Pelosi: Bush Should Consider Boycott of Olympics' Opening

April 1, 2008 — -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi does not want the United States to boycott the Beijing Olympics, but she says that President Bush should consider skipping the opening ceremony.

"I think boycotting the opening ceremony, which really gives respect to the Chinese government, is something that should be kept on the table," the California Democrat told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts in an interview today. "I think the president might want to rethink this later, depending on what other heads of state do."

Pelosi Considers Boycott of Games' Opening

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced she will not attend the Olympic Games, set to begin Aug. 8, 2008. Pelosi, meanwhile, has been outspoken in support of Tibet, the site of recent crackdowns on human rights demonstrators by the Chinese government.

In a recent trip to Dharmasala, India, home of the Dalai Lama's displaced Tibetan government, Pelosi said, "If freedom-loving people don't speak out against China's oppression of people in Tibet, we have lost all moral authority to speak out against any oppressed people."

In the interview with "GMA," the speaker continued to denounce China's rule over Tibet and expressed regret that the communist nation would play host to the Summer Games.

"I don't think China should have gotten the Olympic Games to begin with," Pelosi said. "I had a resolution in the Congress, which was very popular, and bipartisan support on it. But they did get them with the promise that they would open up more and have better respect for human rights and freedom of expression. They have not honored that."

Playing Games in China

Pelosi contends the recent violence in Tibet proves China has not committed to improving the country's human rights record.

"People have been saying they're shooting our people like dogs," Tenzin Norgay, the spokesman for the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy, told ABC News, citing sources inside Tibet.

Despite those reports, Pelosi insists that the Games should go on.

"There's a difference between that ceremony and the actual athletic events," Pelosi said.

"I don't agree with the perception that is out there that the Olympic Games are this great, unifying, human rights-advocating organization. It's a sporting event. It's a sporting event and it should proceed," said Pelosi.

But the House leader also sees an opportunity, and she urged the International Olympic Committee to use its influence to pressure China.

"[The International Olympic Committee] should insist that China honor the commitment that they made. But they have not, and the Olympic committee is just proceeding. They should. The plans are in the works. The athletes have trained. It should go forward," she said.

Politics at Home

On the home front, Pelosi said she returned from travels abroad with "a stronger urgency for a Democratic victory in November."

"I think the election has to run its course," Pelosi said, adding, "at some point it'll be clear that there is a front-runner, and at that point we would hope that, for the greater good, for the country, that we can all rally as early as possible behind one person."

It's too early to point to New York Sen. Hillary Clinton or Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as the lead Democratic contender, Pelosi says.

"Every day is a lifetime in politics and anything can change -- the dynamic can change at any given time."

Democratic Elders

In recent days, Clinton has emphasized she's in it till the bitter end.

"I have no intention of stopping until we finish what we started, and until we see what happens in the next 10 contests, and until we resolve Florida and Michigan. And if we won't resolve it, we'll resolve it at the convention," she told the Washington Post.

Pelosi cautioned against analyzing the senator's language to assume the Democratic fight for the nomination would fracture the party till August.

"If you're a candidate for president, you certainly are saying that you're going to the convention. You can't say anything but." Pelosi said.

"Sen. Clinton may well be going to the convention as the nominee. But I do think that as it evolves, one of them -- one of them is going to have to realize that the numbers, whether its Sen. Obama, and he would step aside, or whether it's Sen. Clinton."

Pelosi: No Dreams for Dream Ticket

Once again, the House speaker batted back the idea of a Democratic dream ticket.

"I just don't see it. All these years in politics, making judgements about candidacies and chemistry, I just don't see it," Pelosi said.

Calling the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, "four more years of George W. Bush," regardless of who the Democratic candidate is, Pelosi says they'll be "talking the future, about a bigger vision for America."