Maybe if Hillary had an effective jump shot she'd be more sensitive to the needs of athletes.

Ms. Clinton's expression of her opinion towards the Olympics is very commendable but that doesn't necessarily mean she's correct.
The idea must be viewed in different perspectives. The problem in Tibet could be a violation of human rights that can be addressed diplomatically other than boycotting the Olympics.

One could just imagine the pain of preparation for the Olympics of the U.S. athletes. And if I were one of them I would feel very remorseful and frustrated if the Bush administration will succumb to her dictates.

I agree! Bush should send a strong signal to China to Free Tibet. Chinese should be taught a lesson. Hillary is the onle strong leader who can do that.

Wow, after consulting the tea leaves and public opinion, she makes a decision. How Hilary is that! It's time to send these hillbillies back to Arkansas. $109 million buys a lot of grits.

Boycott of Olympic games is the wrong thing to do unless you want other countries to boycott USA the next time we have the Olympics. This is sports not politics.

Don't the ObamaBOTS understand that without Hillary supporters he will NEVER win. It's such a waste.

Wake up America! Don't you remember what happened last time we voted an empty suit for President??

Didn't she just say during the YouTube debates a while back that she thought that the United States had no business in Darfur???

But now all of a sudden she wants to tell everyone else to boycott the Olympics because China won't do anything?

Why don't you stop flip-flopping and trying to get votes. We already know you don't give a hoot about Darfur.

Obama '08!!

Please do a search on the Tibet Serfs on Google or Yahoo or any other search engines. You will get a lot of information about Tibet Serfs who were miserable slaves. The Chinese communists (including some Tibet communists) started reforms in Tibet in 1950s and of course, Dalai Lama and other slave owners did not like the reform. So they uprose, but failed. They were forced to flee the country. Please tell me how many of those serfs or slaves will welcome Dalai Lama and his followers back?

Former President Bill Clinton "…in 1993…initially, he pledged to be far tougher on China's human-rights violations than President George Bush (Sr.) was. He promised that free-trade accords would be accompanied by international agreements on the environment and labor rights.

But on each of these issues, Clinton altered his course. On China, he embraced Bush's policy of (depending on your point of view) accommodation or engagement. This angered human-rights advocates. On trade, open markets have taken priority over negotiating social protections."

Chip off the old block…remember America…"Money makes the world go round." We are the first to protest when it affects our pockets." God Bless America and our Freedoms which lots of us take for granted and don't value!

If anyone can point out how our boycott of the 1980 Olympics punished the Russians and created change in Afghanistan, then maybe a boycott of some sort may make sense. The fact is that the only results of the 1980 boycott were (a) a reciprocal boycott of LA in 1984 and (b) the punishment of some fine young athletes who were deprived of the rewards of many years' efforts for something that did nothing.

Sure, the IOC bought into the types of protests that we've seen in London and Paris in the next couple of day - and will likely see more of before the torch returns to China, but I can't see depriving another set of athletes of their chance at the Olympics for an action that will do absolutely nothing. If Hillary really thinks some sort of boucott will influence Chinese policy in the way she would hope, she's not qualified to answer the phone at 3AM, or any other time for that matter.

The Boycott is for our president not to attend, read the article,not the atheletes.
Obama is not qualified to lead and zero experience in leading anything. Guess what picture Michelle Obama as first lady, NOT.
He can not win general elections against any pair of republicans, Only democrate that has a chance to win the GE is Hillary Clinton.

For all the Obama-ites who have been saying how this will drive up Hillary's negatives even further: what negatives? The only negatives Hillary has are those from lies that have been spread by the Obama campaign, his surrogates, supporters, the biased media, and Republicans. Voters who have been paying attention and who have a brain, have seen right through your smear campaign.

I like Obama's position much better: don't mix sports with politics. This reminds me of 1992 campaign: Clintons were aloud against China but delinked the most favored nation right after getting elected. They are opportunistic and have no principle.

Please post this!!!

Cowboy wrote:

This has convinced me to vote for Hillary in PA….. b/c despite what the media says, she does have conviction and standards.
–end of quote—

Really?

Which part of "she lies like a rug" did you miss? Vote for her–your conviction and standards must match hers. Remember she and Bill sold our jobs to China. You must be one of rich PA folk who could not care less about this.

Read history book, everyone!!! Tibet has been part of China for over 500 years!!! I support 100% on how Chinese government handled the RIOTs in Tibet recently. Boycott Beijing Olympic, give me break! American should worry about how bad your economy and social unjustice between blacks and whites. plus, how do you feel when you see a bumper sticker says "FREE HAWAII"??? Don't tell me Hawaii belongs to the States geographically or historically. China is rising, and will be… So, don't be jealous, don't panic. Mind your own business!!!

Bessie - you find Bush CHARISMATIC???

Well, I guess I have nothing more to add to that!

Tell em HILL. You continue to be the first on these important issues and others fall in line and follow.

Leader, Hillary 2008!

When I read posts like these it just makes me disgusted - Americans sure do a good job of appearing stupid and hateful. First of all, very few of you have actually reacted to the call for government to distance itself from China BECAUSE of the oppresion on Tibet and their lack of support on the Darfur genocide. You can all jostle to justify your hatred for Senator Clinton, but the fact is, no matter how small and insignificant this rejection from Bush to attend these cermonies might seem, it is a step in the right direction, and we should all support it! End of story.

CNN you should not have this in the political section - you should go write a real story on this subject. There is clearly need given the protests in Europe and what is beginning to happen in California.

Go Hillary! Go!

Vote Hillary, otherwise VOTE Republican.

