House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, said boycotting the Olympics "would unfairly harm our athletes."
Some leaders have called for a boycott of the Olympics in August to pressure China on issues like the crisis in Darfur and the persecution of Tibetans.
Pelosi's comments come on the heels of similar sentiments expressed by Secretary of State Condolezza Rice.
"I believe the International Olympic Committee made a mistake in awarding the 2008 summer games to China, and I sponsored a Congressional resolution expressing that view at the time," Pelosi said in a statement. "However, I believe a boycott of the Beijing Olympics would unfairly harm our athletes who have worked so hard to prepare for the competition.
"As I said in India last week where I met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, if freedom-loving people throughout the world do not speak out against China's oppression in Tibet, we have lost our moral authority to speak out on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world."
— Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times
Comments (3)
I'm sure if the media digs a little deeper, they will find something in San Fransisco that will substantiate Nancy Pelosi's ambiguity. What is interesting is the silence from Feinstein, Clinton and Boxer.
Posted by Larry Stone | March 28, 2008 1:59 PM
Typical politician. Saying one thing but too chikken to back it up with substantive action. Boycott the Plympics and to hell with the Chinese if they don't like it. I'm not wasting MY time watching any of it on TV, either.
Posted by Jay | March 29, 2008 1:57 PM
we should boycott and i think our athletes will understand. if the world doesn't show up...what an amazing statement that would make...
...thank god the decider is still in charge to let us all know he loves the chinese and couldn't possibly say anything negative about them.
Posted by mike mcd | April 1, 2008 1:03 AM