Frank Wolf's Shocking Matinee

The representatives of companies doing business in East Asia must have had no idea they were in for such a buzz kill when they scheduled a meeting with Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) this week.

While the members of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce wanted to discuss business issues, Wolf preferred talking about human rights abuses.

A few minutes into the Wednesday session in the congressman's office, Wolf got up and popped in a graphic videotape of Chinese police officers executing prisoners. He went on a "tirade," as one source put it, about Chinese prisoners who are being executed so that their organs can be harvested.

One participant in the meeting stood up and objected, according to witnesses, pleading with the congressman to stop the video.

Since our sources seemed too freaked out to discuss the meeting on the record, we asked Wolf about it. "I told them about this kidney thing," Wolf explained. "I said, 'Do you know what's taking place?' People are being executed. They sell their corneas and kidneys."

Wolf said one of the participants, a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, couldn't take it. "He said, 'I'm offended by that ... That film offends me.'"

"I shut it off right away," Wolf told The Sleuth, adding, "They asked for the appointment." (That's right, folks, when you ask for an appointment with Frank Wolf, you better expect a little graphic video violence...)

Wolf, a leading proponent of improving human rights in China, Vietnam and elsewhere, sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in April listing a number of alleged horrors and saying the Bush administration isn't doing enough to stop them.

Wolf said he laid all this out to the lobbyists and trade proponents who came to his office this week, all of whom are living in Vietnam, according to Wolf and another source. Which may explain why our other source told us the group didn't understand why they had to watch a video about executions in China.

But because some of the attendees worked for companies doing business in China, Wolf said he thought the topic was fair game. "They must have a guilty conscience," the congressman concluded.

Maybe so. And maybe Wolf should hang the letters "VM" (for "Very Mature" audiences) on his door to alert the next group of international business lobbyists.

By Mary Ann Akers |  June 14, 2007; 7:32 PM ET
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Comments

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Good for Frank. God forbid somebody makes a connection between human rights and business. Usually it is the Democrats harping on these issues, but it sure sounds like Frank has more guts than any of them.

Posted by: Dan | June 15, 2007 1:12 AM

I see nothing wrong with what Frank did. He had an appropriate audience and he "ran with it." It's done all the time and besides this is a real issue that needs resolution. The world doesn't need this kind of organ harvesting!

Posted by: Ray | June 15, 2007 10:12 AM

I see nothing wrong with what Frank did. He had an appropriate audience and he "ran with it." It's done all the time and besides this is a real issue that needs resolution. The world doesn't need this kind of organ harvesting!

Posted by: Ray | June 15, 2007 10:12 AM

Thank God we have someone left in Congress with a little guts and who cares about more than seeing who can put some money in his campaign coffers. They obviously were looking for his influence on some matter.
He has used his influence to make the whole planet just a little bit better.
What is wrong with that?

Posted by: Craig | June 15, 2007 10:17 AM

I'm glad someone like Frank Wolf champions human rights on all levels. While these delegates are not the ones directly or even indirectly responsible for those human rights violations, they were promoting trade and if organ trafficking is an issue they need to hear that.

Posted by: cpwdc | June 15, 2007 4:38 PM

Crazy like a "wolf" in this instance. I hope contingency doesn't walk away with the impression all meet/greets will turn out this way. Perhaps there would have been a better to convey his (albeit) valid concerns. What's that word?..oh, that's right..Diplomacy. Suppose you should give some credit to his hardworking staff.

Posted by: hah | June 15, 2007 9:19 PM

Frank Wolf continues to demonstrate his commitment to his fellow humans and their rights. Few have done this as tirelessly as Rep. Wolf. Far from posting signs about "Very Mature" near Frank's office, why don't we start listening carefully about the human rights abuses he reminds us about and do something about them.

Posted by: Jonathan | June 15, 2007 10:45 PM

From the tone of the piece, we're supposed to think Rep Frank Wolf is a nut? But he sounds to me like one of very few humans with a conscience in Congress.

