Apparently, the White House is vacillating on what to do about the Olympic Opening Ceremonies:
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The White House left the door open Tuesday to President Bush skipping the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics to protest China’s human rights record and its crackdown in Tibet.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, however, suggested that the president might attend some of the athletic events at the Olympic Games in August if he skipped the opening.
The president has said since last year that he plans to attend the Olympics, but he has never been specific about his visit. Bush has stressed he’s a sports fan who wants to support U.S. athletes at the games.
Asked whether Bush will attend the opening ceremonies, typically a major showcase for the host country, Perino would not be definitive. “We haven’t provided any schedules on the president’s trip,” she said.
Pressed on whether Bush’s decision to attend the Olympics is “irreversible” or could be affected by developments, Perino hedged.
“Any time the president — the president can always make a change,” she said. “But the president has been clear that this is a sporting event for the athletes and that pressuring China before, during and after the Olympics is the best way for us to try to help people across the board in China, not just Tibetans.”
And the best way to help the Chinese people, of course, is by legitimizing the regime that represses them.
Or something like that.