Imposing Anglo/Western cultural values on a 6,000 year old, collectivist/high power distance society is how we ended up in Iraq…When will we learn what works for us does not always apply to others?

She is a leader! Hillary has this one on the mark China has made human right a real issue we need to address as a country.

I wonder how long it would take Obama to confront the issues in China/ American relations. If elected and his actions with Rev. Wright is any indication, he would be out of office before he opened his mouth.

Every move Hillary makes is political. The problem is, all her moves are very short sighted. Her moves show an inability to think things through thoroughly. I don't think she has the patients for critical thinking and that is why she employs a "kitchen sink strategy" , throw everything out and see what sticks. Her focus here is to try to suck up to Nancy Pelosi by agreeing with her in hopes that she will win Nancy's favor. Unfortunately her shortsightedness will not win Nancy's favor. What will win Nancy's favor is honesty and integrity which Hillary shows no sign of.

Oh yeah, let us not forget that Bill is the one who took the economic negotiations away from the US by making China a PERMANENT most favored nation. But, who cares!

I'm sure one of her campaign advisers is already having a secret meeting with Chinese officials telling them not to take her official position too seriously. Don't forget, China is one of the most lucrative business partners from whom he got paid millions for his speaking engagements (aka favors).

Former President Bill Clinton, "initially, he pledged to be far tougher on China's human-rights violations than President George Bush was. He promised that free-trade accords would be accompanied by international agreements on the environment and labor rights.

But on each of these issues, Clinton altered his course. On China, he embraced Bush's policy of (depending on your point of view) accommodation or engagement. This angered human-rights advocates. On trade, open markets have taken priority over negotiating social protections."

Chip off the old block…..,money makes the world turn….

Please rethink your suggestion thoroughly. China holds a substantial protion of our external debt and finances our deficits at T-Bill auctions. Respectivefully, think you are very wrong on this suggestion.

I delema for the left, the supporters of Obama, Hillary is an advocate of their position on China yet their candidate Obama won't go on the record, it's another Obama's "Present" vote moment.
Hillary is not saying "Boycott" the Olympics, just the Openning Ceremony by Bush.
Obama are you for or against human rights all the time, or just whenj it suits you?

Can anyone tell me this, "What does the Olympic Games, an international sports competition, have to do with politics?" Last time I checked winning the Olympics doesn't give you anything but bragging rights.

let's rally support, insult China and then maybe nuke them as well. Just kiddin'. Let's allow the Olympics to be the Olympics.

Anyone else noticing CNN's lack of coverage on the possible withdraw of the militia fighting American resistance in Sadr City, thus ending a huge fight in the Iraq War?

Yeah, a positive spin on the war is BADDDDDD

Yes, we wouldn't Bush to be in the line of any sniper fire! Hahaha!

"As usual, Senator Clinton is out in front. "

Except that Pelosi already called for this over a week ago. Sorry, John.

Boycott China? Want to really make and impression on them? Boycott Wal Mart who carries more of their goods than anyone in the US.

Oh yes, Hillary - That is that big old company in Arkansas. You remember, you were on their Board.

James M. "we don't control the Olympics, OK? Ever hear of the IOC?

The village idiot, Jimmy Carter, tried that nonsense in 1980, and the Soviet Union returned the favor in 1984. Neither accomplished anything on the world diplomacy stage, just denied people the best competition possible, and penalized the athletes. Stupid!

People complain that Pres Bush is a lone cowboy, riding roughshod over all the rest of the world? What is this that Hillary is trying to make the President do? Hillary trying to be the boss of the world through President Bush? What kind of mixed messages do Americans send to the world anyway?

Why would Bush Boycott the Olympics in China, Bush dreams hecould implement these types of torcher and lack of human rights, so he and his buddies could further there profit sweepstakes in Iraq!!! Bush already believes in execution and waterboarding, what else does he believe in… not human rights!! thats for sure!!

Don't punish the athletes for something they have no control over!

I say we show China how we feel by sending our athletes there and beating them soundly in Beijing.

Can Hillary Clinton make up her mind about ANYTHING??? She has changed her mind on everything from the WAR she voted for to NAFTA which she helped her husband push through and now she says President Bush should Boycott the olympics a month after she said that we SHOULD NOT boycott them…..I think she is the worst candidate ever. She has blatenly lied to everyone and continues to change her mind on things that matter. I personally don't want a president who can't stand firm on a topic either important or not as important.

I feel the United States should not boycott the Summer Olympics because this is not fair to our athletes who have been training for a long time. I do think it is appropriate to boycott the opening ceremony as Sen.Clinton suggests.

Thank you soon to be President Hillary Clinton. I agree with you 100%.

Right Hillary and Bill gave away military technology to China so they could bomb us with more precision..remember the supercomputers for weather data??!! She is just trying to set the narrative to get it off Penn and her taxes..more of the same..blah blah blah.

If I would not vote for Obama in November is because of the supporters he has, including some people in this blog.

There is no respect for the fellow democrat anymore.
Good Luck!

Now I understand why she is losing…does not have the brain, does not have the heart, simply tries to follow whats popular, Wrong!

How did she even get voted into the Senate?? What has she done but #%&^ Bill since college. With George…at least politics was installed at a very young age and was around him his entire life. Most of us Canadians don't like Bush but as much as some of his decisions peeved off a lot of us…we'd still take him over Hillary….Obama….undecided if he can do it or not.

do you think that she is taking this stance because she actually cares about Tibet? i think not. i think that it's hot in the news now, so she is going to champion the cause for votes. i have a really hard time taking anything this lady says seriously now.

i think we should boycott, but i have felt that since day one. not because some poll told me how to feel or act.

