Obama and the Olympics

Posted: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:05 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
With Hillary Clinton calling for President Bush to boycott the Olympic Games' opening ceremony -- and now also commending British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for his decision to skip the opening act in Beijing -- will that increase the pressure on Obama to do the same?

At a town hall in Malvern today, before the Brown's announcement, Obama was asked about the boycotting of the opening ceremonies. He gave a long, rambling answer about the need to improve American standing in the world and try to get the country's reputation back to improve safety. After speaking for a few minutes, he circled back to China and the Olympics, but didn't really answer the question.

"Now that means also being able to speak out forcefully on human rights and civil liberties. And in our policy towards China, we have not been consistent enough and tough enough and pushing them to deal with Tibet properly, but also their continued support of Sudan, a country that has been engaging in genocide against the peoples of Darfur."

He added, "We have to take a stronger stance. We have to take a stronger stance and it's got to be more consistent over time. Let me make one last point about China: It's very hard to tell your banker that he's wrong, all right? And if we are running huge deficits and big national debts and we're borrowing money constantly from China, that gives us less leverage. It give us less leverage to talk about human rights, it also is giving us less leverage to talk about the uneven trading relationship that we have with China."

EMAIL THIS

Comments

what's new?

OBAMA NEVER answers questions.He tries to change the subject or copies Hillary Clintons answer.

patty,sd,ca (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:14 PM)

He is a rambling guy. But you know what, we all ramble when he are unsure how to respond at the moment.
For Obama, he clearly does not want to give in to Clinton's pressure and the pressure of others to do the same as toehrs. He simply cannot follow others and must formulate his own stance on the issue of Chinese human rights absues. Being an avid ball player and sports fan, it would be strange if he gave an answer saying he opposes or supports the boycott.
Now, the media needs to shut up and stop tryng to extract petty political opinions.

Jon, TX (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:17 PM)

Obama did not give a "long rambling answer". He provided a well-thought out response to a very complex issue. In short, he provided the kind of answer that media types like Aswini Anburajan don't like: Answers that go over 30 second sound bites! How refreshing...to have a politician actually use their brain when pondering difficult issues related to foreign affairs. By the way, Obama makes a good point about not ticking off your banker. China has loaned us a lot of money and we are in serious debt to the country. You can thank Bush and little Bush (McCain) for that. I personally think the human rights violations by the Chinese Government are a serious matter that warrant serious thought and action. I would support leaders boycotting the opening ceremonies.

Demarcus Jackson, Columbia, Tennessee (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:20 PM)

"It's very hard to tell your banker that he's wrong, all right?"

That is correct ! Plus we should not be yelling the loudest while we are putting people into our Gitmo concentration camp and keep spying on our own people.

We have to work for the world to respect us again!

Frank, Missouri (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:24 PM)

Obama can't boycott the summer Olys. Too many blacks would be angry.

Treet Rollins, Baltimore (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:25 PM)

You didn't need to use the word "rambling." The guy's just being honest - we can't be too harsh on China if we want to keep borrowing money from them. Besides, what would boycotting the Olympics accomplish anyway? It is not a Chinese event - it is a world event that takes place in different countries every four years and just so happens to be taking place in China this year. Boycotting the Olympics won't change anything and would probably only hurt our economy.

Jamil, Dearborn, MI (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:25 PM)

Obama is a smart man ok, he doesn't need to copy anything from that lier Hillary, If that woman wins the nommination I would never vote for her.

sharon (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 7:24 PM)

I agree with Obama
that we need to tread lightly and see what comes up
in regards to the Olympics. This is also about the
athletes not just about China.

Kim M--AZ (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 7:31 PM)

Again, he is speaking to people like adults instead of coming up with simplistic sound bites. How do you think we are funding the war in Iraq? It's not through taxes, folks. This is the first war in American history that has NOT been funded through a tax increase. The $12 billion monthly price tag is being paid through accruing more debt and borrowing. And guess who holds the chits on our debt? China for the most part.

China has a miserable human rights record. But the issue is much more complex than meets the eye.

