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Bush: Skipping opening ceremony would offend China
The Hill ^ | 7/6/08 | Klaus Marre

Posted on 07/06/2008 10:33:58 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

President Bush on Sunday defended his decision to attend the opening ceremony of the Summer Games in China, saying he does not “need the Olympics” to express his concerns regarding the country’s human rights record.

While some world leaders have stated that they would skip the ceremony to highlight a Chinese crackdown in Tibet, Bush argues that he does not need to take such a step to address the issue.

“I had the honor of dealing with the Chinese -- two Chinese presidents during my term, and every time I have visited with them I have talked about religious freedom and human rights,” Bush said during a visit to Japan. “And so, therefore, my decision to go was -- I guess I don’t need the Olympics to express my concerns. I’ve been doing so.”

The U.S. president was backed by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who declared at a joint press conference for the first time that he would also attend the ceremony after a scheduling conflict had been resolved. Fukuda stated that the Olympics do not have to be linked to politics.

Bush argued that “the Chinese people are watching very carefully about the decisions by world leaders, and I happen to believe not going to the opening ceremony for the games would be an affront to the Chinese people, which may make it more difficult to be able to speak frankly with the Chinese leadership.”

He added that he is “looking forward to cheering the athletes. I think it would be good for these athletes who have worked hard to see their President waving that flag.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008olympics; bush; china; geopolitics; offend; olympics; openingceremony; skipping
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To: NormsRevenge
Deficit spending and refusing to ditch oil make our nation beholden to all kinds of interesting dictatorships.

Cheap stuff ain't cheap.
41 posted on 07/06/2008 7:12:40 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: NormsRevenge

And the President just called Russias new “President” a “smart guy”... Not learning from the mistake when he looked into the eyes and saw into the soul of Putin.... and he said last week that “were strong dollar people in this administration”

Oh boy. After 7 years of defending President Bush. I still have my “Bush-Cheney 04” hat on display in my room. I am wondering if the President has finally flipped out. Is he back on the bottle or something ?

I once thought he was on his way to being one of our greatest Presidents.


42 posted on 07/07/2008 12:23:10 AM PDT by se_ohio_young_conservative (Dont stop believin... John McCain in 08 !)
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To: freeangel

I love Chinese products. They usually work well for me and are considerably cheaper than what I would have to pay for similar USA-made products. Besides, what would those poor Chinese people do without their $2.00 per day? Have a little compassion, and don’t be so negative.


43 posted on 07/07/2008 12:36:24 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: latina4dubya; All
it's not as though he stands for nothing...

You're right, he does stand for open borders, for pandering to global warming alarmists and for inflation. He does stand for something!

44 posted on 07/07/2008 4:42:45 AM PDT by notdownwidems (Vote Republican! We're 1/10 of 1% better than the other guys!)
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To: notdownwidems
You're right, he does stand for open borders, for pandering to global warming alarmists and for inflation. He does stand for something!

is that all you see from him? really?

45 posted on 07/07/2008 7:46:16 PM PDT by latina4dubya
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To: latina4dubya; All
is that all you see from him? really?

No, that's not all...what I see is a Christian, a true Christian, who turns the other cheek to his enemies. In other words, someone who never should have gone into politics!
46 posted on 07/07/2008 8:13:53 PM PDT by notdownwidems (Vote Republican! We're 1/10 of 1% better than the other guys!)
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To: freeangel
China offends me when they keep sending inferior, poisonous products to the US and expects our citizens to ignore the consequences of dealing with them.

Exactly what I was going to post.

F the chicoms, they can take their intentionally contaminated garbage, their olympics and their fear of losing face on the international stage and shove it sideways up their offended posteriors.

The chicoms are an enemy of The West and we should always remember that.
47 posted on 07/07/2008 8:29:42 PM PDT by Dr.Zoidberg ("Shut the hell up, New York Times, you sanctimonious whining jerks!" - Craig Ferguson)
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