China owns the United States. They hope Obama is the next President so they can actually move into the States too…maybe replace the Stars and Stripes….its a whole new world !

China's shortcomings on human rights will not change in the short-term, if ever.
No olympics for you. I do feel disapproval should be shown in some form.

They have not changed in thousands of years. What makes you think they will change in a few months

I say they all boycott!! why are we so scared of China, yes we owe them money, but remember we are their biggest customer, and importer…

they are not going anywhere, let's make them change their ways!!!!

This man has not gotten any criticism what so ever in the media and has gotten a free ride in the press, while Hillary tired to beat down Barack.

Can you say Shiite & Sunni, how many times have McCain got this wrong.

Get him off of "The View"

Yep and all of you women lovers out there for John McCain opposes “Roe vs. Wade”

Yea go ahead and vote for McCain go ahead and make my day and you won't even have a choice with your own bodies.

Obama 08!!!

I didn't even know that Chinese had invited John Mccain to attend. Do they really care if he's not going?

Not attending the ceremonies WILL DO NOTHING! Bush and McCain need to go to Beijing. Not going not only dishonors China, it dishonors the spirit of the olympic games.

Ok, so why does everyone jump on McCain for doing this? The other two did the same

Hillary/Obama's turn:

HOW DARE YOU TURN THE OLYMPICS INTO A POLITICAL STATEMENT?!?
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD, NOT ABOUT TRYING TO APPEAR THE MORE MORALLY SUPERIOR

Senator McCain, I apologize for all the people who can't see both sides of the coin.

I support a Free Tibet, but apparently everyone criticizing McCain doesn't. Shame on you for your hypocritical views.

~Haven't Decided Yet '08

It was the Clinton administration that gave Chine most favored nation status for trade.

It was Hillary who sat on the board of Walmart.

Who really gave China the keys to the bank?

David,

Blame your state's legislature for not obeying rules!

Do your guys know China, know Tibet. Know what happen a couple of weeks ago in Tibet. No. you know nothing. CNN , BBC … are biased and dishonest medium!!!!!

Mr. McCain, we don't care if you go to TIMBUCKTO. Take Bush
Cheney, Liberman, Lindsey Graham, Clinton, Rice with you.Get
a one way ticket, because we don't want you back. Dubai is ready
for the millionaires that bankrupt our land. Dubai, the haven for
the Rich and Famous.

Boycotting the Olympics won't work.Why?Having lived in a country where 2 Olympics were held,I can tell you the public pride in hosting and witnessing the Olympics in your country far exceeds anything you ever experience on a countrywide basis.And the animosity you feel towards anyone who does anything to hurt your Olympics is lasting.The people of China will neither forget nor forgive those who boycott their Olympics.Yes,the Chinese Government benefits big as well,but before you boycott,give a thought to the millions of ordinary Chinese for whom this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience something truly remarkable and different.

Don't attend the but still borrow money from China for the WAR!!!!!

I am with Eric and al snyder: I REFUSE to watch the Olympics this year and I am doing my best to NOT buy products that are made in China. This last part, unfortunately, is not an easy task. I understand that the Olympics is about the athletes but the US has boycotted previous Olympics so for those who believe the Olympics should not become a venue for politics- it has already been done in the past. And, it is not any one issue that has lead to me this decision of boycott, rather it is culmination of everything that is wrong with China in this world: tainted drugs, lead paint, human rights abuses, support for the genocide in Dufar, repression of their people, etc, etc. If we really want to make a point to our elected officials, all Americans need to boycott the Olympics AND boycott those things made in China. If we demand products that are made in the USA, then Americans get to go back to work. Isn't that a nice thought????

A boycott of the Olympic opening ceremony is bad idea. Why don't we focus on our own issues instead of making noises like a bunch of mad dogs? You have to understand that majority people in China against those ideas. It has nothing to do with human rights!

Ofcourse McCain trying to do the new cool thing just to get elected.

How far can Bush take hypocrisy? After Iraq, Abu Ghraib, waterboarding, the shredding of the Constitution, Guantanamo, spying on citizens and the stolen elections of 2000 and 2004, he has unbelievable nerve lecturing the Chinese about rights violations. Sure, individual citizens have every right to protest, but not Bush and this administration.

