Posted on 08/28/2004 5:16:27 PM PDT by Hildy
America's biggest Olympic hero yesterday accused George Bush of exploiting the Athens Games for his own political advantage in the run-up to the presidential election. Carl Lewis, who won nine Olympic gold medals in athletics in a record-breaking career, condemned Bush for using the presence of Iraqi and Afghan teams in Athens in a television advertisement to boost his chances of re-election.
Criticising Bush for linking his foreign policy with the two countries being allowed to compete here, Lewis said: 'I felt that was disingenuous. It is funny that we boycotted the 1980 Games [in Moscow] in support of Afghanistan, and now we're bombing Afghanistan,' he told the Athens News yesterday.
'Of course, we've invaded Iraq and are in there and are using it for political gain. It bewilders me, and I understand why the Iraqi players are offended.
'To support the players or the community is fine, but for political gain I disagree.'
Iraq's footballers, who unexpectedly reached the semi-finals here, made clear last week they disliked the advertisement and regarded American soldiers in Iraq as occupiers rather than liberators. Bush was planning to visit the Greek capital and attend yesterday's football final if Iraq had been involved, but they lost in the semi-finals last week. He was also criti cised for misusing without permission Olympic symbols, which are protected emblems.
Carl better get his history straight. It was Jimmy Carter who made that decision.
Evidently, Carl still holds a grudge.
As Laura Ingraham would say in this case, "Shut up and run!"
As Laura Ingraham would say in this case, "Shut up and run!"
ooops
Carl wouldn't be a Muslim by any chance?
I guess Carl has forgotten the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 with the "Power salute"?
You know the one that Kerry keeps giving.
It's good you're athletic, Carl!
You'll never win any golds for that brain.
Who cares? He's got an IQ of 70.
Carl Lewis, great American thinker. Humph
Shame on you Carl for exploiting President Bush for your own political reasons.
Really???
What a dumbass - we're "bombing" Afghanastan to liberate it - and it's happening! Short-sighted moron.
FWIW, my tutor in college was an olympian from Ghana who met Carl Lewis. Said such tutor that Carl Lewis was the most obnoxious and arrogant man he met *lol*
Go back to Fallujah, boys. You have an appointment with some gold medal infantrymen.
Don't know about drugs, but Carl and Greg Louganis have something in common besides being medal winners.
Carl Lewis is yesterday's news...AND a fruit cake.
Oh, and biggest Olympic hero?
Further proof that the anti-Iraq war Left is really anti-any war that we engage in. If this was 1942, these self-hating cretins would oppose our fighting the Japanese after they attacked Pearl Harbor. Leftism is a mind-poison that is eating away at the soul of America and the rest of free world.
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Gee, Carl, which President boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games? |
Quick...name the year, the president and his political party.
Bonus Question, Carl: Name one thing that president did to stop the Soviet Union's aggressions against Afghanistan.
We're waiting.
Carl's a poofter? I did not know that!
He certainly has the mannerisms.
Carl Lewis is yesterday's news...AND a fruit cake.
Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves for political reasons Carl. So what's your point?
!!! JESSE OWENS !!!
You are correct. they are both disco dancin',Barbara Striesand ticket holding,Oscar Wilde reading, Friends of dorthy.
Guess he wants the Taliban back & Al-Qaeda running the show. His
complaint of, "we're bombing
Afghanistan", really clinched it.
Yep.
Dumb as a rock.
Carl's "poofiness" is common knowledge in the track and field community.
I'm glad Carl Lewis wasn't put on the 1996 4x100 relay team just so he could set a record for the most gold medals. The track coaches let a younger team mate get a chance for a gold medal. Lewis shows he has no class and is in it just for himself.
Yet certain people found it in themselves to make a protest over Colin Powell visiting, and demonstrations took place and he changed his plans.
Seems everyone else is allowed to politicize the olympics except the US or its athletes, who are supposed to be quiet and not draw attention to themselves.
Did he lose one of his medals because of drugs? Someone was telling me that and I thought they had him mistaken with someone else.
he's gay, they would stone him I think.
You're a funny guy.
I'd like to thank Carl Lewis for being the first athlete in history to defend the gutless, cowardly, non-sensical boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
This boycott led to the equally gutless, cowardly, non-sensical boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which allowed him to 'duplicate' Jesse Owens feat of 4 track and field golds at a single Olympics. Too bad his feat was against a dilluted competitive field.
If only we had boycotted the Olympics in 1936, WWII would have never happened. (sarcasm/off)
Louganis may be all wet, but Lewis has been running around in circles his entire adult life.
"Carl and Greg Louganis have something in common"
A fondness for the gov. of NJ?
Carl Lewis is entitled to his opinion, even if it is wrong. I too wish he would just shut up and run rather than speak ill of our country to the British press.
But to call him "America's biggest Olympic hero" is a bit of a stretch in 2004. Maybe 8 years ago.
BTW --- this article came from the Guardian, which would explain the biased reporting.
It's a good thing Carl can run, 'cause he sure can't think worth a damn.
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On and he isnt even close to the greatest american olympian. Mark Spitz would kick the fairies ass any day.
Let's put it this way; He's a 3 and 1/2 dollar bill.
I wouldnt even say that 8 years ago. Mark Spitz is the man to beat, 7 golds, one olympic
Now the poofter is going to use his fame to leverage his message into the public domain? He's as dumb as a rock! All he ever had going for him was his speed. But my dog is faster than he is. So if I want the opinion of a speedster, I'll talk to my dog before I listen to him and those other entertainment chuckleheads!
Mark Spitz is too.
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There go the million-dollar product endorsement contracts. The guy could have been set for life after winning an Olympic gold, and he trades it for one stupid remark. Idiot.