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Bush Welcomes Olympians to the White House
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ShareJuly 21, 2008 1:51 PM
ABC News' Matt Jaffe Reports: President Bush welcomed 17 members of the U.S. Summer Olympic team to the White House Monday morning ahead of next month's Games in China, as well as five members of the U.S. Paralympic team that will compete there come September.
"I'm fired up to go. I can't wait to salute our athletes and I can't wait to share in the joy of your triumphs," Bush told the Olympians. "And so today we send you off with congratulations on the success you have already achieved and on the accomplishments we know will be yours in Beijing. May you and your teammates compete swifter, higher, and stronger in the Games and may God bless you as you represent our wonderful nation."
Bush and the First Lady will attend the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing on August 8, a decision criticized by various politicians and human rights groups that want the President to take a stand against China's treatment of protesters in Tibet. Bush has said he views the Olympics as a sporting event, not a political one, and he will go to support the nation's Olympics team.
"In Beijing you will convey our nation's most cherished values," Bush said to the competitors. "As ambassadors of liberty, you will represent America's love for freedom and our regard for human rights and human dignity. You'll represent to other athletes and to the people of China."
"Team USA shows the great power of sports to bring people together," he said. "There's no sporting event that unites people like the Olympics and all Americans will rally behind you when you compete in Beijing. And we will be fascinated by the different stories behind each athlete."
The President then told the stories of three particular Olympians, one of whom was present today in the Rose Garden: Scott Winkler, an Army specialist who lost the use of his legs in an accident in Iraq, is now a paralympian in track & field.
"Scott, we honor your service to our country, we thank you for coming today, and we'll be pulling for you," said Bush.
Following his remarks, softball pitcher Jennie Finch presented the President with a red USA softball jersey with Bush 08 on the back.
Later about a half-dozen Olympians, including the beach volleyball team of Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh that won the gold-medal at the 2004 Athens Summer Games, spoke to reporters staked out in the White House driveway.
"It's such an honor to be here, to shake his hand, and just to know everything he's doing to keep us safe here at home and abroad," said Walsh. "He's a very special man. He has, you know, the weight of the world on top of him and he's so charismatic and he has that twinkle in his eye."
May-Treanor spoke about Bush's controversial decision to attend the Opening Ceremonies.
"It's a sporting event, not a political, you know, event, but it will bring things to the forefront that hopefully us as athletes can, you know, continue with those for a second and get everybody together, and then after try to find solutions, but he's very excited to come there as a fan and a supporter."
A crowd of about 150 comprised of U.S. Olympic Committee staff, friends and families of the Olympians, and active duty military personnel was present at today's sun-splashed Rose Garden ceremony. Tonight the President and First Lady will host a dinner in the East Room which will feature five Olympic gold-medalists: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Bob Beamon, Bart Conner, Shannon Miller, and Norman Bellingham.
July 21, 2008 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (14)
Is there ANY possible way "NUMBNUT's" will stay in China, after the games??? The A** hole only has 181 days left until noon 20 January 2009.What a gift to the world it would be if he would just stay there until the INTERPOL issues his arrest warrant for war crimes..
Posted by: Repubsout | Jul 21, 2008 3:13:23 PM
To hell with political b.s. .. represent yourselves and this country well! Good luck!
Posted by: Dewey Cox | Jul 21, 2008 3:15:16 PM
"...and our regard for human rights and human dignity"
You're joking, right, Chief?
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/LawPolitics/Story?id=4635175&page=1
Up is down. Black is white. 2 + 2 = 5
Posted by: neo | Jul 21, 2008 3:42:59 PM
Well, how nice of the stellar atheletes. Bush must be very excited to meet REAL (potential) WINNERS....
Posted by: irma | Jul 21, 2008 4:16:10 PM
repubsout,you are a great example why liberals are so full of hatred and have nothing nice to say. Just can't bring yourself to be on the same side as Bush. As my mom said, if you have nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all. If you want INTERPOL to warrant an arrest, try Clinton first, Carter second, and France's former Pres. Chirac third. Good luck to all the athletes who participate.
Posted by: justright | Jul 21, 2008 4:22:01 PM
Is it me or is the ABC no longer hiding the fact that they are in Obama's court? Every other article under the Politics tab is a praise to Barack while they further demean McCain any way possible.
Posted by: Eric in Atlanta | Jul 21, 2008 7:00:07 PM
Posted by: 4thestate | Jul 21, 2008 8:34:54 PM
Perhaps maybe "God Damn America" is right. Little does these fools know that Bush is saving their lives and liberties. Oh.....what the hell can't get no where with this..The Bush hater can just go to hell.
Posted by: vegas | Jul 22, 2008 12:33:10 AM
I LIKE BUSH....I would like to see him in prison for the next 50 years, wearing an orange jump suit and handcuff's..He is a war criminal just like the "BUTCHER of BOSNIA" Radovan Karadzic who was arrested today by INTERPOL.. The "BUTCHER of IRAQ" George Bush...millions dead because of this maniac.
Posted by: Repubsout | Jul 22, 2008 2:44:50 AM
Sad to see that people are such jerks that they cannot even separate their hate (political, intellectual jealousy whatever) from our great Olympic athletes. Anyway, we have an amazing swim & gymnastics team going this year. It will be a good pre-show for our speed skaters that are going to DOMINATE in Vancouver!!!!
Posted by: Rochelle | Jul 22, 2008 12:56:23 PM
Sad to see that people are such jerks that they cannot even separate their hate (political, intellectual jealousy whatever) from our great Olympic athletes. Anyway, we have an amazing swim & gymnastics team going this year. It will be a good pre-show for our speed skaters that are going to DOMINATE in Vancouver!!!!
Posted by: Rochelle | Jul 22, 2008 12:56:28 PM
I just hope they are all safe while they are there. At this point, the actual olympics is the last thing on my mind...its the saftey of our athletes, our President, and all of the other American citizens going over there for this event. I agree that representitives should be there for our athletes, if we send them over there that is. It just has me nervous. My prayers are with them all.
Posted by: jody | Jul 22, 2008 1:17:42 PM
GOOD NEWS...Bush plans to stay in China with his money....
Posted by: Repubsout | Jul 22, 2008 2:23:39 PM
"Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh"
Remember these names. They are people who stood by President Bush and applaud his leadership, as opposed to the numbnuts leftwingers who mock and denounce our country every chance they get.
Obamamania = the death of America.
Posted by: James Marsden | Jul 22, 2008 5:14:28 PM
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