ASPEN, Colo., July 25, 2008

McCain Meets Dalai Lama

Republican Candidate Urges China To Free Tibetan Prisoners

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  • Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, talks with reporters during a news conference with the Dalai Lama as he arrives in Aspen, Colo., July 25, 2008.

    Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, talks with reporters during a news conference with the Dalai Lama as he arrives in Aspen, Colo., July 25, 2008.  (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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(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.



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Add a Comment See all 28 Comments
by whitepicks2 July 28, 2008 4:32 AM EDT
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

Reply to this comment
by ioweign July 26, 2008 6:43 PM EDT
The Dalai Lama praised McCain for his concern, but he emphasized he wasn''t endorsing McCain''s presidential bid.

#####

McCain must have spoken...

Reply to this comment
by deacon20081 July 26, 2008 5:46 PM EDT
His Holiness? McSame is now a Buddist or something?
ommmmm....I guess that''s his new mantra.
Reply to this comment
by harp1963 July 26, 2008 2:24 PM EDT
Funny McCain Cartoon:

http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2008/07/22/tomo/
Reply to this comment
by hotpaulie July 26, 2008 1:24 PM EDT
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?
Reply to this comment
by lewiston14 July 26, 2008 12:16 PM EDT
Now the big question is were they tapping toes in a golf cart?
Reply to this comment
by lewiston14 July 26, 2008 12:07 PM EDT
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.
Reply to this comment
by nextgenman July 26, 2008 12:05 PM EDT
Where did Liverspot McMold meet him? Czechoslovakia?

Bwahahahahaha!!
Reply to this comment
by likeitis5050 July 26, 2008 11:44 AM EDT
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!!!
Reply to this comment
by likeitis5050 July 26, 2008 11:41 AM EDT
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!''.
Reply to this comment
by nextgenman July 26, 2008 11:04 AM EDT
Dalai Lama: Peace, love, understanding, and respect for the sanctity of life.

McCain: "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb"

I can''t imagine why there was no endorsement.

Posted by omnibus66 at 07:44 AM : Jul 26, 2008
----------

LOL! :^)
Reply to this comment
by docpeter-2009 July 26, 2008 10:46 AM EDT
Posted by skyk at 07:38 AM : Jul 26, 2008 ,"It has always amazed me how people with LITTLE education and even less ability to look at others and understand what they say are always the ones who think they know it all. This poor soul is a case in point. He hasn''''t the basic education to present his thoughts and beliefs in a way that can be debated and look at in any sort of common sense way. Instead he cuts and paste anything that, in his simple way, thinks supports his case, never realizing that those quotes do the exact opposite."
____________________

Well you are not exactly right here. The repeated quotes have the effect of telling people the same thing over and over again that they soon will believe. Hitler was good at this, as was Satlin, Lenin, and Sadam. And if they don''t/won''t/refuse to believe you can always imprison them.
Reply to this comment
by omnibus66 July 26, 2008 10:44 AM EDT
Dalai Lama: Peace, love, understanding, and respect for the sanctity of life.

McCain: "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb"

I can''t imagine why there was no endorsement.
Reply to this comment
by skyk-2009 July 26, 2008 10:38 AM EDT
you will not like the HUSSEIN change nancy,,, LOL

hahaha

Posted by terrorislamv at 04:04 AM : Jul 26, 2008

It has always amazed me how people with LITTLE education and even less ability to look at others and understand what they say are always the ones who think they know it all. This poor soul is a case in point. He hasn''t the basic education to present his thoughts and beliefs in a way that can be debated and look at in any sort of common sense way. Instead he cuts and paste anything that, in his simple way, thinks supports his case, never realizing that those quotes do the exact opposite.
Reply to this comment
by docpeter-2009 July 26, 2008 10:30 AM EDT
"McCain Meets Dalai Lama"

I bet this was interesting, War Monger meets Peace Professor.

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

But did they sit down and sing Kumbaya together?

I gather that the Dalai Lama wasn''t impressed by McCain''s war efforts.
Reply to this comment
by andor3 July 26, 2008 6:56 AM EDT
"HUSSEIN IS FOR CHANGE,,,"

you got it backwards. Obama is not calling for change. Change is calling for Obama. And he will answer...
Reply to this comment
by tangula-2009 July 26, 2008 5:21 AM EDT
It''s seemingly unfair that Dalai lama didn''t endorse McCain. But that may be the right choice. Facing the huge popularity Mr.Obama is receiving on his Europe tour, Dalai lama has to weigh on his decision,right?
Reply to this comment
by randynason July 26, 2008 3:42 AM EDT
Maybe the Dalai Lama helped Gramps McSame develop his mantra: Ahhh... ummm... ahhh... ummm...
Reply to this comment
by onejustworld July 26, 2008 3:32 AM EDT
The Dalai Lama is being courted as a means to further the political aspirations of politicians of every hue.
But will it ever translate into tangible support for the Tibetan cause, or will it, as always, remain hollow lip service after the Dalai Lama has served his feel good publicity purpose?
Makes you think:
http://one-just-world.blogspot.com/2008/07/letter-to-hu-jintao.html
Reply to this comment
by timdgrim July 26, 2008 3:22 AM EDT
His Holiness...meet His Forgetfullness....
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