Human rights matter more than money, and I only wish that was understood in the White House.

Posted by: Helen Highwater | June 16, 2007 8:03 AM

Frank Wolf has convictions and guts. Mary Ann, how about you avoid the snarky comments and do a little research on human rights abuses in China? Then you too may realize that any chance to bring these atrocities up is a good chance. Frank Wolf is trying to make a change -- and that doesn't always happen with polite diplomacy.

Posted by: McCay | June 16, 2007 8:06 AM

A few good men was the name of the flick

What Wolf was saying to them was doesn't anyone care anymore is it all bucks?

They called on him to sell their movie
but Frank did the honors first.

There are still a very few good men

its not all bad toothpaste

Posted by: Kevin | June 16, 2007 1:54 PM

Maryann how about we really go behind the scenes, why does the Post need a radio
show, with boring wantabee jocks, trying to be celebs, to sell us an afternoon of rehashed news, from the morning paper?

Its a know fact Talk radio is slaughtering
the mainstream news lets get a behind the scenes on that. Or how about a disclaimer
that half of the Post toasties reporters
belong to the Think Tanks and CFR etc?
There should be truth in speaking also.

The jocks are so canned with no emotion or
imaginations who are they trying to fool?
I love the wanna be sort of Entertainment
tonight interviews, that are so laughable
lets do a behind the scenes on this hot air.

People can tell the difference between
news and between spin,

Personally I like the afternoon drive time
with Tom DeSabla who no doubt will go national soon, in case your at a lose for the dial its 1160AM 1to 3PM why not
go behind his scene and see how he makes
sense of news.

Do we really need another round of Paris
is burning? We can get that from Chrisy Core or Andy and Smandy

The Post is trying to get a spin on a
Hollywood east, sorry this is DC its closes
at dawn.....Even if you have a few good steak houses and restaurants that cater
to the stars who fly in for a cause once in a while. I'll Take Manhattan and
Brooklyn anyday ! I bet they would too!

So please lets get a spin on the behind the scenes and the real behind stories of
CYA in the Nation's capital

Frank Wolf did what he saw fit to do
it should have shocked no one but those
who lost their moral compasses for the
almighty dollar


Posted by: Mike | June 16, 2007 2:08 PM

Did you say behind the scenes?

I would bet, Maryann, you didn't know that
another renegade Congressman, named
Dana Rohrabacher R CA was told not to speak
before Bush at the Communist Memorial?
They were ballistic this anti communist
elected US congressman just might talk
some truth like Frank Wolf

Now that is juicy enough even for the Post
to look into. Its even talk for late night
roundtable discussions.

Why not check his website and see that
that George Shultz and Colin Powell
wanted to omit "Take down that wall"
from Reagan's most famous speech.

So thats two tips from the peanut gallery
the rest is up to you.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 16, 2007 2:26 PM

Did you say behind the scenes?

I would bet, Maryann, you didn't know that
another renegade Congressman, named
Dana Rohrabacher R CA was told not to speak
before Bush at the Communist Memorial?
They were ballistic this anti communist
elected US congressman just might talk
some truth like Frank Wolf

Now that is juicy enough even for the Post
to look into. Its even talk for late night
roundtable discussions.

Why not check his website and see that
that George Shultz and Colin Powell
wanted to omit "Take down that wall"
from Reagan's most famous speech.

So thats two tips from the peanut gallery
the rest is up to you.

Posted by: Mike | June 16, 2007 2:26 PM

Did you say behind the scenes?

I would bet that you Maryann did not know
another renegade elected U.S. congressman
Dana Rohrabacher R CA was asked not to speak this week at the Communist Memorial
until Bush spoke. Thats right they were afraid of a Frank Wolf issue

Just check his website.
He said that the oh so puffy George Shultz and Colin Powell were part of the team
that wanted Reagan delete the most famous
words he spoke. "Take down that wall
Mr.Gorbe." The two heavyweights turned out to be lightweights after all.