How arrogant we are. Why would China invite or even allow our president to attend the ceremonies? He’s a war criminal. Why wouldn't other countries that contest our invasion of Iraq protest our inclusion? If we have issues with China's human rights violations, why do we not have issues with our own inequities? Such hypocrisy. Will the U.S. broadcast the Olympics, or should sponsors pour money into the event given the controversy? If it is not about politics, then why are government officials invited? Are the Olympics about athleticism? Or are they really about governments? Perhaps they are about MONEY!!

I'm glad to hear that both McCain and Clinton are for boycotting the Olympics in China.

China does not embrace what the spirit of what the olympic games stand for and should have NEVER been allowed to host these games in the first place.

I'm also tired of US companies shipping all the jobs overseas to China, Korea and India. That includes all the telephone customer service positions for banks and retailers.

I would gladly pay more for products to be manufactured in the United States and to have our citizens employeed then purchase something cheaply made overseas.

BTW: I have never been inside a Wall Mart store. There is just a gross feeling about a store that sells fruit, vegitables, underware and gun amo all under one roof - Disgusting.

trying to make yourself a head of state before you vow not to attend the opening ceremony because I don't think you are on the guest list at all. PS: does the U.S. have other effective leverage except boycotting Olympics?

McCain should get over himself. Does he honestly think China will 'change' from now until the Olympics start just because 'he' wants it? And this man wants to be President? I'm laughing so hard I can hardly type.

COUNT FLORIDA, MICHIGAN!! I WANT TO BE HEARD TOO!

I think it is abundantly clear by now that the Chinese government cannot be allowed to use its "economic muscle" to threaten the community of nations into supporting policies that everyone knows are in violation of human rights. Showing solidarity with China provides this type of support to China's image worldwide. The Olympics is an unmatched opportunity to place China's offenses in the limelight and to create an uproar of response from the world community… which otherwise ignores these things for the most part. It's unfortunate that politics have become a part of this game. But, it is already the case, so now the U.S. needs to take the strong moral stance against China's abuses. The world community can hurt China's economy a lot more than China can hurt any other nation's economy. So, China will be forced to either straighten up or fall out of grace…. regardless of how pissed off it is that it does not receive its full Olympic glory.

Even though the U.S. has its own serious human rights abuses, it doesn't mean we shouldn't take the right stand towards China. To argue that it makes us hypocritical is besides the point right now. We all must focus on upholding civil rights in our countries and around the world.

Sen. McCain, that's NOT very realistic and smart. Clinton/Bush has GIVEN China enormous leverage in trade agreements, etc.

THEY are not going to change NOW just because of the Olympic Games are you kidding me? I mean WHY should they? I mean WHERE was Sen. Clinton during the Clinton years? WHERE was Sen. McCain years ago? WHY voice all this nonsense NOW? Because they are in a presidential RACE, nothing more. THEY WANT OUR VOTES!!!

Both Sen. Clinton and Sen. McCain's protest is nothing MORE than a political screen because both of them had years to voice their protests, but they didn't. Sen. Clinton herself could have focused her "First Lady" years and her Senate years to voice her protest, but SHE DIDN'T.

People really need to step back and think about these political "hypes" that are being shoved down our throats. It's really ridiculous to say the least.

I'm just grateful that Sen. Obama hasn't jump in on the "holier than thou" bandwagon. It's just silly.

Our American Atheletes need our support, Bush and everyone else can raise HELL before, After and during the games, but I don't think they should ACT like they truly concern all of a sudden when we all know it's all about the political primary.

does anybody really think it will make ANY difference if bush doesn't go to the opening ceremonies. I think he should go to support the athletes, if he doesn't go though I doubt anybody will even notice, bush is a moron!
he reminds me of a priviledged dork that inherits the very successful family business then being a complete and total moron runs it into the ground. I don't think there is anybody that could have done a worse job then bush! the guy just doesn't know how to manage ANYTHING.

Why were the Olympics given to China in the first place? With the friction in Tebet, this was a very poor choice.
And how said it is that the Olympics cannot just be observed as a sport and not politics; however, these idiodic politicans insisted on getting involved.