Zoe Fort Lauderdale (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 7:31 PM)

What a surprise another politician with a roundabout answer. I am amazed at how my fellow patriots and americans are allowing the "wool to be pulled over their eyes" by a "silver tounged devil" That's right folks, what we have here is a man who has 1) No experience in foreign policy.. I dont't even know how many foreign exchange students he may have talked to!!, 2)no experience at all in running an economy even at the burger king level, 3) He sounds like a used car salesman trying to close a deal on a car that he doesn't have!. I AM ASHAMED that we are so self serving, that People in the gulf will lose our help. That IS the reason. They do need us. China needs US. Darfur needs us. Why does the left say we can't be in Iraq, but demand sanctions and all kinds of other hellfire for China? Riddle me that Demos....Back to the question, it was a simple one. He was asked if he would boycott it....we did not need the plethera of incidental info. Yes or friggin no. Pretty simple. But I guess a true waffler cant give a yes or no question. Its not in HIS best interest. Oh and by the way...you can have change without progress, but you cannot have progress with out change. (in other words..I am tired of the change crapola...what kind of change?)

KEVIN SEATTLE, WA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 7:35 PM)

He answered this very clearly. He said he wants to say china's wrong but can't because it would hurt a relationship that is feeding the hurting American economy. A relationship that is only in place because of bad decisions in the past. Clinton can say the popular answer and makes everyone happy. Obama is looking out for the people of America.

Dave, Millburn NJ (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 7:37 PM)

It was a long rambling answer designed to allow him to cover his butt whichever way the wind blows. If he didn't think the president should skip the opening ceremonies, why didn't he just say so? It's a yes or no question that he could easily have answered no to and explained why.

Obama's answer was the equivalent of voting "present". Purposely designed not to mean anything so he can go back and later and explain what he REALLY meant.

Samuel, FL (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 7:59 PM)

If I was Obama, this would be my response: The Olympic Games is an opportunity when ALL nations can set aside their political and religious ambitions and participate in the comming together of peoples of all nations, of all races, of all religions, as a reaffirmation that each and every one of the inhabitants of this planet we call "earth", are as human as the next person on the fields and in the stands. Politics do not belong in the Olympics. Terroism does not belong in the Olympics. Issues of how a nations governs their population belong within that nation and between governments/nations that may not agree and NOT between athletes (ask the Dali). Let the games proceed and I hope that America will proudly stand with all participating nations in the opening ceremonies.

From: a 54 yr. old life-long (white, if that matters), democrate, who shook Bill's hand in ATL and Al's in Monterey, CA, but believes Mr. Clinton betrayed me and the country (why couldn't you just admit what you did) and has no confidence in Hillary's decisions (should have left him after Lewinsky, too bad) and wonders what influence her significatn other would have on her policies.

Ed30041 - Cumming, GA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:00 PM)

Olympics are not the place for official protest. Even those raised fists in '68. Discord and protest, unofficially, brings pressure on government to act. Which is how it should be.

Obama should be guarded in thinking about boycotting an Olympics as President. 1980 didn't do us any good when Carter how our whole team skip out.

SouthCentralDel (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:05 PM)

It's easy for Hillary Clinton to tell President Bush what to do on this subject since she's not going to be the president in August and probably won't be the president in January '09. The fact is that Bush would look like even more of a hypocrite than he already is with this toothless demonstration of pandering lip service.
Either the Chinese are ruthless perpetrators of egregious human rights violations and we care about it or they aren't and we don't. Judging by Wal-Mart’s bottom line, and the true scarcity of any tangible pushback against borrowing billions from them to prosecute the war in Iraq, I'm guessing we don't really care what the Chinese do. It probably says more about our own apathetic hypocrisy to some degree.
By boycotting the opening ceremonies we manage to alienate our Chinese bankers and little more. Had decades of our own actions remotely resembled our supposed principles we'd be in a far better position to claim the moral high ground.
BTW, Bill Clinton once stated that we needed to bring the Chinese into the WTO because it was the only way in which we could improve their human rights record. That, of course, was the BS reason used by those wishing to access the world's largest emerging economy and outsource that manufacturing job you thought you'd always have.

