Clinton to Bush: Boycott Opening Ceremonies

Hillary Clinton has had some strong words for George W. Bush in the past, and today's were no different.  In a new press release, Clinton urged Bush to boycott the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. 

Clinton writes that Tibetan clashes and Sudanese genocide "underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China. At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government. 

I encourage the Chinese to take advantage of this moment as an opportunity to live up to universal human aspirations of respect for human rights and unity, ideals that the Olympic games have come to represent."

Bush probably won't take this advice from his dear friends, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, to heart.  Though neither advocates an Olympic boycott, even with its wrinkles, the relationship between the U.S. and China is of paramount importance.  I just don't think Bush and many other foreign leaders will change their Olympic plans.

While Clinton's remarks have inspired some of her fans, they also isolate her most loyal base: Asian Americans. 

With the exception of Obama's Hawaiian home state, Asian Americans have showed more loyalty to Clinton than any key demographic.  After the California primary, a CNN exit poll showed Asian-Americans favoring Clinton 3 to 1 over Obama.   In New York, she won over 87% of Asian voters, and had nearly three quarters of New Jersey's Asian American support. 

Many ethnic Chinese remain proud of the fact that their motherland will host the Games, and have been critical of foreign politicians politicizing the Olympics or equating China with Sudanese genocide.  Taking on this Olympic issue, which has personal significance for Chinese American voters, might not be the way for Clinton to reinforce her lead among all Asian voters.

On the other hand, this Olympic outrage probably plays well to much of her base has been critical of human rights in China.  It also has helped quell the media firestorm around the resignation of her chief strategist, Mark Penn. 

All things considered, this press release might work well in the short-term, playing to an American public that might want the U.S. to take a tougher stance against China. 

From a long-term perspective, however, playing this Olympic China card might not be the best decision long-term.  Isolating a key group of loyal supporters and the world's most populous nation are probably not the best way to start the presidency, should she emerge victorious this November.