Free Speech?

by Bob Cesca

This morning, President Bush appeared with Chinese President Hu for a gala event at the White House. Since shifting his Iraq War justification to "freedom for the Iraqi people" and subsequently delivering an idealistic Second Inaugural about freedom and liberty (not including gay Americans), the president has claimed to be on a crusade to deliver to everyone (not gays) the "Almighty's gift" of freedom.

In fact, during this morning's event, President Bush urged President Hu to allow his people to speak freely. What a coincidence that a Chinese woman at the event would take the president up on his challenge.

"President Bush, stop him from killing! Stop persecuting the Falun Gong! President Bush, stop him!" she shouted while CNN anchors expressed pity for... the president.

CNN's coverage: "An embarrassing moment, potentially, for the president." Then Miles O'Brien reacted, "I should say amid the pomp and circumstance -- a blemish." A Chinese woman expressing her views to the Chinese president in the only forum possible -- she certainly couldn't do that in China -- is a blemish? Yes, it was a pimple on the ass of such a wonderful event; an event which will usher in an era of more American jobs going overseas to communist controlled sweatshops. Dag. How dare she interrupt such pomp with all that annoying pus-filled free speech!

Back to the president. You'd figure since he's been called by God to protect and ensure the liberty of all people, he'd have the courage of his faith and convictions to do or say something. Perhaps he could've waved off the Secret Service agents who hauled her away. He could've invited her to address President Hu in a more official setting. This could've been his moment to put his money where his mouth is.

Hell, moments earlier he said:
"China has become successful because the Chinese people are experience the freedom to buy, and to sell, and to produce -- and China can grow even more successful by allowing the Chinese people the freedom to assemble, to speak freely, and to worship."

Setting a good example, isn't he? Standing motionless with his hands in the cupping-his-balls position while someone who's speaking freely is hauled off by American security.

This is the man who's on a self-proclaimed freedom crusade employing the bloodied bodies of our fighting men and women, but who personally couldn't move a muscle other than to tell President Hu, "You're alright." Once again, President Decider couldn't decide what to do.

Like the infamous My Pet Goat moments on 9/11. Like the Katrina days strumming air guitar. And now this. Unless someone else is doing the fighting, he's just like his father. He's a wimp.

To paraphrase his 2004 RNC acceptance speech: But at least we know where he stands. He stands... there.

UPDATE from the AP: 47-year-old Wenyi Wang has been charged with disorderly conduct and "intimidating a foreign official." Maybe Wang should've said, "Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists." Intimidation of foreign officials isn't intimidation of foreign officials if it comes from the president. Speaking of which, President Bush later expressed regret. Not for allowing Wenyi Wang to be arrested, but regret that Wang interrupted and embarassed President Hu. I guess the president's idea of free speech is "uninterrupted speeches that are free of dissent."