Ian (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:08 PM)

Barack Obama made a good point. We can't just boycott, because we have agreements and have been depending on the Chinese- borrowing money. I used to think that we should definetly boycott, but hearing other points of views-that if we boycott we could possibly ruin our relationship with China. and while we don't agree with everything(human rights issues) they (china) have improved. we can work with them and made our voice heard. we can still let it be known that we disagree with some of the things they're doing.

June (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:21 PM)

Sounds to me like he thoroughly and honestly covered the subject. Refreshing. I'm fed up with politicians treating the public like we are ignorant and cannot handle anything over a sound bite. The way most pols treat us is insulting. We can follow sentences, truly; even paragraphs.

Rob CA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:27 PM)

Another refreshingly honest answer from a politician. This pattern of honesty seems to be scaring a lot of people. It's time for the anti-Obama folks to start calling him names or making up rumors.

Jonathan, Pittsburgh (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:28 PM)

Sen Obama is right again. What if your Bank cuts off your funds what do you do? You can not go to England because they don't have to give that is why we had to get it from China. Sen Obama is right again we a running up a debt with China so what can you do or say with your back against the wall. Ask yourself if you have a friend that lends you money and let's you run up a debt to pay your rent every month with that friend and he beats up someone you know what are you going to do tell that person that is lending you the money that if he does not stop you are going to beat him up? Do you think you are going to get the money for your rent the next month? No I don't think so and if you do you better have a plan to pay your rent or else you will be homeless. Sen Obama is not stupid in the lease to burn any bridges. That is part of our problem now we stick our noses in othe countries affairs which wound up costing the American Taxpayers more money.

Anthony, San Diego, Ca (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:37 PM)

While we all may be rightly unhappy that George W. Bush is still the President, it is his right to decide how he wants America to respond to the Tibet crisis. It is just like Hillary to try to decide for others what they should or should not do (wage attachments for health care, for example).

Margaret, Torrance, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:41 PM)

Obama left himself some room on this issue. You can tell that he is not willing to support an Olympic Ban. His answer was political. The ? is leading and he didn't take the bait.
First of all, I don't think boycotting the Olymics over Tibet is going to increase our reputation throughout the world. If anything it will make us look like idiots and it will be a detriment to our Olympians who have trained most of their lives and only get to show what they've got to the world each 4 years.
Congrats Obama for not letting the media push you into a corner!
Bush, if you boycott the Olympics you are a fool. That is one way to show we are not about unity is by boycotting the only Universal sport on earth!

brandy (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:51 PM)

This is simply a Candide who is acting like a president should. I applaud Sen. Obama for his answer. We Americans think that all countries think and act like we do. News flash they don't. China has different cultures than we do. To snub them at the opening ceremonies is on of the most egregious things we could as a country do. Their biggest thing is saving face and showing respect and curtsy. It's their culture different but theirs and we mus respect it them as much as we want them to respect us as a country. Hmmm...Sounds like Sen. Obama would make a great President.

Anthony Tacoma, Wa. (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:52 PM)

Obama's initial remarks on the topic were pro-China with their humanitarian abuses, essentially saying there was nothing America can do. This is diplomacy? This inspires the American people?

Leave the race, Obama. America will be stronger without you.

Amy (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:57 PM)

This is so sad, we have taken so much money from, and made so many deals with China . . . truth is we can't boycott the Olympics.

So, I'm boycotting the companies that are sponsoring the Olympics.

We need to pay off our debts and use another banker.

lizzy,seattle,wa (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:00 PM)

Although I don't like Obama's "Neutral" answer, he does make a point. We can't really force China to clean up their acts when our hands are in their pockets, and what does boycotting the Olympics accomplish? We'll just have that many more countries hating us.

And you know, I am kind of sick of the US having to be the ones to police the world. Let's concentrate on our own problems and shortcomings before we start telling another country how to do things.

Nic, US Army, Burlington, VT (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:24 PM)

Apparently Obama can't take a stand on ANYTHING

Derek, Duluth, MN (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:37 PM)

Long and rambling? I'd rather make my own opinions about his answer instead of someone force-feeding their opinions on it, thank you very much.

