Brown's Olympic error offends everyone
It’s a re-run of the election-that-never-was. Brown keeps his options open. He waits for the right moment to go public. And uses careful distinctions of language to keep his meaning from the public. And looks like an ass.
At his Downing St press conference last week he was asked whether he would follow Sarkozy’s lead and stay away from the opening ceremony. In his answer he said: "I think President Sarkozy said himself he expected Britain, because we are going to host the next Olympics, to be present at the Olympic ceremonies and I will certainly be there." The missing words at the end being “. . . at one of them.”
He just couldn’t bring himself to say, “representing Britain at the opening ceremony in front of a global audience of three billion viewers will be . . . Tessa Jowell.” It doesn’t sound quite right, does it? And was it for this that Gordon took such trouble to become prime minister? To give Tessa a global profile?
Brown’s explanation, by the way, manages to offend everyone. It would be “a waste of public money” for the PM to attend. So it’s not the moral compass. It’s not really prudence, either, considering the stakes involved.
But the lack of principle will lose him the support of the Human Rights lobby.
And the Chinese will be furious, won’t they, that Gordon thinks they aren’t worth the plane fare to attend the greatest Chinese event in a generation.
Luckily for Brown, the Chinese government is not known for a sense of mischief. But they could offer to pay for the trip. Or part-pay, perhaps, and come back with a slightly higher offer if they were turned down the first time. But I fear they take these things more seriously than that.
In my view, those who really know China, the history of Tibet and the truth of Tibet riot will support Brown to attend the Olympic opening ceremony.
Posted by: Jay | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 10:57 AM
Really, Jay? That's your view?? The view of a paid Communist Party liar??? You work for the COmmunist Party, don't you, "Jay"? And you are too cowardly and gutless to even use your real name.
Posted by: Neil McGowan | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 11:05 AM
China is evil in it's human rights abuses. What it is doing in Tibet is evil. I have seen videos on you tube which shows the bullying imperalistic mentailty of many Chinese to the Tibetans they talk of them like the English right wingers talk about the celtic people or immigrants. They call them lazy parasites. And expect them to expect cultural oppression, as some sort of favour. The Chinese are developing a evil imperialistic bullying mentality.
Some even claim they do not support the communists but just love China so therefore it is apparently OK to support oppression of Tibet on that basis. It is sick.
I am a socialist i do not see how any could support human abuses.
Posted by: dirty european socialist | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 11:13 AM
Some detailed comments on Human rights in Tibet, the reason behind Tibet riot, justice of media, freedom in China etc can be found from [Archives 23 March --, Have your say: the monks who defied Beijing]. The comments were posted on 05 April 2008 at 12:01 AM. You will see a view which is completely different from that posted above by ... at 11:13am.
Posted by: Jay | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 12:32 PM
Tibet has found a new champion for its cause in the olympic torch and the beauty is the Chinese has sent its best men for its protection.
Posted by: Tarandeep | Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 09:13 PM