Joe Scarborough: “this past weekend, human rights activist and former political prisoner, Harry Wu, was interviewed on ``This Week.'' When…”

“this past weekend, human rights activist and former political prisoner, Harry Wu, was interviewed on ``This Week.'' When asked about America's relations with China, and specifically asked about President Clinton's assertion that one must accept the administration's position towards China or be seen as a backwards isolationist, Mr. Wu responded by stating, ``President Clinton said if you disagree with my engagement policy, that means you want to apply isolation. This is too cheap to argue. Okay, today there is nobody talking about isolation. Between isolation and engagement there is something in the middle.'' Mr. Speaker, what Mr. Wu may not understand as a recent arrival in the United States of America is what actually underlies the China policy not only of this administration but also of many in this Congress. Why do we continue to embrace a regime that this President called the ``Butchers of Beijing'' just a few years ago? Unfortunately, it is because of America's obsession with finance. Our obsession with finance and a Dow Jones over 9,000 points, absolutely mesmerizes politicians who are led to believe they can get away with anything, so long as the Dow is doing well and the economy is clicking along while constituents personal incomes are rising. The soaring Dow also mesmerizes the wizards of Wall Street, who have been stumbling over each other acting as apologists for the butchers in Beijing.”