Olympic gold hero accuses Bush

Drudge ^ | August 28, 2004

[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.

[rwfromkansas]

NEver even heard of this guy.

[AmericanVictory]

We're "bombing Afghanistan?" Carl could run very fast. Now he wants to revise the phrase "dumb jock."

[Hildy]

Never heard of him...and you're proud of this?

[webheart]

I forgot to ask, who the heck is Carl Lewis, just which events did Carl Lewis earn gold medals for in this olympics? And what has he done to make himself a "hero?" I had no idea that Carl Lewis was America's Biggest Olympic Hero. Actually, I haven't watched the olympics for more than 30 minutes combined since 1968. So I don't know what the heck they are talking about. The only thing I miss about the olympics is when McDonalds gave out a free Big Mac when the US won a gold medal. They probably stopped doing that when they tried to break into the foreign markets, so as not to upset the people in other countries. They would be giving out MacSchnitzels every time Germany won a gold, or McSushi Sandwiches in Japan. But now I have no reason to pay attention at all.

[buckeyesrule]

*****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.****

I geuss Mr Lewis did not get a chance to watch any television on 09/11/2001.

[webheart]

...and you're proud of this?

Why would it matter that he doesn't know the answer to the 800 dollar Jeopardy question. I never heard of him either, and I don't really care enough to concern myself with whether I should be proud or not. At first glance, I thought they were talking about the guy who played Action Jackson, but I remembered that it was Carl Weathers. I'm proud of the fact that I know who Carl Weathers is.

[smonk]

add carl lewis to the list of people in the "where are they now" file trying to resurrect their dormant careers by publicly accusing the president of something or other.

[ErnBatavia]

If I'm wrong, "straighten" me out.

He appears in costume, when he appears. That settles it for me. Drudge is gay. He has this Bogie thing going. I wouldn't want him in the same shower room, that's for sure.

[Hildy]

I just always find it amusing when people say they don't know who someone is like their somehow superior to all pop culture.

[aruanan]

'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."

Though relieved that Bush isn't going to crush their testicles with pliers, ram tubes up orifices, hang them from their feet and beat the soles with canes if they displease him. Yeah, I can see why they're offended, Carl. And I can see how being a great athlete doesn't necessarily guarantee being a deep thinker. Carl, you bogus dork, you think that politics is in some other realm that is separated from the real world? It was politics that condemned the Iraqi team to torture under Saddam. It was politics that resulted in actions taken to overthrow Saddam and liberate the Iraqi Olympic team and the rest of the country from Saddam's killing machine. It was politics that led Kerry to oppose and then support and then oppose and then support/oppose everything. Carl, baby, you and your Olympic accomplishments and everything else wonderful that you've been able to do with your life, including criticizing the government in a knee-jerk reflexive way, hang from the teat of politics. You should just be glad that in your case it didn't belong to a beast accustomed to eating its own young. How lucky you are never to have lived in such misery.

[hummingbird]

Carl just scored a perfect 10 for being an @ss.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

'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.

In 1944 we bombed France, Belgium, Holland and a lot of other Allied territory too. In 1812 we bombed the United States.

What an idiot.

[truthandlife]

My friend used to own a boat at Clear Lake and he always use to see him on his boat with his "male companion."

[1L]

Talk about a has been. He can't do anything productive now, so he has to speak up to be noticed.

[cyborg]

dream on!

[rwfromkansas]

I don't know what in my word choice implies I am proud about anything; there is no tone in my language. It is just a statement of fact that I have not heard of this supposed "greatest Olympic guy."

Of course, I am just 21 and never really watched the Olympics except when a little kid.

[cookcounty]

" 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."

I never even heard of this ad. What do you want to bet, the Iraqis for sure have never seen it? Probably some "impartial journalist" selected the soccer player most critical of the US and asked him if he was aware that Bush was on TV claiming credit for their success or some such provocative nonsense.

[RogueIsland]

Carl Lewis...condemned Bush for using the presence of Iraqi and Afghan teams in Athens in a television advertisement to boost his chances of re-election.

Man, that's a shame. And he was so cute as Webster, too.

Oh... wait. Nevermind.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

I've had a busy day. Sorry that I've come late to this discussion.

Just let me say...

WHOLLY CRAP!!!!