Steve P, Medford, MA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:44 PM)

I wish someone had done some boycotting when our kids were chewing on lead based painted toys, and our pets were dying from contaminated pet food from China. Why does it always have to be the Olympic Teams that take the political hit. Obama talks and thinks at the same time, resolving the issue in his mind. He stated it correctly. We owe our soul to the Chinese and Wal Mart..of which Mrs. Clinton served on the board in another day and time and did nothing blah blah blah..and the beat goes on and on...

Barbara Snowberger (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:47 PM)

Obama is right! America not only in dept with China, but we also depend on the surplus of money that comes from trade with china. Do you people know how much recycled steal we send to china. There is no excuse for alot of things that go on in China, but I think there is a more diplomatic solution to solving those problems. I don't think you can solve them by insulting the country and its people that we so despratly are depending on.

Thomas Hopkins, Salt Lake, Utah (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:54 PM)

The "rambling" part was shorthand for "millions displaced, over 100,000 dead, Blackwater etc..."

You know where he's coming from?

Dwaine, CO. (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:11 PM)

Hey this is not an easy issue and we need to weigh both opions...not act impulsive...and that's what Obama is doing..........

Mon (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:20 PM)

I do think Bush shouldn't go. I don't think he should appear anywhere in public. He is a disgrace and an embarrassment to this country. He should just go back and walk in the cattle droppings on his ranch in Texas and take Cheney with him. We wouldn't miss him one little bit and neither would anybody else. Obama can't say it and remain civil but I can and I do.Come together Dems and get the whole bunch of them out of there!

Obama '08

Mary, Phx, AZ. (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:23 PM)

patti.sd.ca had to come back - I thought you gave up on the losing democrat. I thought the answer was poignant. Do we value the people of Tibet more than Sudan - why boycot now when China has been active in violating human rights in Africa?

Jeff, Highland CA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:24 PM)

Didn't answer directly, huh? Well maybe it's simply because he doesn't find this issue as important as Iraq and domestic issues. Or maybe he feels like dealing with Iran and Iraq right now is a priority and that Tibet issue can wait. That is our problem now. We interfere too damn much. Obama realize this.

Hope (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:25 PM)

Stand up for what is Right - and take a stance - stop being so vague - on all issues!
Wright - War - Olympics, etc.... We Need A Leader!

molly (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:25 PM)

Athletes train so hard and for politicians to think they're accomplishing something is just wrong. Bush has financed a large portion of his war by borrowing from the Chinese - that's just bad behavior and will likely come back to bite us. And if our Senate is holding hearings on the meaning of water boarding as torture - like maybe they can't decide? - we can add hypocrisy to the list of stupid things our leaders do.

As for Obama's answer being "rambling". I guess some pundits prefer their sound bites ready made so they don't have to actually think for themselves.

Kathy, HI (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:25 PM)

There is no point for the president to boycott the game since he is just as guilty as China when it comes to human rights. That is like a pot calling the kettle black.

Clinton might have forgotten about all those tortured prisons under our watch but the rest of the world have not. She will say anything to be seen as a good gal anyway.

One thing about Obama, he knows when to call it and he knows when to fold. This is the president's game and Obama is not playing it..... yet!

carol g (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:38 PM)

Obama was smart not to anger our "bankers". It is the diplomatic and presidential thing to do. We need allies - ANY allies.

Hillary would just piss them off by trying to make a show. This could prove a dangerous problem if she becomes president. She is a bit of a rogue.

Harmony (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:05 PM)

Give Obama a chance, personally, I'm sick of hearing the Obama bashes. Look at Hillary and how many lies she tells. She really gets the red carpet. This Obama thing is not a biggie. I decided to campaign and vote for him.

Bettie John, Iowa (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:12 PM)

How is this rambling? He gave out a well thought out answer. Not as many silly sound bites from this guy. He talks to us as if we were adults. What a novel idea!

Clairissa, Austin, TX (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:28 PM)

No matter what Obama do or say, Obama haters will always run off at the mouth

Sonya (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:53 PM)

"rambling"? How is that a fair assessment?

The complexities of US-China relations can't be boiled down to a 10-second sound bite. And who would seriously believe that the Tibetan conflict could be resolved by a symbolic boycott. Dude, friends have more leverage in advancing a change agenda then enemies!

