Pathetic

So much for the principal of showing support for democracy & freedom (I know, what a shocker):

President Bush will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics next month, ignoring a boycott by other world leaders over China's crackdown on religious freedom in Tibet.

"He's going to China to support first and foremost our athletes. He sees this as a sporting competition," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Thursday.

Bush had planned to attend sporting events at the games, but considered passing on the opening ceremony to protest China's violent treatment of Buddhist monks and individuals in Tibet. Human rights groups and others, like presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, had urged Bush to skip the Aug. 8 opening ceremony.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will miss the opening ceremony, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy will do the same unless China resumes a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, the two leaders said.

But Bush couldn't pass up those AWESOME seats.

Besides, China's such a prime investor in Bush (and McCain's) War.