Afraid of the Chinese ? Obama skips meeting with Dalai Lama

at 09:11 on October 6th, 2009

This is disappointing to say the least, and to be the first president in 18 years to refuse a visit is not a statistic to be proud of.

at 10:14 on October 6th, 2009

A cowardly, cowardly act that he did not do because he is afraid of the Chinese.

No, no. That is not the case.

Obama refused to meet the Dalai Lama because, looking in the Dalai Lama's eyes, Obama would have experienced remorse of conscience, a sense of the rug being pulled out from under his feet, and, most importantly, a sense of SHAME, as the so-called "most powerful man in the world" realized what it meant to really be a person of conscience.

That would have cut off his narcissistic supply so well that, who knows, he may have experienced a collapse of his belief system and been forced to do an inventory of what he knew based on that old hippie guru line, "everything you know is wrong".

Then, he would have gone running out of the room to find "Mama Michelle".

20 years in Rev Wright's church? This is the level of morality of the man? Maybe you do reap what you sow.

Believe me, Obama could meet with the Dalai Lama and still get the Chinese to buy our T-bills.

Amy Judd

at 11:36 on October 6th, 2009

I think you might be making quite a few assumptions there about a man you don't know - I'm not saying you are wrong or right, who knows, but I think no one can know with as much certainty as you speak of here why exactly Obama called off the meeting.

rng

at 11:46 on October 6th, 2009

Obama has agreed to meet him...post his China trip.

When anyone about anything is so definitive, I am prone to dig deeper and the facts as presented at first blush are not always so simple

I do agree though not meeting him leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth too

at 11:58 on October 6th, 2009

It is a supposition. One I can support, however, and one that Obama, "master of communication", has not yet dealt with.

File it under "Sweetie", what he called the citizen journalist who asked him exactly what he was going to do to help the auto workers.

The Obama Administration has the obligation to explain itself. That is accountability. In line with the New Republic's editor's take on Obama and narcissism, narcissists don't have to explain themselves.

They don't owe you that.

Rory Cripps

at 13:49 on October 6th, 2009

Roy: Is any of this surprising? It's a brave new world and Obama is the leader! LOL! I've said it before and I'll say it again: President Obama is making Jimmy Carter look like a political and international genius.

at 18:44 on October 6th, 2009

Carter has a very bad 'hidden' record that many Americans don't know about. He may be personally responsible for the 1979 Iran Revolution, beyond what anyone would dare to admit.

Unfortunately once in office, many elected officials in our nation go power-mad. and then the whole country get blamed for their crimes and mistakes.

I had voter-remorse within the first year Carter was in office. Now finding more with recently released documents.

Carter could never be a genius in my eyes.

Rory Cripps

at 03:57 on October 7th, 2009

Rene: I voted for "I'll never lie to you" Jimmy myself. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time coming off the heels of Watergate. He turned out to be a disaster didn't he?

Arbol

at 11:09 on October 6th, 2009

Our Costa Rican president did exactly the same thing. He cancelled the Dalai Lama's visit to the country on 2008. Oddly enough, he did welcome Hu Jintao with every possible honor two months later.

at 11:14 on October 6th, 2009

Roy,

I cannot go along with the "shame" issue or psycho-analytical concepts. It's all about the money and perhaps this is a "bow" in the direction of Chinese because we don't want their inferior tires. But still, refusing to meet the Dalai Lama for whatever reason strikes a sour note for me.

at 11:36 on October 6th, 2009

And wouldn't Obama's conscience make him feel shame for seelling out to the Chinese?

He just lost the "Save Tibet" Hollywood vote, Richard Gere Division.

at 18:45 on October 6th, 2009

Did he ever have them? what fools.

at 11:47 on October 6th, 2009

First, I don't think he sold out to the Chinese. Imposing a 35% tariff on tire imports is not selling out.

Perhaps the choice was a diplomatic one because he is meeting with the Chinese in a few weeks and doesnt want to lose leverage in any negotiations. Having said this, I still wish he would have met with him.

Actually not caring about the Hollywood vote should hold some clout with you because doesn't this signal and independent thinker?

at 11:55 on October 6th, 2009

I like the import quota. Let's put it on all Chinese merchandise until the Chinese free-float their currency.

But, this is the Obama with no moral backbone, no moral cajones.

rng

at 12:02 on October 6th, 2009

That is not going to happen. It hasn't through the past Administrations and won't under this one either, regardless of whether it is a good idea or not

So other than that...what would you suggest?

at 18:37 on October 6th, 2009

Wait until after the commercial real estate collapse, the need for more massive bailouts presents itself and the dollar tanks, increasing the price of oil, setting off inflation, and generally making us into a poor country.

Then we will get that we would have, should have and could have done.

Food riots within three years as all this major merde hits the fans.

at 18:49 on October 6th, 2009

We need a money-back guarantee on anything from China. Even their lighters don't work 3/4ths of the time. (Bics are made in USA and they always work)

at 18:58 on October 6th, 2009

Rene, what are you trying to light with those lighters? :)

rng

at 19:43 on October 6th, 2009

Food riots? Yes, not here. There, most probably

jefhow22

at 12:25 on October 6th, 2009

It does not surprise me that O did not want to meet with the Dalai Lama. It is very disappointing to me that, for some reason, he refused. I have always supported the Dalai Lama in his efforts to free Tibet. If O does not want to go he could certainly send me. O's respect and image around the globe is fast weening from public favor. I should not have to WISH for any President to do anything for the country. Wishing is for fairy tales and la la land. He needs to start acting like a responsible citizen, Commander-in-Chief, and President. He is going to "thumb his nose" at the wrong people, namely the voters, and fail to establish his policies that will not only affect the citizenry but also his own future down the road, namely re-election....whoooaaaa...I know it's way to early for that...but for me it is food for thought.

Barbara McPherson

at 13:04 on October 6th, 2009

It is puzzling why Obama didn't meet with the Dalai Lama. The leaders in Taiwan met with him in spite of the wrath of the PRC.

at 13:36 on October 6th, 2009

Good point. Thanks for the info.

at 13:34 on October 6th, 2009

Barbara,

Good point.

It's strange though because they allowed the Dalai Lama, but they denied Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer in September this year who lives in exile, but represents the Chinese Muslim minority. She expressed deep disappointment after Taiwan barred her from visiting and voiced fear that Taiwan was coming under the power of China.

But Taiwan, led since last year by Beijing-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou, said it would bar her visit. Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah indirectly linked her World Uighur Congress that represents Muslims.