In answer to your question no, will not vote for Obama and I personally like Obama enough but I will not vote for him because of you and all the other Hillary haters that keep the slandering and throwing hate against her. I will not vote for him because of all the calls for no counting all the votes and all the calls to drop out of the race without completing the task at hand.

Congratulations Senator Clinton, you have just lost a good chunk of your supporters.

I dont think us should mix olympics and politics if they are us teams competing in the olympics i dont think bush should boycott what about our american players how do they fill that their president is boycotting and they are there representing america no hillary is wrong on this one, bush should go, these are different events olympics and politics if

Thanks Senator Clinton.
You are double working. Campaigning and staying up the world. Being a Senator, you still have to do your work at the office and represent your people. It is right that you have ask President Bush to boycott the Olympics (or a portion of them). Thanks for staying up on the affairs of the world as you campaign.

Go Senator Clinton.

Obama's position as always is to appease everyone. He said he is torn between our president participating versus non-participation. I am afraid this is exactly what his policy making decision would be. He will be like this until the citizens cry out to take action. He has no backbone and that's not what we want. We want a strong independent minded decision maker. I totally agree with Hillary on this. Tibet has been oppressed so long we have forgotten this little peaceful country. World sporting event always has been used for a political reason. China needs our participation more than anything. Instead of invading a country who is helpless like Iraq, challenge powerhouse like China to do the right thing. This is not political or sporting event. Olympic never brought the countries together as long as I lived. Political pressure and much needed dialog will solve the problem.

Once again, inexperience, ignorance and/or blind optimism shows…

The statement was to boycott the OPENING of the games, not the games itself. And for those who are too blind to see that the modern Olympics have always been used as a political tool, as much as an economic engine that boosts the city/country it's held in.

The spirit of the games is one thing. The realities of politics and business with regard to it are another. Dreaming of Hope and Change but not addressing the realities of politics is just idiotic.

For those that think some of us don't read the articles, we do. And we think that boycotting the openings is just as bad as boycotting the entire event. As Lana said, "The opening is all about pagentry and celebration". It is also about the Olympians, not about China. You are hurting the olympians, not China. If you want to punish China, there are more effective ways. If you want to get your point across, hit them where it hurts. Stop importing lead-tainted toys and contaminated medicine. Stop outsourcing manufacturning. China doesn't care about the opinion of the world, and therefore boycotting the opening ceremonies does nothing but punish those who have truly worked hard to get there. This is, after all, their Olympics. Why shouldn't they be able to celebrate in the pagentry and celebration that is the Olympics opening ceremony?

one final thought on HRC call for olympic boycott this summer by USA - - if nothing else, 1. she got a good degree of extensive press coverage and lots of blog posts; 2. whether planned or not, she definitely has obama in a corner where he needs to respond….
if he says no to boycott, then he can be painted as in cahoots with gross human rights violators in china… but if he goes along with her, he will be pictured as being swept up in the tide….. or 3. he can follow her lead, and join the growing thought in many democratic nations around the world….. ditto for mccain, but for mccain, this is less of an issue to have to deal with ASAP than for obama….. some good strategy on HRC on this one…

On this issue, Hillary is as wrong as she was with the sniper story!

Yo clinton, you just lost 3 votes from my family!!!!!

Well, America's human rights record is no screaming hell either.

Shunning China is no way to convince them to change their ways. It will only alienate them more. Let America have the decency to attend the games as the gracious country it is and work behind the scenes with diplomacy to help bring change to human rights conditions in China.

You don't get people to change by poking them in they eye.

How does boycotting the Olympics help the situation in Tibet? The Chinese government already knows that the rest of the world is aware of their appalling human rights record. This is an issue that ought to be addressed from a different avenue. Simply boycotting the games is a very immature way of tackling this problem. Hillary Clinton is desperate to get some undecided voted by appealing to their emotional attachment to the country and the people of Tibet. Something i call the propaganda of sentimentalism. If she really is serious about this, he should have said it months ago- and not today after the protesters have done a superb job spurred the biggest wave for her to jump on and surf.
She should be using her foreign policy expertise to tackle the situation in Zimbabwe for example, where almost two weeks after the presidential election, the results are nowhere to be seen.

The headline is misleading. Hillary only asks that Bush stay away from the opening ceremony. It seems such a small gesture–too small to make much of an impact at what is supposed to be a non-political way for the world to come together in spite of our differences. Bush (and Clinton) need(s) to find some other way to express disapproval of political stance than a non-political event.

What good will a boycott do when we dont have the spine to do anything economically to send China a clear message in regards to all the monkey business in regards to exports to the US?

Mrs Clinton feel free to go back and tell your husband to stop working for all the oppressive governments in the Middle East if your sto worried about oppression in the world. Instead of playing the part of the normal hypocritical politician every time you speak out on an issue like Tibet.

Can Obama ever make up his mind about anything? The only time he takes a firm stance on something is when: 1) it is the exact stance already presented by someone; or 2) it is the exact opposite of the stance already presented by someone that was not of popular opinion.

The Olympics is about uniting the world through sport, nothing to do with politics. So yeah, great idea to boycott it. I'm sure all your athletes will thank you greatly.

Should the President go to the Olympics opening ceremony?
• Yes
• No

Should Tibet be a freed from China’s oppressive rule?
• Yes
• No

Please send your answer to the President, Senator, and Rep.

I have the feeling that if BO would have decided to take the same position as Clinton has done in this issue the media would be falling over with delight. Yeah, and also that any of the hosts reporting the miraculously delivered good tidings would probably go as far as to say something akin to getting some sort of rush up his leg…

I agree with Hillary,
but how Bush is going to boycot the country if USA owns a lot of money to China?