You deplore the Chinese violence in Tibet, yet you endorse our daily rape of Iraq. You are senile, with hatered in your heart, and deep psychological wounds from your days in Vietnam.

Stop this bleeding heart act. It's so phony.

Mac is bomb,bomb bomb iran. this guy scared me when it wasn't a joke and can not get my vote!

Won't go until China Changes? Do you think we are total idiots?
Are you talking to pre-schoolers? China won't be bullied by the
U.S. China won't change!!!! And we don't know that? McCain
is senile. Bush will run the country while sitting on his front porch
at the Ranch.

Why doesn't someone DO something about the genocide in Darfur which the Chinese help to perpetrate? I know some think it will help to boycott the Olympic openings but will it really? Perhaps nobody CAN do anything. I wouldn't expect Bush to (although I believe he would if possible) because he couldn't rally enough support from the international community to help topple Saddam. The responsibility lies with the United Nations and every freedom loving person in the world, but it will be a cold day in hell before they ever do anything about the situation.

Mac is very old for this country.

Mac is an Angry man who calls others and wife names.

Not this time mac. You are worth 100m and u don't feel our pain, u r running Bush's third term!
Obama all the way!

China will still be fine and continuing on her path to reach her dream without any of Hillary, MaCan…

Frankly, China actually enjoy enormous support from developing nations, who actually are the backbone of China's international influence. that is a simple fact.

John Mccain has no presidential way of running his campaign. He is following Obama's text book just like Hillary. How pathetic!

I agree with McCain & Clinton.

Where is the profit Obama ?

He usually suit with everything Hillary says.

Agreed. We've made this bed with China in a pursuit of higher corporate profit and a quest for more cheap useless junk. The Olympics are not the place to protest china; protest China at Wal-Mart and the supermarket.

Why in the world was it even voted on and decided to have the Olympics in China. It is not like their lack of human rights is new. The lack of foresight is nuts !!!

This whole boycott thing is silly and prey on people's ignorance. American presidents have NEVER attended Olympic ceremony of a foreign country; not Japan, not Spain, not even Canada. So the whole idea of Bush may not attend Olympic ceremony as sort of a protest is utterly stupid. Bush would be doing something out of tradition if he actually showed up.

Politicians are just like the main stream media just a bunch of parrots! nobody reports the actual news and politicians don't voice orginal ideas they all just copy what everyone else says thinking that the more they hear it that it will be true or factual. This is ridiculous, if you really want to do something important start buying AMERICAN MADE products.

You tell them, John..

Like why didn't we boycott China getting the Olympics if we trying to protest something, they were mistreating people then, too. Now all of a sudden we realize they are doing something wrong. Should of thought of that before we signed this country over to them. I want someone to name me the products that are made in the USA compared to China. yeah that is what I thought USA-1 China-One million and oh by the way how much property do you think they own in the US……check it out.

Boycotting the ceremony will do nothing to influence China in a positive way. It is more likely to stiffen their resolve claiming we are butting in.

Actual Al Snyder @ 2:42 has more correct than anyone. You want to change China, stop buying their merchandise.

As wrong as I think the human rights policies of China are, we, as a nation, have to stop and ask ourselves what right do we have to disdain the Chinese when our current government openly condones and approves of using torture on political prisoners and prisoners of war. As much as I love this country, we are no better and have no right to complain until the US government stops the use of water boarding and other torture techniques.

Please, MaCan, "do not be too CNN" about Tibet/Dala thing! I have already decided to vote for you if the choices were to be between you and Hillary because of her view on the matter…

Yesterday Hillary came out and said Bush should boycott opening ceremony otherwise it would place seal of approval on China's goverment for it's act, CNN analyst say it was not politics and Hillary made unwise decision, now rest of rivals are joining Hillary's badwagen, this just proves how best political team on television(CNN analysts) not so best after all and such idiots to criticize hillary's for her decisions & trying to change voter's mind because they are in love fest with Obama. SEEEE!!!!Now CNN analysts should be ashamed of what they are doing, as reportters they need to use their wise judgement should not be biased/favor a candidate. Now rivals are just saying same thing, this tells me rivals does not have decision making skills/judgement/to take a stand when it comes to issues, because they have no presidential skills they waited to hear what Hillary's says, and then they started joining her bandwagen. This just proves that Hillary's rivals don't have judgement nor willing to take a stand regarding issues.

