McCain Meets Dalai Lama

Republican Candidate Urges China To Free Tibetan Prisoners

(AP)  Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Friday called on China to release Tibetan prisoners as he met with the Dalai Lama.

After a 45-minute meeting with the Dalai Lama, McCain said the Beijing Olympic Games in August provide an opportunity for China to demonstrate it recognizes human rights. He also said the Dalai Lama is merely seeking basic rights to preserve Tibetan culture, language and religion.

"That's why I'm so disappointed by repeated statements by Chinese officials that ascribe to the Dalai Lama views and actions divorced from what he actually represents. Such rhetoric doesn't serve a cause of peaceful change and reconciliation," McCain said.

"I urge the Chinese government to release Tibetan political prisoners, account for Tibetans who have, quote, 'disappeared' since protests in March, and engage in meaningful dialogue on genuine autonomy for Tibet," McCain said.

The Tibetan spiritual leader was in Aspen for a symposium sponsored by The Aspen Institute think tank. McCain met with him while his rival, Democrat Barack Obama, was on high-profile trip through Europe and the Middle East.

The Dalai Lama praised McCain for his concern, but he emphasized he wasn't endorsing McCain's presidential bid.

The Dalai Lama is seeking support from world leaders for upcoming talks with China once the Olympics are over. He says he wants autonomy, not independence, for Tibet.

China claims Tibet has been its territory for centuries.

"His Holiness represents the profound desire of millions of Tibetans for basic dignity and human rights. His nonviolence approach and his lifelong work seeking common ground across cultural and religious divides are an inspiration to all of mankind and to millions of Americans," McCain said as the Dalai Lama clutched McCain's hands.

[whitepicks2]

The policy of the Obama campaign is set forth on its Web site for online donations:

''We don''t take money from Washington lobbyists or special-interest political action committees. Instead, we have a base of more than 1.5 million individual donors who ensure that this campaign answers to no one but the people.'' -- and financial records show this to be the case.

Registered lobbyists have donated large amounts of money to Sen. McCain''s campaign, even as he denounces their profession.

So far, McCain has received more than $181,600 from lobbyists and trade groups. http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/27/a
merica/27lobby.php

[ioweign]

The Dalai Lama praised McCain for his concern, but he emphasized he wasn''t endorsing McCain''s presidential bid.

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McCain must have spoken...

[deacon20081]

His Holiness? McSame is now a Buddist or something?
ommmmm....I guess that''s his new mantra.

[harp1963]

Funny McCain Cartoon:

http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2008/07/22/tomo/

[hotpaulie]

Who cares? Bush is already going to the opening ceremonies at the Olympics...Do you think McCain is going to put the hammer down on China?

[lewiston14]

Now the big question is were they tapping toes in a golf cart?

[lewiston14]

I feel safer allready. Deli meets with MC maybe at the sausage shop.

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." Albert Einstein

So Einstein took it apon himself to help make nuke bombs. If that is not getting active I dont know what is and we are now all safer.

[nextgenman]

Where did Liverspot McMold meet him? Czechoslovakia?

Bwahahahahaha!!

[likeitis5050]

you got it backwards. Obama is not calling for change. Change is calling for Obama. And he will answer...


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Posted by andor3

Bwhahahahaaaa....what tripe! Step away from the bong before you post...or consider that post the best laugh on the board!!!

[likeitis5050]

He needed some kind of photo op this week ... the cheesy shot and the applesauce shot just didn''''t get enough traction. This won''''t either.


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Posted by emelder

That has to be approved by the media covering Obama''s last smelly discharge from his nether regions, which the media claims smells like lotus blossoms. Photo ops for McCain are on hold for the time being as the media waits in anticipation to get a shot of Obama actually walking on water....oh, the thrill of it all!!! One day we''ll look back and say, ''I remember exactly what I was doing the day Obama turned the water into wine!''.