Bush Mixes Sports And Politics In Beijing
11/08/2008 07:00
BEIJING -- In an Olympic medley of sports and politics, President Bush on Sunday called for more religious freedom in China, sought an end to an escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia and cheered U.S. athletes as they dribbled and swam for the gold.
He also praised Chinese leaders for their swift response to a stabbing attack that killed the father of a 2004 U.S. Olympian. Authorities tightened already-stringent security throughout the Chinese capital, and President Hu Jintao told Bush of China's "profound sympathy" for the victim's family.
"Your government has been very attentive, very sympathetic, and I appreciate that a lot," Bush said.
Todd Bachman, the father of Olympic volleyball player Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman, was killed Saturday and his wife Barbara was gravely injured as they toured Beijing's 13th-century Drum Tower. The Bachmans of Lakeville, Minn., are in-laws of U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon.
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SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Just when you thought it couldn’t get much worse over in Beijing, George W. Bush arrives on the scene.