Now thats a real behind the scenes story
Bush tell US congressman scram and eggs

Posted by: Mike | June 16, 2007 2:31 PM

Don't listen to Tom deSabla. Ever. He's always trying to change the way people think, which is very intolerant.

He's another so-called "libertarian" - you know, one of those out-of-the-mainstream extremists who won't shut up about freedom, Ron Paul, etc.

Ignore him. Listen to Washington Post radio - always. Everything is fine and there is no need to change anything that you are doing.

Posted by: Tom | June 16, 2007 2:36 PM

Good for him. I'm still suspicious---I don't know anything about Wolf, for all I know, he's a neocon, which would fit.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 16, 2007 11:18 PM

BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LEADERS OF OTHER NATION STATES CERTAINLY AREN'T INNOCENT, SOME OF THEIR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC $YSTEMS BEING MORE BRUTAL THAN OTHERS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR HOUSE? WHAT ABOUT US... HERE IN THE CORP-RAT FASCIST CAPITALIST $YSTEM? HEY! I KNOW WHAT WHAT WE ARE! I KNOW OUR HISTORY! SO... i ASK. SHOULD WE BE THROWING STONES AT OTHERS? SHOULDN'T WE FIRST QUESTION OUR OWN POLICIES AND PRACTICES? AND SHOULDN'T WE ASK WHY AMERICANS (PRESENTLY ACTING LIKE AMERIKANS) ARE SO HATED AND DESPISED ALL AROUND THE WORLD?

THE CURRENT $ITUATION IS SO BAD (AMERIKANS HATED ABROAD) THAT I PRETEND TO BE A CANADIAN CITIZEN FROM EDMONTON WHEN TRAVELING OVER SEAS. IT'S BECOME TOO EMBARRASSING AND DANGEROUS TO BE AN AMERIKAN ABROAD. EWE FOLKS HAD BETTER WAKE UP!

Posted by: GUY FOX | June 17, 2007 8:22 AM

BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LEADERS OF OTHER NATION STATES CERTAINLY AREN'T INNOCENT, SOME OF THEIR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC $YSTEMS BEING MORE BRUTAL THAN OTHERS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR HOUSE? WHAT ABOUT US... HERE IN THE CORP-RAT FASCIST CAPITALIST $YSTEM? HEY! I KNOW WHAT WHAT WE ARE! I KNOW OUR HISTORY! SO... i ASK. SHOULD WE BE THROWING STONES AT OTHERS? SHOULDN'T WE FIRST QUESTION OUR OWN POLICIES AND PRACTICES? AND SHOULDN'T WE ASK WHY AMERICANS (PRESENTLY ACTING LIKE AMERIKANS) ARE SO HATED AND DESPISED ALL AROUND THE WORLD?

THE CURRENT $ITUATION IS SO BAD (AMERIKANS HATED ABROAD) THAT I PRETEND TO BE A CANADIAN CITIZEN FROM EDMONTON WHEN TRAVELING OVER SEAS. IT'S BECOME TOO EMBARRASSING AND DANGEROUS TO BE AN AMERIKAN ABROAD. EWE FOLKS HAD BETTER WAKE UP!

Posted by: GUY FOX | June 17, 2007 8:22 AM

Kudos to Congressman Wolf for having the intestinal fortitude to stand up for human rights in various Asian countries. I often wonder about the values of businessmen and congressmen who want to trade with the enemy at the expense of turning a blind eye to the human rights violations rampant in these countries. These victims can't defend freedom without being subjected to long prison terms and, at times, executions. With the efforts of a few to lift the sanctions against Communist Cuba, we need a few more Frank Wolf's to remind them that standing up for freedom and human rights is the honorable thing to do.

Posted by: Jorge E. Ponce | June 19, 2007 6:35 AM

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