This showed how desperate she is, I understand and have sympathy to her. However, being desperate shouldn't be an excuse to make stupid calls. Now I don't believe she is capable to lead this great nation. I almost donated to her and glad I didn't. Now I don't think she has any chance to win the primary, let alone the presidency.

I'm no Clinton fan, but I agree. That we allow chronic human rights abusers like China to hold the Olympics is a black mark against us. China has consistently mouthed the words of human rights while remaining the paramount abuser of those rights. It should be common sense for the west to use this opportunity to confront China.

If nothing else, China's refusal to help prevent further genocide in Darfur is reason enough to boycott. Good for Hillary.

China is protecting its billions of citizens from terrorist attacks by the barbaric tibetians, nothing different than what US is doing in Iraq/afgan. So clinton cut the crap and do SOMETHING better to save your own campaign.

The Olympics should have never gone to China in the first place.
Too late now to change that .
However , to boycott the opening ceremonies might be a statement by the international community to protest the latest violence against Tibet.

LEAVE THE OLYMPICS ALONE HILLARY! The Olympics should not be politicized!!!

More grand standing. Same old Billary going which ever way the wind blows. China had been awarded the olympics July 13 2001 and NOW she's offended. For anyone to become offended seven years later seems just a tad disingenuous.

It will be difficult to accomplish anything against China, other than play word games. They have no real need to change their position. Boycotting typically fails (in present age) because the only real change will come when Americans choose to purchase things outside of chinese production, which is essentially impossible. Therefore, we are in China's pocket. The reason, poor choice with Most Favorite Nation Status Clinton…

question for Mccain: should the US boycott the olympics in china this summer??
question for obama: should the US boycott the olympics in China this summer??
question for candidates Mccain, obama, clinton, and nader: should the US re-establish diplomatic relations with the Free Republic of China on Taiwan(formosa)?
question for candidates Mccain, obama, clinton, and nader: should the US bar all products made in mainland China unless and until that nation meets minimum standards of democracy and human rights?
mccain/Rice08!

Grandstanding again! Poor Hillary, so sad! Going down for the count, just like Rocky!

Did everyone read the article? She is not seeking to keep athletes who have trained their whole lives from participating in the Olympics. She is asking Bush to do what is morally and socially correct. Further, this is not a ploy to get the attention off of the Penn situation; Hillary advocated for human rights in China long before Penn diaplayed poor judgement.

Free Tibet! Stop importing junk and poison from China! Go Hillary! You're the best candidate and the only hope to salvage the US.

Is Hillary trying to distract supporters from the Penn / NAFTA fiasco?

Ian: I agree. So let's just charge the Chinahoos for the secrets that they've taken off of us lately, and put some interest on it. Then we won't have to pay any of that back. And tell them to put that in their smoke and pipe it.

Cease trading with China huh? Look at your shoes, your shirt, your cup and the computer you're typing on. It was most likely manufactured in China. We have become their slaves.

I'm not sure where ou learned economics Bayou Joe but neither China, nor any other country, is going to cash in their T-bills. What do you think they would do with their money? There is no other currency out there with our stability or value. If anything, they have more of a stake in improving our economy than we do.

good for you Hillary- it may not change them but its one inch closer.

BOYCOTT CLINTON!!!!

Hil'ry, your husband gave China favored nation status. Now they are not so favored?
Clinton Proposes Renewing China's Most-Favored Trade Status
Congressional reaction mixed amidst larger China policy issues
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 3, 1998) — President Bill Clinton on Wednesday proposed renewing most-favored-nation (MFN) trade status for China, saying it was "clearly in our nation's interest" as he urged Congress to support the request.
Most-favored-nation status offers low tariffs and treats countries as normal trading partners. "Trade is also an important part of our relationship with China. Our exports have tripled over the last decade and now support over 170,000 American jobs," Clinton argued.

Wow what a shocker…she for the 1000th time waits until a public opinion is registered.

Gee…if she gets to be president then we'll need a national referrendum on every issue just because she won't do anything until she's sure the majority of America agrees.

Real brave there.

Maybe she should boycott Bill for his violation of Monica's human rights - or how about the entire nation's right to NOT having the president lie to them.

To me, one of the thrills of the Olympics is the march of the athletes into the Olympic stadium (or arena) — to see the flags and the athletes themselves. I always have liked to compare the number of athletes in each country's group. The fun of seeing one athlete marching as a representative of an African or Caribbean nation in the winter Olympics. I would imagine there must be quite a thrill for some athletes knowing that the head of their nation (President, King, or whatever) is present and to know that he/she is marching in front of him/her. Let the Olympics begin! And Sen. Clinton, the only boycott I would suggest is that of the Clinton Library.

Well, here we go again! Every time I read these blogs it's nothing but HATEFUL and IGNORANT ranting and raving against Hillary from Obama people who have no clue about ANY of the issues or why, in this case, it may be a good idea to boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Of course Obama is torn….
he can NEVER make a firm decision about anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!
unless it's "I agree with what Senator Clinton said""….
he is just not STRONG enough to be a president…….not yet anyway.
Good Lord people - when are you going to start opening your eyes!

HIllary and Bill double faces—cheap attempts to redirect attentions on Tax Returns, Library donors, Sniper Misspoke and NAFTA. You deceived Ohioans for votes, now you're using dark political tricks to deceive Pennsylvanians. Pennsyvanians say no to Supporters of NAFTA.

