is hysterical coming from you, the quintessential apologist for the Bush administration. They really should consider you for the job of press spokesperson.
Until you have read all my posts, you have absolutely no right to say that I never disagree with the President. And if you DID read all my posts, you would actually SEE that I disagree with the President.
Conservatives are supposed to think, T. And that includes making sure that one's words are accurate.
Since yours about me are not accurate, I would advise you to think before you post to me again.
I wouldn't want to have to accuse you of deliberately distorting the truth, T. Lying is not a conservative virtue, and if you make those accusations again, that is exactly what you will be doing.
"Quite a stretch to draw an equivalence."
Considering your moral relevancy perspective, it's not surprising you haven't a clue. You remind me so much of the one character in "Chariots of Fire," whose name is lost to me at the moment.
"Quite a stretch to draw an equivalence."
Considering your moral relevancy perspective, it's not surprising you haven't a clue. You remind me so much of the one character in "Chariots of Fire," who just couldn't understand why Eric refused to run on a Sunday, whose name is lost to me at the moment.
Agreed. But then almost no one is! : )
Some sensitive folks would be offended by these words, and would call them a personal 'attack.'
I'm not that easily bruised, but do compare them with my reply (about confining your emotions to things of greater import) and see if you really think that I am more guilty of 'insulting those with whom I disagree' than you.
I am saying this publicly because your perspective on what constitutes an 'attack' is clearly skewed. In other words, YOU can do it, but I cannot.
Is that correct, monday?
You may freepmail me with your reply if you are more comfortable with that. Nothing I have to say to you needs to be hidden..........this is a reasonable and responsible dialogue.
You NEVER ARGUE with ANY of the president's policies on this board. EVER.
You remind me of two women my brother worked with, who worked in the Reagan administration. To them, Reagan could do NO wrong. To us he was the GREATEST (and still is) but sometimes made mistakes. I used to laugh at a few of the stories. You couldn't say anything the least bit critical of Reagan in front of them, or they would badger you for a week.
From that perspective it was comical. But facing women like them on this board time and again on threads like these, is not. The emotional zeal you have for the president frequently blinds you. And the insults you throw at those who disagree with him get old. It's like high school cheerleaders who think their quarterback does NO wrong. Highly immature.
With the comment you made that I referenced above, you are indeed the pot calling the kettle black.
Your requirement is that I argue emotionally on this board against the President in order to meet your personal qualifications for being against his policies enough.
It's a silly, superficial, personal (for you) standard, and it has no bearing on reality.
And I shall take it as such, disagreeing with the President as I do, and ignoring those who play games with the truth, as you do.
So, just stop lying about me on a public forum, OK?
You can laugh at me, look down on me, belittle me, whatever you want......... but NO MORE LIES. Got that?
No it's you who plays games with the truth. And that comment to which I responded proves you're a hypocite to boot.
Please ping me when you ARGUE, not just list or state a difference, but ARGUE for a position on this board, in opposition to the President's.
That's hypocrite.
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