Your lowbrow is showing, Anburajan.

Jon (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:23 AM)

Dear Mark Murray...your assesment and commentary (coverage ????)here are unsettling at best. That you chose to so poorly represent what was said (thus overtly leading public understanding astray) by wrongly asserting your personal opinion as to the signifigance of what was actually said by Senator Obama is, in my view, irresponsible and reprehensible. To my understanding, Obama carefully, thoroughly and intelligently responded to the question. He lays it out: 1.)we are poorly viewed in the eyes of the global community & we must change this inherently dangerous position; 2.)changing how we are perceived will return us to a more harmonious relationship with the world community (as opposed to being "the big, bad bully on the block") which in turn makes us safer; 3.)in order to change how we're viewed by the world, we must demonstrate admirable behavior, like taking a stronger, more consistent stance against the deplorable, unacceptable human rights abuses on China's part; 4.)this has not occurred to date, due to the impediment(engineered by the Bush administration's private war in Iraq) of being hugely financially indebted to China. Not all readers are fully informed about the pertinent facts regarding the question, so he shares these with us. In so doing, I feel he tacitly lends his support to those demonstrating against China (per the torch), since these actions DO inform the world community that THE PEOPLE of the USA are NOT PUSHOVERS! (To Mark Murray: Is it an attention span thing with you? A lack of background information upon which to rest this new information? If you are not up to the task of processing intelligent information bigger than a soundbite, I respectfully request that you reserve your commentary in order to allow others to come to their own conclusions.

Katya, Pueblo, CO (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:33 AM)

There was an article on the Same MSNBC website about Obama's stance toward Olympics in China. He has already answered that he will not support boycotting Olympics, it's more about sports than it is politics.
So all this rubbish about he's unclear on his stance is another MSNBC flap

Jing Li (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:37 AM)

Clinton's long support of trading with China made us what we are today in that relationship. Now she wants boycottng olympics, whatever

Jing Li (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:39 AM)

Time for an update. Obama did say Bush should boycott the opening ceremonies "if the Chinese do not take steps to stop the genocide in Darfur and respect the human rights of Tibetan people."

It's pretty amazing how quickly the press was ready to jump all over him for his long, thoughtful answer, especially considering he wasn't even specifically asked about whether he supported the boycott, as far as I can tell.

Adam, St. Louis, MO (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:40 AM)

This is the most detailed and well thought out answer I've heard. Out of the original candidates Obama, Biden, Dodd and (I really hate to say this as a loyal Democrat) Huckabee seem to be the only ones who were or are aware of the vast sums of money we have on credit from China. I think it is a good sign that Obama isn't completely on board with the 'hold our breath until China changes their ways' method and didn't give the overly political sound bite about the issue like everyone else. The last thing our economy can handle is a new face off with China while we are in Iraq, trying to watch and police Pakistan and Iran and in a presidential election to go back to 'good-bad' foriegn policy.

Nick, Austin, TX (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:53 AM)

It is a shame that a person seeking the Presidency of the United States, should make comments about how to run another countrys internal affairs, when he has no personal knowledge nor ever visited and experianced what that country like or met with the residents thereof. Obama does nothing but reflect answers to different groups, that make him appear as acceptable as a represntation of the groups interest. The more he talks....The more his lack of moral character exposes itself.

Jon Pettit, Olympia WA (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 1:36 AM)

Guys, just give obama a few days to ponder this issue and write a speech about it. It will come to be known as the "Great Olympic Speech". It will touch the hearts and minds of obamanoids worldwide.
It is terribly unfair, the way you media people continue to act like obama is just a mere politician, like Clinton and McCain.

Rhj (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 3:01 AM)

Maybe it's time to call Senator Patrick. Seriously, that sounds like a Reverend Wright answer. Now read that again, and imagine Reverend Wright saying that with animation. You gotta love it, when asked a question about human rights, wait, let's use that as an opportunity to be negative about the U.S. As president he is not going to defend the U.S. but tell the whole world what he really thinks about his country. Its really obvious how unpatriotic this man is and people are considering him to be the president of the United States?

mona,richmond,ca (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 3:20 AM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=872873