By Daniel W. Reilly
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urged President Bush on Wednesday not to attend the opening ceremonies of the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing, as concerns over China’s human rights record have thrust the issue into the political spotlight in recent weeks.
Later in the day, the House passed a resolution criticizing China for its handling of recent unrest in Tibet.
The resolution–sponsored by Pelosi–criticized China for its “disproportionate and extreme” response to recent protests in Tibet and urged the Chinese government to hold talks with the Dalai Lama to discuss the situation.
The measure passed by a vote of 413 to 1, with libertarian Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) the lone member to vote against it.
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) have introduced a similar resolution in the Senate.
The issue of Bush’s attendance at the Olympic Games has become a political football in recent weeks, after human rights activists called for a boycott because of China’s human rights record, especially its handling of street protests riots in Tibet and its trade with Sudan, which many see as enabling the genocide in the African country’s Darfur region.
A vocal supporter of the Tibetan cause, Pelosi has long been a thorn in the side of the Chinese government, which issued a statement Wednesday condemning her resolution.
“For some members of the U.S. Congress to set aside the Olympic spirit and the principle that sports should not be politicized, and even to openly encourage interference with and harm to the San Francisco torch relay, completely lacks basic morals and conscience,” a spokesman said in a statement posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Web site.
Meanwhile, the Olympic torch passed through Pelosi’s home town of San Francisco on Wednesday, amidst heightened security after protestor’s temporarily extinguished the flame in Paris earlier this week. Officials planned to cut the torch relay short on Wednesday, as thousands of protestors lined the streets.
On Wednesday morning, Pelosi urged demonstrators to voice their opposition to the games in a safe manner.
Although she does not favor a boycott of the games, Pelosi urged Bush not to attend the opening ceremonies in August, saying that the attendance of world leaders at the event would “give credibility and face” to the Chinese government.
Bush has publicly stated he will attend the Olympic Games. However, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino backed off a bit on Wednesday afternoon when asked specifically if he will attend the opening ceremonies saying only; “We haven’t announced the president’s schedule.”
For his part, Bush urged the Chinese government to reach out to Tibetan leaders on Wednesday, but did not address the issue of attending the opening ceremonies.
“It would stand the Chinese government in good stead if they would begin a dialogue with the representatives for the Dalai Lama,” Bush said.
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) said Wednesday he will file a resolution calling on Bush to boycott the ceremony.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will not attend the opening ceremonies, according to a report from the British Broadcasting Corp, further raising the stakes for Bush.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in the Capitol, Pelosi made it quite clear what she feels the president should do.
“When people are considering whether or not to go to that opening party and give credibility to the Chinese government, I hope they remember there is not a party going on among the refugees in Darfur, where people are living in subhuman conditions,” she said.
