McCotter of 11th Michigan asks President Bush to skip opening day

Sunday evening April 6 I spoke with Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, Republican of 11th Michigan, chairman of the House Republican Committee. Thaddeus, long a correspondent on my radio shows, spoke clearly and forceful to ask President Bush and other American VIPS to boycott the opening day of the Olympics in Beijing this summer. Until and if there is justice for the people of Tibet. Our conversation turned to the fact that German's PM Merkel has already declared that she will not attend the first day. Sarkozy of France is is in turmoil about his choice. Brown of the UK is vaguely tempted but for the moment is playing the form of a head of state with no choice.

McCotter was clear that it would be pointless to withhold the athletes. But there is not point for the president to attend and event staged by men who brutalize the Tibetans whose crime is that reject the conquest of the Chinese Army in 1949 and reject the overlordship of distant and feckless Beijing.

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 01, 2008


Rep. McCotter: Stop Politicians’ Taxpayer Funded Junkets to the Communist Olympics


New Bill Will Make Attending the Olympic Opening Ceremonies Illegal for the President, All Government Officials


WASHINGTON D.C. – Today Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) introduced a bill in Congress restricting all government officials and employees from attending the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in communist China. The bill does NOT affect America’s Olympic athletes.

The bill H.R. 5668, The Communist Chinese Olympic Accountability Act, is a follow up to a September 11, 2007, letter to President George W. Bush in which Congressman McCotter and a bi-partisan coalition of Members of Congress, state: "We urge you [President Bush] to reconsider your decision to attend the 2008 Beijing Olympics in communist China."

McCotter commended Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent comments regarding President Bush boycotting the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and acknowledge her long-standing, principled opposition to communist China’s human rights violations. "Hopefully, Speaker Pelosi will be supportive of this bill; and our colleagues will join us in denouncing the reprehensible actions of communist China and the changing the errant decision of the President to attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics," said Rep. McCotter, Chairman of House Republican Policy Committee.

"While we applaud the hard work of all the Olympic athletes, President Bush, as the leader of the Free World, must uphold America’s beacon of liberty to the world’s oppressed. This noble cause is harmed through his attendance as a guest of this oppressive communist government," said McCotter.

"The Communist Chinese Olympic Accountability Act" and the September 2007 letter to the President both provide a partial list of communist China’s offenses, including human rights violations, subjugating Tibet, abetting Sudan’s genocidal regime, persecution of its Chinese citizens for freely exercising religion, enforcement of a one child policy upon its Chinese families, supporting fellow dictatorships, and systematically denying the Chinese people their basic freedoms, among others.

The bill prohibits any individual who is an official, whether elected or appointed, or employee of the Federal Government from attending any segment of the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics Games held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. Importantly, this prohibition does not apply to any member of the United Stated Olympic Team or persons serving in a support capacity.

"President Franklin Roosevelt did not attend the 1936 Berlin Olympics; and President Bush should not attend the Beijing Olympics. In the grand sweep of history, President Bush’s attendance at these games will be an unwelcome and unnecessary stain upon his legacy as a champion of human liberty," said Rep. McCotter

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NOTE: Attached please read the full letter, bill and list of co-sponsors. (see below)

Letter to President Bush on China Olympics (sent Sept. 2007)
H.R. 5668 - The Communist Chinese Olympic Accountability Act