Hillary Clinton Career is over now she's reaching at straws to hold some type of interest. Her senate seat will be up fro grabs now that some of her dirt is out in the open.

GREAT!!!!!!! someone has to let Bush know his decision on attending the ceremonies is WRONG! We are talking about humans' rights here people, get a clue? GWB does not have the brains to understand his decision is very very wrong, someone has to 'spell the words' for him.

Blaming the Clintons for the problems in China with respect to Tibet is just stupid. All of you who seem to think that they somehow caused the problems Tibet is having with China need to go to a local library and educate yourselves on Tibet. This is consistent with Obama supports, just jump on any bandwagon and blame the Clintons for everything. Obama supporters need to open their eyes and educate themselves a whole lot better on issues before they vote.

In addition, Pres. Bush boycotting the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in no way punishes the athletes. This would be for a diplomatic show only. Mrs. Clinton is not calling for a complete boycott of the games only that politicians and world leaders not attend what is supposed to be China's shining moment on the world stage to send a message of disapproval to the Chinese Government.

Clinton is just trying to play on the protest for political gain. Have you noticed how she changes her mind a lot?

Is this the same Hillary Clinton that invited the Chinese to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom…..

Democrats are going to give it to the republicans again.

Hillary's failure to winnow bad leadership from good people furthermore exposes her innanity in international affairs……

Clearly no country was justified to sanction America on charges of imorality because of Bill Clinton's involvement in the Lewinsky affair .

.In the same vein Dubai and Chinese investors cannot stop investing money on ailing American companies at Wall Street just because George Bush (with the blessing of Hillary Clinton )invaded Iraq.

Good and Bad Leaders may come and go but the spirit of a nation lives on forever..

Hillary don't get it that Americans want to hear more about the economy,healthcare,education and housing and less of China.

And it really shows that her claims of experience is plain bunkum.

Her husband loves China… this is just a ploy for votes.

DON'T BUY HER HORSEHOCKEY!

She is only calling for Boycott of the Opening Ceremony…not the entire Olympics. Get it right CNN.

Boycotting, the opening of the Olympic Games, only punishes the athletes. This won't matter to the Chinese government. Hit it where it hurts, money and trade.

Way to go Hillary! America stands for democracy and freedom and it is important to speak up-you've done it! Other people are afraid of that and it takes a courageous person to do it. I will vote for you and I hope you grab the democratic nomination as you more than deserve it!

What China is doing with regards to Tibet and Darfur is wrong…..but can't we make our views known without boycotting the Olympics? By doing that, the only people we are going to hurt are the American athletes that have been training 4 years for a chance to compete in the olympics. Why should they be penalized just because the games are being held in China?!?!?

If you want to oppose China, why don't you do it through your foreign policy, and not by waiting to make some dramatic stand during the olympics?

Beijing olympics 2008! No politics!

Anyone else get the feeling that she will be significantly nicer to China once she has been elected?

Obama '08

Obama reminds me of Bush. A fake that can not speak if he is not in front of a teleprompter or reading off cue cards. Hillary stands up for human rights every day and she is not afraid to stand her ground!

Go Hillary!

So, George W. Bush, a chief violator of human rights, a proponent of an illegal war, should boycott China's ceremony on behalf of human rights? That's like Barry Bonds speaking out against steroids…

Kinda hard to boycott China when we are borrowing billions of dollars from them everyday.

FS - you ignorant! of course they are treating this as a "one in a lifetime" event… it is… they are fighting for their independence… what would you like them to do? wait for the games to be over and not allow the world to see their struggle? the Games in the modern era were created as a political tool to unite countries, however when you have countries with the track records of Germany in 1938 and Russia in 1980 it does have a compelling argument of a China of 2008 where human rights are still not at the front of that regime. Sen. Clinton knows too well what that culture has done to is citizens, especially to women. I believe she is well within her right to call on this administration for a boycot… you guys want to just hate her, then just say it… but if you expect to discuss the events please at least do your homework.

We owe China to must money to boycott anything, if you want to send a message it should be through trade or a lack of trade dealings.

Fools for Hillary…do you really want this woman to lead our country just because she is a woman??? May all your immediate family lie to you as she has lied to our nation..

This is outrageous, the Olympics is a none polictical event uniting all altheles from all countries. Stop the politics.

I have put 15 pro Clinton antil Obama messages on here oeer the past few eeeks … but politicizing the Olympics turns me off. This is a bad idea —- Run for president Hillary, but keep your campaiogn out of the Olympics. This is pure showmanship

If Obama follows suit - shame on him too

China has a history of human right's violation….this is not new or surprise.—Bill and Hillary know that for sure. It seems she is concern now, what of Rwanda, Taiwan, Sudan genocide and hundreds of countries that do not honor human rights…..Shame on Billary?
Stick on the issue such as JOBS, HEALTH INSURANCE, ECONOMY, IRAQ'S WAR, NAFTA AND MR. PENN, PLAY ON GENDER/RACE CARD WHENEVER IT SOOTHS YOU, SNIPER MISSPOKE, TAX RETURNS, BILLARY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY DONORS?
Billary enrichment program from 2000 t0 2006–109 Million in less than 7yrs—where did the money came from and who 're the recipients of charities—Americans deserve to know?

It was the Clintons that helped put China into this much power and now we are begging for money from them. Hillary was a big supporter of free trade with China. Now she wants to sing a different tune. My god can you really trust this lady?

Why we're not boycotting the games-
I've worked with STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition on this very issue. As you may know, the Chinese have very close ties with the government of Sudan. They could use those ties to stop the government-sponsored genocide in Darfur. What a boycott from President Bush does is it shows a world leader's disagreement with unjust policies.