Go Hillary.

you all are talking about china,bla bla bla
what about the americans killing thousands of iraqi civillians
most recently 2 brothers aged 7 and 9 yesterday
isnt that genocide
isnt that lack of respect/dignity as a human
and coming from a man who sang bomb,bomb iran on nat tv
lets face it,america is worse than china
what aboutamerica being so close to isreal,despite the killing of innocent palestinian and lebanese women and children
or close ties with saudi arabia,where women are not allowed to drive
double standards by the us
the olympics is abt bringing the world together,and not politics
if he doesnt want to go,the chinese dont care
china invading tibet is the exact same thing with america invading iraq
thank you

why should mccain attend the ceremony anyway? does he think he's the president ? dream on methusela

I really much wonder about CNN or media in general in this part of world why not putting the Tibet/Dala thing in perspective as we usually do with domestic events? I wrote something about it. and CNN filtered my writing.

Of course, what else should he say….We cannot boycott or not go to the opening ceremonies! We are against human rights! Look at our human right violations in the illegal war in Irag!

yeah yeah, blah, blah. I am sure he and Cindy or their pets or the Clintons wear or consume anything out of China, but now we should demand change in time for the opening ceremonies

Please let's top politicizing everything. i am in no way condoning the Chinese governments practices, but this is not about them, this is the biggest athletic competition in the world. Sports and competition should be free form all of this. If McCain, Bush, HRC or Barack want to Boycott who cares!!!! The Olympics should be about bringing the world together and setting aside political differences and should not be used as a platform by the world's governments to further their politcal agendas.

Unexpected, but good for him!

Corrected. There is nothing more dangerous in global politics than sympathetic understanding

There is a courtesy,and understand that comes with being a leader. If
you are trying to be the new boss and you don't understand the reality
of the seriousness of our financial position then get advice and try to
do what you need to for your people. We need as many countries on our side as we can get. Being silly is like being ignorant. The result is
not good.

What is up with all the candidates suggesting a boycott of the olympic opening ceremony? If people were really serious about the politics of china, they would buy American products or at least products from any other country, but China. I think we should all stop being hypocrites. If you have a problem with China protest Walmart and allow at least one venue where the world can come together. It is really ashame that the Olympics were given to China with so little foresight and has now been made into political rhetoric.

There is nothing more dangerous in golbal politics than sympathetic understanding.

This would be an injustice to our own athletes.
McdCain–stop trying to be a liberal–and pursue some realistic and potentially successful policy decisions rather than spitting in the wind like the Democrats want to do.

So he shouldn't weight his options now? wha why did McCain finally ready a paper?

Of course, the candidates "follow" Clinton's lead….Obama yesterday to the Chicago Sun Times, then McCain today.

Meanwhile the analysts say "Boycotting" the Opening Ceremonies is not Presidential….oopppsss….good thing CNN's Analysts are NOT running for President!

Dont worry McNasty, nobody is asking you to go.

why bother it will make no difference if he attends or not china will do what china wants to do, the united states has lost its influence in the world….we owe china so many billions of dollars they will tell us what to do…look at how they handle the trade agreements "however they want" & the united states eats crow and moves on….

Our current president is a non-moral person. He has to be told by even the GOP that attendance for the opening ceremonies is a bad idea. I mean how come this guy doesn't have a brain of his own? Didn't his mommy teach him anything.

And more trouble to come for Hillary! There are reports that Hillary's people were fuming this morning that John Edwards is going to endorse Obama right before the PA primary!

Even Mad Cabbie reported this on his blog last week ! We would like to see Hillary/McCaine match up but that's unlikely. Either way, this was the democrats year to win the White House but you guys screw this one big time!

Go McCaine '08!!!!!!

China is not the USA. Their business is not our business and we better learn that lession all over the world. We should use the Olympics to unify beliefs and good will, and not try to press our beliefs on other nations. They are all fed up with our dictatorial ways.

i give him credit for this!

say NO to the two family dynasty!

Obama 2008

Sounds exactly like what Senator OBAMA, said!!!!!!!!

