"Boycott Gets a Maybe from Obama"

The Trail (WaPo's political blog):

LEVITTOWN, Pa. -- Sen. Barack Obama today took a wait-and-see approach to a potential boycott of the opening ceremonies in Beijing.

"If the Chinese do not take steps to help stop the genocide in Darfur and to respect the dignity, security, and human rights of the Tibetan people, then the President should boycott the opening ceremonies," he said in a statement. "As I have communicated in public and to the President, it is past time for China to respect the human rights of the Tibetan people, to allow foreign journalists and diplomats access to the region, and to engage the Dalai Lama in meaningful talks about the future of Tibet. I am also deeply concerned about China's failure to support efforts to halt the genocide in Darfur."

"Regarding the Beijing Olympics this summer," he added, "a boycott of the opening ceremonies should be firmly on the table, but this decision should be made closer to the Games."

Obama's home state of Illinois is hoping to lure the Olympics to Chicago in 2016.

Barack Obama