Bush: "Affront" to support human rights in China

That's what he really means when he says he's going to the opening ceremony for the Olympics in China. Since when was it so important for a US President and other world leaders to join the event? Bush did not attend the 2004 ceremony in Greece (his father did) and while leaders do attend, it tends to be more regional or exceptional. A (current) US President has never attended outside of the US, so why is it so critical and so important this year? It's such a big deal, that the supposedly frank-talking Bush is failing to make a statement about China's failure to tolerate a free press, democracy or human rights. Why is it so difficult for the media to ask Bush why it's critical in 2008 when it wasn't in 2004 or any other year?

The only "affront" is Bush's disregard for human rights, whether in China or Guantanamo. Could you honestly imagine Reagan going to this event or worrying about what China thinks? I didn't like Reagan, but never in a million years would he have attended or been so friendly to the Beijing regime.