Obama Puts Boycott Call On Table

Barack Obama joins the Beijing boycott call:

"If the Chinese do not take steps to help stop the genocide in Darfur and to respect the dignity, security, and human rights of the Tibetan people, then the President should boycott the opening ceremonies. As I have communicated in public and to the President, it is past time for China to respect the human rights of the Tibetan people, to allow foreign journalists and diplomats access to the region, and to engage the Dalai Lama in meaningful talks about the future of Tibet. I am also deeply concerned about China's failure to support efforts to halt the genocide in Darfur. Regarding the Beijing Olympics this summer, a boycott of the opening ceremonies should be firmly on the table, but this decision should be made closer to the Games

Comments

Well, whereas there were doubts about his inexperience, now there is a bit of proof.

Take this with the NAFTA thing, and we have a politician who never saw the picture from the "inside" looking out.

OBammBamm need to figure out that this rhetoric may win him a couple of votes, but it will cost him big if he is elected.

Posted by D | April 9, 2008 7:28 PM

Do you have anything to say that isn't dripping with contempt and arrogance? You seem to believe you are an Oracle surrounded by fools.

Posted by J | April 9, 2008 8:13 PM

FYI, Gordon Brown has said he won't be attending the opening ceremonies.

Posted by Chris Dornan | April 9, 2008 8:29 PM

Well, here is the problem: Gordon Brown hasn't presided over a government which has committed a whole host of war crimes itself and has subverted the Constitution and domestic law of the United States. So his decision to absent himself may (or may not) send some symbolic message to China and the world.

If Bush doesn't show up, in "protest" against Chinese actions in Tibet, or its policy in regard to Darfur, or for its human rights abuses, the Chinese will laugh sardonically in that brief moment before they become very angry indeed at the astounding level of hypocrisy on display.

Worse than that - far worse - any future attempt to nudge them in the direction of freedom will be negated in advance. They'll just point to the spectacle of Bush, Cheney and Co. having the balls to preach to them. And they will be right. How is this supposed to aid the Tibetans or anyone else? It plays into China's hands instead. It gives them an out which they'll grab with both hands.

People who wish to make statements on human rights must have some minimal moral authority to do so. They certainly can't be torturers themselves. This is a terrible idea that will, once more, persuade people around the world that all talk about human rights is really just political optics and spin. It will provide Bush with cheap cover, and with a cheap and meaningless gesture towards his "legacy", and it will provide the CPC with a cheap excuse to brush off criticism.

Posted by Estrien | April 9, 2008 9:02 PM

As the young'uns say: "That's some weak sauce, Obama."

Posted by dry_fish | April 9, 2008 9:14 PM

This is just to one-up Hillary. It's the chic thing to do right now for the Dems. But will this backfire?

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by matt | April 9, 2008 9:20 PM

I don't understand why you interpret giving the Chinese a chance to change their behavior as weak.

Negative reinforcement rather than punishment. I like it.

Posted by 4rosie | April 9, 2008 9:31 PM

Also, this is what Human Rights Watch is asking leaders to do:

"(Washington, DC, April 9, 2008) – World leaders should defer accepting invitations to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing until the Chinese government makes key human rights improvements, Human Rights Watch said in an open letter today."

http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/09/china18486.htm

That's what exactly what Obama did, deferred.

Posted by 4rosie | April 9, 2008 9:35 PM

Obama should have taken the opportunity to point out that if his opponent in the Democratic Party hadn't voted to authorize Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld to assault Iraq, then America would be in a better position to lecture the rest of the world about human rights issues.

Posted by dockworker | April 9, 2008 11:06 PM

Marc,

You really should try a little harder to conceal your anti-Obama leanings. It's not terribly becoming. Obama did not put this on the table. It was already being served. Obama simply refused to take it off the table. It's kinda hard to use not attending the opening ceremony as a potential bargaining chip or as leverage if everyone knows you will attend regardless. It would be a political stalemate.

Posted by Adrienne | April 9, 2008 11:16 PM

This is my problem with America today - everything has to be black and white, cut and dry. People are complaining that Obama is giving leeway to the Chinese here; what he's really doing is giving them time to take concrete steps to improve the situation. Clinton's trying to score cheap political points off real crises in Darfur and Tibet, and Obama's being a leader. Real leaders don't shoot (or boycott) first and ask questions later. Give the Chinese time to reconsider their position, and if they do nothing, then go forward with the (empty gesture of a) boycott. (Boycotting the opening ceremonies? Please. It's like saying I'll boycott my home team's games, then skip the national anthem.)

Posted by Scientific | April 9, 2008 11:46 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vPxtis-vUo

What a story. Check out the enclosed video link. Hillary Clinton sat on the Walmart Board for six years. Her campaign must be desperately hoping that there isn't embarrassing video footage of her contained within....

Posted by genghis bong | April 10, 2008 12:08 AM

Genghis bong, you should go to ABCnews.com and find the story they did on Hillary and her time at Wal-Mart. Wow.

Posted by Scientific | April 10, 2008 12:11 AM

First, the time to put pressure on China over the Olympics was 7 or 8 years ago when the IOC was making its decision. China's human rights record is no worse now than it was then.

But, if the US or UK or any other country thinks (falsely) that something has changed with the recent Tibet business and China should be punished, why stop with a boycot of the opening ceremonies? If you're going to boycott, boycott the games.

Still, I find it all late and opportunistic and lame.

Posted by Joseph | April 10, 2008 12:33 AM

Michelle and I will throw out all the Chun-King
products from our pantry...and we urge you to
do the same.....and we're shooting the family
dog....he's Pekingese....but we're keeping our
china...gotta eat the wings and gizzards offa
sumpin'!

Posted by hombre | April 10, 2008 12:37 AM

hombre,

You got to do better than that!

Got to get rid of them Chinese made computers, printers, MP3 players, telephones, your car stereo, empty your closet filled with Chinese made clothes (who cares if you go around like a half naked fakir), get rid of your kids toys, and so on and so forth.

While you are at it, get rid of the plumbing fixtures, toilet seats, iron pipes, lamp fixtures, electric fans, and all that crappy hardware from China.

Just go back to using the all American outhouse.

Come to think of it, you got to strip that car of yours of Chinese made parts too....

Posted by D | April 10, 2008 7:58 AM

NOT "OLYMPIC BOYCOTT"

"OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY BOYCOTT"

Posted by TIGHT | April 10, 2008 12:47 PM

And don't forget for a moment, The China Government OWNS US...

Posted by Kravchak | April 10, 2008 1:12 PM

1/2 a point to Obama -- the right thing to do, but talk about limp. Forget the parsing between boycotting versus "don't do anything right now" -- it's been weeks since Germany's chancellor and Speaker Pelosi showed some leadership on this issue (i.e., actually treated the victims in Darfur as if they REALLY WERE human beings). At least Hillary had a position -- when Chris Matthews asked Obama a while back he gave one of his patented "I see both sides, I say nothing" answers. I'll take dithering on tax returns over dithering about genocide any day of the week.

Posted by Rusty | April 10, 2008 1:13 PM