Hairy News and Views: Barack Wouldn't Go To Olympics?

Obama recently criticized President George W. Bush for planning to attend the Summer Olympics in China in August. Obama cited things such as China's human rights violations, their occopation of Tibet, etc., for his reasoning. But the thing is, especially in light of Obama's recent flip-flopping and changes in position, I just couldn't take Obama's statements seriously. I feel like if he were President that OF COURSE he would go. It just shows some of the damage he has done to his brand, that when it comes to believing in his support of certain positions that are generally perceived as "far-left", or his actually really caring about China's dealings with Tibet, I'm not sure if I believe him or not now. Not going to China for the Olympics also seems to conflict with Obama's ideas of talking to our enemies. Even though I was an enthusiastic supporter of Obama during the primaries I find myself really wondering about the guy now. I will still vote for him and I definitely find his election run fascinating. It is just that right now I have a hard time wondering where he really stands. His recent "move to the center" has been so abrupt and blatant, and this recent comment of his about not going to China, just admittedly sort of confuses me because it reminds me of typical Democratic party line rhetoric, like Jimmy Carter boycotting the Moscow Olympics in 1980.

Of course I believe the President should attend the Olympics in Beijing. China's government has a long history of oppression and human-rights violations but the people of China, over one billion of them, are extrememly excited, as are all the athletes who have worked very hard for this moment. I think at least the hard-working PEOPLE of China deserve this moment even if it can be argued that their government does not. The Olympics should be a time to celebrate globalism and our common human, competitive nature. It really bothers me when people use the Olympics that are nurtured by the hard work of athletes to promote their own political ideas or to grand-stand for their own soapbox agenda; or when they use the Olympic Games as a focal point for making politically expedient comments. China is funding the two wars we are currently involved in in Iraq and Pakistan and they are becoming a bigger and bigger player in the world's economy. It would be foolish, small-minded and arrogant for the U.S. president to offend the Chinese right now and disappoint all the athletes who have worked so hard.

Please, Barack, get this "doggie days of summer" reinventing of yourself smoothed out and over with so I can know where you stand. I am now starting to wonder if you are even serious about hunting down bin Laden, negotiating with our enemies, or about a number of other things you have said over the past few months.