Speaking at a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) warned U.S. athletes attending the Olympic Games in Beijing that they risk the wrath of the “ruthless” Chinese communist regime if they speak out against human rights abuses.
“When the Winter Olympic Games begin tomorrow in Beijing, the Chinese once again will attempt to distract the world from a decades-long campaign of abuse and repression,” said Pelosi, who has profited enormously from her connections with the communist country.
“While we fully support and will root for our athletes, we cannot and will not be silent on human rights in China,” she later added. “Over the next two weeks, it is our urgent moral duty to shine a bright light on the many human rights violations being perpetrated by the host nation.”
Nevertheless, Pelosi urged the U.S. athletes attending the games to stick to competing rather than criticize the Chinese government: “I would say to our athletes — you are there to compete. Do not risk incurring the anger of the Chinese government because they are ruthless. I know there is a temptation on the part of some to speak out while they are there; I respect that. But, I also worry about what the Chinese government might do to their reputations, to their families,” she added.