A total Olympic boycott is unfair because it hurts those who have been training so hard for this event. The Athletes did not CHOOSE for the Olympics to be in Beijing, and many young people dream of performing in the Olympic Games. We have no right to dash those dreams.

That doesn't mean that we can't bring up human rights abuses while the spotlight's on China…

Ben Heide
STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition
Great Lakes Regional Outreach Coordinator

Boycotting, the Opening of the Olympics, only punishes the athletes. This will mean nothing to the Chinese government. Punish the Chinese government were it hurts, money and trade.

Why would Bush care about the rights of the Chinese populace when he has shown disdain for the rights of his own country's citizens?

I seem to remember Ms. Clinton attending a women's rights conference in China, a nation that controls the reproductive activity of its women to an obscene degree.

When are you going to report on Marc Ambinger's (of the Atlantic) report that Mark Penn is still very much involved with the Clinton campaign. He has been on the conference calls today and it looks like his "demotion" actually does not entail anything other than a public rebuke.

Hill - How can we believe anything you say?

the idea of a US boycott is not a political ploy on the part of clinton, rather it is an idea that is getting a good head of steam in quite a few nations…. as little as two weeks ago, most Euro nations said no to the idea of even their top leaders not attending the opening ceremony this summer… then the first one who raised the idea of not going was Ms. Merkle, German Chancellor, to be followed by Prez Sarkozy in france… and then other Euro nations are also picking up on the idea, as is sentiment in canada, australia, NZ, and other democratic nations…. it's just that the US is lagging a bit behind what others in the world were first saying, and now moving toward….
ALL FREEDOM LOVING NATIONS SHOULD CUT DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH THE SO CALLED PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA… AND SET UP DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH THE FREE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN-FORMOSA….

Leave the athletes out of this. They train for years to get the opportunity to compete at the Olympics and then the politicians grandstand with their righteous indignation. If we are going to boycott China, let's start with the entire nation not buying anything from China. Let's make it a real sacrifice and a true statement of what we believe is right instead of punishing the athletes with a boycott that doesn't cost the Amircan people anything.

Yeah boycott the Olympics. We should ban our athletes from going to the Games. That'd send a REAL message that we are serious. Our Dream Team would turn in a nightmarish performance anyway. Let the Chinese have their own party. We stay home and watch our beloved MLB in August.

Need to save the country. President can not be conservation(like BUSH) or President can not be liberal (Like Obama).

The president has to be moderate.
Either Clinton or McCain.

It´s time to change the tough exaggerated masculinity in the White House. It´s time to elect a female as President.

Clinton's cheap shot ! Another attempt by her campaign to divert attention to her negative Campaign!

Hey Clinton, all the Chinese donors to your campaign are demanding their money back !!!

Absolutely agree that Bush should not be in attendance at the Olympic ceremonies. The leaders of most major Countries in Europe will not be in attendance, and as the so-called proclaimers of Democracy, it would be incredibly hypocritical of Bush to attend the games.

As for the athletes themselves, you need to let them participate. This issue needs to be dealt with, but is not as drastic as the circumstances which caused the boycott of the games in Germany all those years ago. Plus, it would result in the isolationistic outcome which is absolutely not desired.

Olympics should not be boycotted,,, there are athletes who have waited 4 years for this moment. They are at their peak, don't deny them this.

The people that should be punished are the IOC members for awarded communist china these games. The olympics are a symbol of world unity. All countries athletes, even enemies, come together in friendly sports contests.

Good call Hillary. What does Bush know about the Games. And BTW, I need a ticket to the Opening Ceremony and this may be my chance.

Sounds like somebody who's badly behind wants some attention…Boy I wish Bush would say that publicly in response.

Seriously, though, Billary?

Where to start? Too little. Too late. Too lame. Be original. That's been done already, let's not make an issue out of it.

Obama 08!

anything to grab headlines…. so sad..it's over..she lose.

Some posters seemed to have missed the part that says Bush should boycott the OPENING of the Olympics. That makes sense to me. The opening is all about pagentry and celebration, and certainly there is nothing to celebrate in China's human rights policy. Hillary Clinton traveled to Beijing when she was First Lady to work on human rights. That was leading by example. Obama is still figuring out out he feel about this. It's been tossed around for over a month now–what is he waiting for? That doesn't sound like leadership to me.

Boycott the opening and let the athletes show their talents. Perhaps on the playing field we can come together.

unfortunately, the bush administration has made it impossible for us to take the moral high ground on human rights anymore. a country that snatches people off the street and sends them to third world countries for torture and incarcerates people at gitmo with no trials, really doesn't have a leg to stand on when it comes to preaching human rights.

First of all, how arrogant of any American to think that a country will change its national policies because another world leader does not show up to the Olympic games opening! Yes, we should get involved, but Bush's appearance or non-appearance is irrelevant.

Some people’s fascination with and support of Hilary Clinton, despite all her lies and “mis-spoke” incidents, is quite mystifying, bordering on blind acceptance. This is not about gender or some media conspiracy as some people try to make it out to be, but rather, it is about trust and credibility, and the scarcity of truth in Hilary’s statements.

Why should the athletes suffer?????
Carter tried to boycott and he ruined the careers of many athletes.
Courage in the face of adversity, I thought this was something Hillary embodied.
McCain in a LANDSLIDE!!