We, McCain says, Well, I will not attend unless China Changes.
Oh right, they are going to change their criminal hotshot ways in
a few months for you John? Don't they own us. Mattel had nothing
to say that they wanted to hear and the Big Corporation was "shut
up".
Mr. McCain, just say it, you and Bush are going. Are you taking
Lieberman and Linsay Graham on this fun taxpayer funded trip.
Well, if we could afford it, and we could "talk back" to the Chinese
we would want you to go for the Sake of the Olympians. Just Go.
Stop acting otherwise talking on behalf of Bush. Throw it out there
for us dumb Americans to ponder. We already know.

Where is this guy going with that comment?????????? On wich planet is he????

Why should John McCain to the opening ceremonies of the Olympics as a goverment offical paid for by tax payer he is not president. Pay his own way

Why these US politicians are getting so much interested in China's problem? This Free Tibet movement has been funded by US government, and trained by CIA for 50 years. Get real. Do something good for the US economy, US$, US citizens if you want to be a US president.

So McCain supports going against one or our great allies? China picks up our debts, helps us with South Korea and in having them move away from their nuclear ambitions and he wants to boycott China.

McCain is an idiot. And also a flip flopper and is only saying this because the majority of the public's view is for the boycott.

OK I want to know these 4 things

1) Was he even invited?

2) Who really Cares?

3) Will he get away with this parroting and trying to look so important on the world stage?

4) Why Bush and McSame after over 7 years aof watching ALL of our money being sent to China, Jobs sent to China. After letting China get to the point that they OWN us essentially through international DEBT. Do they have the NERVE to pretend they care about their Policies about human rights???

Oh yea I almost forgot IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR and People forget!!!!!

Oh, nooooooo!!! Who really thinks China is going to change because of McCain's big treat? Not me. I think McCain should just sit down and be happy that he is even the nominee. McCain will not win but I guess the only thing he has right now is hope just like Huckabee.

This Olympic boycott stuff is getting old and quite honestly I think it's BS. You know those stimulus package checks we'll be getting in the mail soon, where do you think the $152 Billion came from to make that happen. I call BS because on one hand we don't question their human rights stance when we borrow money from them to support our economy, but we cry foul on the stance when it's the Olympics! C'mon get real people!

Why all the sudden interest in China's mistreatment of it's people? It's only been going on for what?FOREVER!! Besides the fact that America can not AFFORD to even open it's mouth against ANYTHING China is doing, short of dropping a bomb in the heart of America. THEY OWN AMERICA AT THIS POINT!

Plus, not only can we NOT AFFORD to speak all our military forces are not in a prosition to back up the talk if they had to. REMEMBER THEY ARE IN IRAQ AND CAN'T LEAVE!

Besides there are too many other nations suffering far more than in China, consider all the deaths in Africa! DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!

It makes no sense to me for Bush not to go to the Opening Ceremonies but still allow our alethes to compete in Olympic. That's like a father refussing a visit to a mean man's house because he beats his children, but allowing his own children to visit for a play date.

Sorry, John, but not going to the opening ceremony is not going to hurt the Chinese or even make them listen. This pathetic manouver does nothing for the U.S. or Tibet. If the United States would buy less Chinese products, then that would get their attention. So John McCain saying he "deplores the violent crackdown" is just not enough, nothing but smoke.

WOW WOW WOW I can not believe he is using these protests as a way to get votes in CA that is very very distasteful he has been all over the world! has seen these things first hand and never spoke out before! while i agree with his choice It stinks to high heaven

Go Obama 08

Dont you get it. The games should not be a political bargining chip. Have we not learned anything yet as a nation? This is about the those that are competing in the Games, it is not about anything else.
If you have a problem with China MR McCain, then talk to them directly, and stop this showmen ship and grandstanding. Talking with out preconditions or threats of no attendence will get you alot further than what your doing now or thinking of doing.

