Pelosi: President Should Consider Boycotting Olympics' Opening

[tekisui]

March 31, 2008—

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi does not want the U.S. to boycott the Beijing Olympics, but she says that President George W. Bush should consider skipping the opening ceremony.

"I think boycotting the opening ceremony, which really gives respect to the Chinese government, is something that should be kept on the table," Pelosi, D-Calif., told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts in an interview airing Tuesday. "I think the president might want to rethink this later, depending on what other heads of state do."

Pelosi Considers Boycott of Games' Opening

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced she will not attend the Olympic Games, set to begin on August 8, 2008. Pelosi, meanwhile, has been outspoken in support of Tibet, the site of recent crackdowns on human rights demonstrators by the Chinese government.

In a recent trip to Dharmasala, India, home of the Dalai Lama's displaced Tibetan government, Pelosi said, "If freedom-loving people don't speak out against China's oppression of people in Tibet, we have lost all moral authority to speak out against any oppressed people."

WATCH "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" ON TUESDAY TO SEE ROBIN ROBERTS' FULL INTERVIEW WITH HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI

In her interview with GMA, the speaker continued to denounce China's rule over Tibet and expressed regret that the communist nation would play host to the summer games.

"I don't think China should have gotten the Olympic Games to begin with," Pelosi told GMA. "I had a resolution in the Congress which was very popular, and bipartisan support on it. But they did get them with the promise that they would open up more and have better respect for human rights and freedom of expression. They have not honored that."

Playing Games in China

Speaker Pelosi contends the recent violence in Tibet proves China has not committed to improving the country's human rights record.

"People have been saying they're shooting our people like dogs," Tenzin Norgay, the spokesman for the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy, told ABC News, citing sources inside Tibet.

more at link: http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=4560253

[Berry Cool]

1. What? And miss one of his last chances to get booed at a major sporting event? n/t

[Freedom Train]

2. Thank you Nancy.

It was a travesty that China got the games to begin with. Berlin '36 anyone? The argument most heard by people who favored giving the games to China was just what Nancy said, how it would open them up more and make them more susceptible to the idea of human rights. Where are those people hiding now, I wonder. I would prefer an all-out boycott by all democratic nations, but I suspect a boycott of the opening ceremony is the only thing feasible to hope for.

[zanne]

3. They're tearing down about 10,000 homes for the Olympics...

I saw it on the news last night. A wrecking ball smashing into a home that was not bought by the governnment; simply demolished. These people are homeless now and powerless to do anything about it. We should be boycotting for the sake of humanity.

[cboy4]

4. I'm glad she finally wants to put something important

"on the table."

[bdamomma]

5. hey Nancy something else should be on the table too!!!

"I think boycotting the opening ceremony, which really gives respect to the Chinese government, is something that should be kept on the table," Pelosi, D-Calif., told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts in an interview airing Tuesday. "I think the president might want to rethink this later, depending on what other heads of state do."

[RB TexLa]

6. I think we should remove that option from politicians, let the sports people who

run the olympic teams or national teams determine what they will and will not boycott. If Bush or Pelosi want to boycott the opening ceremony then they should not attend.

[Lance_Boyle]

7. Nancy needs to shut the fuck up about "the table."

It just reminds everyone what an utter failure she is.

[Solly Mack]

8. Pelosi wants the safe from impeachment war criminal President to

boycott the opening ceremony in protest of human rights abuses?


Uh...uh...

never mind

[The Stranger]

9. This has got to be an APRIL FOOLS JOKE.

She didn't seriously -- oh-my-fucking-god, please tell me -- SERIOUSLY do this.

No. I can't believe it. Someone please tell me this is a joke.