She needs to worry about Obama. Bush is way out of her league at this point. She can't control her campaign, she can't pay her bills, she is pushing healthcare and she hasn't paid healthcare bill for her employees. Laughable, and there are still people trying to vote for her. How blind can they be.

clintons campaign has not done anymore negatives then obama. but just like when bush lied to america it was quickly covered up and attention was brought to some other issue. that is the same thing happening with Obama. His campaign has been really negative too but if you want the truths you should research the two. Obamas change campaign is just talk. He basically has the same plans as CLINTON so how much change can that be. The only difference is she speaks for herself and he speaks for all the old men helping to run this campaign that wished they could get the response that Obama is getting……READ betweem the lines folks. She is much more experienced and will make CHANGE happen.

Hi, Hillary, I used to support you. But I have changed my mind. You will loose all the votes from American Chinese. Even Bush is better than you!

Do you understand the sprit of Olympic?

Do you know what is happened in Tibet?

Do you know the history of Tibet?

We will boycott your compain!

Once again, Hillary takes a position while Obama just hedges in the wing.

If he can't make the tough calls now, what makes you think he will be able to in the Oval Office?

Ever willing to make the tough foreign policy decisions. We shouldn't eat fortune cookies either!

Clinton's cheap shot ! Another attempt by her campaign to divert attention to her negative Campaign!

Hey Clinton, all the Chinese donors to your campaign are demanding their money back !!!

CHINA DOES NOT AND WILL NEVER HAVE US OVER A BARREL.
THEY MAY HAVE LOANED US BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP US THRU A BAD ECONOMY, BUT HAVE RESOURCES MANY MORE TRILLIONS THAN WE OWE. BOYCOTTING THE OLYMPICS WILL ONLY CAUSE ANIMOSITY. THE OLYMPICS SHOULD NOT BECOME
A POLITICAL PAWN.
WHILE WE ARE ALL DEBATING POLITICS. ALL THE NATIONS ARE IGNORING AFRICA AND ITS MOUNTINGPROBLEMS.
I SIMPLY HATE THE FACT THAT SOMALIAN PIRATES CONTINUE
ATTACKING AND CAPTURING SHIPS ALONG THEIR COAST AND GETTING RANSOM MONEY AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT. THE INCIDENTS ARE INCREASING.. IT IS A DEPLORABLE TRAVESTY
ON INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND THE FREEDOM TO SAIL THE SEAS SAFELY.. THE FRENCH NOW ARE TAKING ACTION (IF BELATEDLY) WHEN SOME OF ITS CITIZENS WERE CAPTURED BY PIRATES. NATO SEEMS TO TURN A DEAF EAR AND BLIND SIGHT TO THE PROBLEM. SOMALIA AND ITS PIRATES HAVE THE NATIONS
HAMSTRUNG?

Cindy,

Way to speak with vagueness and in platitudes! Obama would be proud!

I don't see China as a nose on our face - more as a genitalia - required to continue our existence, but not something we want to see in the mirror everyday.

Ever heard about a female dictator? I guess that you havn`t depending on differences in male and female mentalities. End the male chauvinism in the White House.

Larry Dickman Des Moines, IA

She did… were you living under a rock in the 90's?

This is the same Clinton who approved the sale of US secret technology to the Chinese after receiving campaign contributions from the Chinese military.

The Olympics should not be political. The games should be
about 'friendly' competition - a country's best athletes against
another country's best athletes. However…..in the case of
the Beijing Olympics, I think a boycott by the American Olympic
Team would not be out of line. Nor do I feel that President
Bush should go to Beijing. The Chinese people are paying a
prince that even the International Olympic Committee didn't
figure on. And there is no way the Chinese can turn what they've
done around to make a difference at this point. I'm sorry,
American Athletes, but staying home is the best choice.

What about Free IRAQ?

as usual obama stays on the fence, he doesn't have the guts to come out and say anything. At least Hillary is taking a stand on what she believes in which is more than he will do. Go ahead and vote to get him nominated, the country will go from bad to worse and become more devisive than ever. GO HILLARY!!!

Mrs. Clinton, since Bush sold himself & this country to China, the chinese will be telling him what to do so please don't waste your breath - there are other issues you should be addressing.

I'm not typically a Bush supporter, but I back him on this. These atheletes train for years for this, it's their dream, and no part of the experience should be stripped from them for the sake of a political statement. The best way to make a statement is to support our atheletes 100%, send them to the games, and hope they dominate.

LOL LOL LOL LOL
ANYONE WONDER WHY THIS COMES AFTER THE NEWS OF HER TOP ADVISER MESSING THINGS UP> SHE PLAYING THE MEDIA WELL TO DIVERT ATTANTION FROM A POTENTAILLY DAMAGING SITUATION AND SHE THINKS WE ARE CHILDREN.

SHE SHOULD ADDRESS WHY HER 16 YEAR FAMILY POLITICAL ADVISER WOULD GO AGAINST EVERY THING SHE "CLAIMS" SHE IS AGAINST

HILLARY: YOUR LIES ARE CATCHING UP TO YOU AND FAST.. U MIGHT NOT BE EVEN VIALBLE FOR A VICE PRES.. WHEN THE DUST SETTLES

Are you kidding me??

I guess she believes everyone has forgotten that it was her husband that advanced the "engagement" policy with China that dropped all trade leverage we had. At the time, those opposed stated it was the wrong thing to do, because it lets Chinas unfair labor practices and human rights abuses go on.

This is her family's mess.

The Chinese have violated human rights from the day the Communists seized control. They NEVER should have been awarded the Olympics. But, inasmuch as they have, we should not punish our athletes for the sins and stupidity of others.

If the athletes would like to take a stand and make a statement by boycotting any part of the olympic games I'd support it 100%. But to have the government step in and make a decision that will affect the hard work and dedication to their sports that these young athletes have would be a human rights issue all it's own. Let the United States olympic team make their own decision.