was really upset at S.F. IOC route. Was that really a display of the flame. More like running for cover. As an american I felt robbed of our chance to protest, so I have decided that I will not watch the Olympics. I hope you join me and spread the word. It will only help China if we tune in. I will do my part. Imagine if the whole world decided not to watch…….that would send one heck of a message to China. What else can I do? I can't go to these cities to protest, so I will NOT WATCH THE Olympics. I know bush will attend, he owes them too mush not to. SO JOIN ME AMERICA AND DO NOT WATCH THE OLYMPICS!!!!!FREE TIBET.
TIBET wants to be free UNLIKE IRAQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wonderful message.the word pretend is soappropriate

was really upset at S.F. IOC route. Was that really a display of the flame. More like running for cover. As an american I felt robbed of our chance to protest, so I have decided that I will not watch the Olympics. I hope you join me and spread the word. It will only help China if we tune in. I will do my part. Imagine if the whole world decided not to watch…….that would send one heck of a message to China. What else can I do? I can't go to these cities to protest, so I will NOT WATCH THE Olympics. I know bush will attend, he owes them too mush not to. SO JOIN ME AMERICA AND DO NOT WATCH THE OLYMPICS!!!!!FREE TIBET.
TIBET wants to be free UNLIKE IRAQ!!!!!!!

was really upset at S.F. IOC route. Was that really a display of the flame. More like running for cover. As an american I felt robbed of our chance to protest, so I have decided that I will not watch the Olympics. I hope you join me and spread the word. It will only help China if we tune in. I will do my part. Imagine if the whole world decided not to watch…….that would send one heck of a message to China. What else can I do? I can't go to these cities to protest, so I will NOT WATCH THE Olympics. I know bush will attend, he owes them too mush not to. SO JOIN ME AMERICA AND DO NOT WATCH THE OLYMPICS!!!!!FREE TIBET.
TIBET wants to be free UNLIKE IRAQ!!!

nobody invited you, you wish you can attend

If prime minister BROWN can boycut the olympic opening ceremony then BUSH should do the same but this may be hard for BUSH 'cos you can't say NO to people who borrow you money

Why is it that everything he says is so irrelevant to me?

HILLARY 08

Wow - John McCain is actually right on something.

Interesting, I believe that it was Hillary Clinton on Monday that first said this, and then the press finally covered Obama saying it on Wednesday and now McCain on Thursday.

Interesting where good ideas come from on the campaign trail…

You slefish old man! You would deprive US athletes of participating in a once in a lifetime event (the opening) because you think that would show something to China??? Gawd…we have GOT to get new people running this country….

When did the Olympics become a political event. I thought it was about the sport and world peace. I guess I am just naive.

Well, if this was not an election year, they would go and if
would not be an issue. These men are powerful. They think they are God. They go to war, without caring what
America and their boys think. They make decisions all the
time that are not "for the people" If John wasn't running for
Pres, the man would go with no conscience on the issue.
And McCain chiming in to saying that he would not rule out
a preemptive strike against another country. War games?
War Crimes?

One arena where the world comes together to forget politics and celebrate the human spirit of competition and what happens? Politics rears it's ugly head and tries to ruin it! Keep Politics out of the Olympics PLEASE!!

When are you going to get it McCain? "You would not attend unless they change"…First of all, you cannot blackmail another country into what you believe…Does Iraq come to mind?…Secondly, thanks to your pal Bush, China owns us and if they request his presence, he will be there.

They should have done something about than when China was chosen as the next olympic site.

Drop the opening event and show the Chineese that we do some things right in North America

Meanwhile…

America's imports rose 3% in February to $213.7 billion from $207.3 billion in the previous MONTH.

I was really upset at S.F. IOC route. Was that really a display of the flame. More like running for cover. As an american I felt robbed of our chance to protest, so I have decided that I will not watch the Olympics. I hope you join me and spread the word. It will only help China if we tune in. I will do my part. Imagine if the whole world decided not to watch…….that would send one heck of a message to China. What else can I do? I can't go to these cities to protest, so I will NOT WATCH THE Olympics. I know bush will attend, he owes them too mush not to. SO JOIN ME AMERICA AND DO NOT WATCH THE OLYMPICS!!!!!FREE TIBET.
TIBET wants to be free UNLIKE IRAQ!!!

McCain believes they should waterboard not use the Chinese drip torture.

I respect the decision to support human rights. How about ALL rights, though? How about the rights of Iraqi citizens not to be killed by us as well. Surely that counts, too.

Is this his sad way of trying to distance himself from Bush? How about this? I will not vote for you unless YOU change!

WAR MONGER

Thanks for your input Grampa…now go back to sleep.