HILLARY! April 7th, 2008 2:28 pm ET

Ever notice if you bash Hillary your comments stick, if you make intelligent points on BO's weaknesses, you get moderated off……Nice……
———————————————————————–
Yes it is the same on first read too.
The only thing the media is pushing is Obama, if Hillary said she would VOTE for BO they would spew hate on that too.

Why olympic games should relate to politics? It is little sick. This is the reason Tibet played a role in that. Come on, polictitian can't interfere sports!

Aw come on, who give her the right to prevent our athletes from attending the opening? The opening might be the most memorable event for some of them athletes if they could not win gold medals. So just let them come to the ceremony, compete, and enjoy! Olympics is a SPORTS game, not a political one!

Well… I have to agree with her on that one…

America has to regain the moral high ground we were once so very proud of.

I'm an Obama supporter, but I really respect Hillary for this. Its the first thing she's done in months that garner my admiration–by boycotting the ceremony the U.S. president would be sending a strong message about what we strongly value: human rights.

The 2008 summer games were awarded to Beijing, on July 13, 2001. The short list was published while Bill Clinton was president. Forget politics. American athletes went to Berlin in 1936 and kicked butt. Thanks Jesse Owens.

We boycotted the Olympics in 1980. What good did it do and whom did it serve?

China has human rights violations? So does America. Can we boycott Washington?

The Olympics are supposed to be unpolitical. Can we at least try to make them look that way?

Once again…..Billary shows she is not a leader by any means. Both England and France has already shown their concern with the "Games" and started boycotting already….. She must have read the newspaper….(Where she gets all her indeas) and said…hmmm…now this sounds like a good thing that already has the public aware. She has never been a leader…she has to the the polls first before she ever acts….Someone get the Clintons a bus ticket back to Ark.

No a thousand times no. The Olympics are for the athletes not for politicians to make points. The Olympics bring young people of the world together much better than what the grownups have done to this world. I support Hillary but not on this one.

Jump on the bandwagon Hillary!! What leadership!!. How desperate can you get? What will you support/condemn next?

Good idea Clinton.

Hillary Clinton 08

What the Hell ? Everybody and everything is expendable for the queen. Why not throw everybody under the bus in order to save the queen for her coronation? Compared to hillary, General Sherman's march to Atlanta was a walk in the park compared to her "win-at-all-costs" strategy.

Go HILLARY all the way.

Make afro sheen OBAMA (nothing sticks to him) work for the job he think he wants. It has been handed to him thus far.

I will vote McCain if OBAMA is on the ticket.

EXPERIENCE FIRST.

JOHN MERTHA AND WESLEY CLARK support HILLARY OPRAH supports OBAMA GET REAL FOLKS! HE is not a LEADER. HIS PASTOR WILL TELL THIS NATION WHAT TO THINK IF YOU VOTE OBAMA.

PENN, NC STAND WITH THE REAL LEADER DO NOT GIVE THIS NATION TO THE REPLUBICANS. WE ALL WILL VOTE REPLUBICAN IF OBAMA IS ON THE TICKET (AT ALL)

Your golden boy Obama is hardly a man who walks on water. OH NO!.. SUE ME FOR SAYING SOMETHING BAD ABOUT OBAMA!!.. OH NO!!..

I strongly condemn China regarding the human rights violation. But just an advise, do not boycott one of biggest sporting events on earth. Keep politics separate from sports. If USA boycott the inaugural function, they will retaliate whenever Olympics happens in US…. tit for that is bad for the sports. We must find some other way to put pressure on China. Politics should be played in a political arena and not in the sport arena.

Correction: There are three protestors up on the cables, not 5 or 6.

A curiously convenient gesture. At the risk of sounding cynical, I see a few advantages to making this statement today:

-Considering that House Speaker (D) Pelosi made the same stand about a week ago (and standing alone to my knowledge) one wonders if this is an effort by the Clintons to score some points with Ms. Pelosi and like minded inde and demo human rights advocates. Senator Clinton has chosen to do nothing regarding these abuses until it became convenient for her. Considering that to date Hillary has no history of challenging the Chinese on human rights issues but rather, if you buy her claims of White House experience, you must accept too that she was very much a party in the administration that awarded the Chinese favored nation status. This being the case (as it appears to many) it seems, Sen. Clinton - forever the opportunist, has managed to distract attention from her tale telling and such once again. In the wake of the M. Penn revelations and implications the shrewd Clinton campaign counters w/ this empty call for justice to a president who wouldn't know justice if it were written on the walls of the White House by the hand of God himself. This time, shamelessly capitalizing on the suffering of the Tibettan peoples to score points with the party and in the polls.

In any event, obviously the president should refrain from supporting the olympics (incidentally, this will not happen). It would send a signal abroad that there remain Americans who are in fact committed to real democratic principles and not merely to markets and capitalization.

a vote 4 change!

People please read… BOYCOTT THE OPENING CEREMONIES…. You all know what CNN wants that headline…. all the athletes will still go and participate… is a symbolical gesture to send a message to Beijing that we are not happy about human rights and all the other shenanigans in Tibet.

I can not believe all you morons that jump to get on her without even reading… we can always count on the Hillary haters not to miss an opportunity to get on her case even if she when she is right.

The more I read the postings from the Obama people the more I am glad I am no longer a member of the Dem party. The hate and disrespect they shoe EVERYONE but BO is horrendous.

I want to congratulate every last one of them for their combined success in conniving me to leave the party and be an independent.

TO NEVER EVER, EVER, VOTE FOR OBAMA EVER!!