That green blur you saw Sunday morning wasn’t The Riddler. It was the surfing congressman–Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), in a grassy herringbone-patterned suit (hold the tie)–making a flying appearance at the fourth annual Cambodian New Year Parade on his way to Santa Monica. Thanks, brah!

But let’s hope you were properly grateful to whatzis-bucket for weaseling out on the less-fashionable Asians–the Cambodians–and ankling what Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal proclaimed the city’s largest parade before she relinquished the spotlight.

Rohrabacher was on his way to free Tibet (and maybe also Cambodia–more on that in a minute)–at a rally for a trendy, less fascistic alternative to the Olympic Torch (now making its way to China, which Rohrabacher told us is a dictatorship).

That alternative is something called the Freedom Torch. At least that’s what Rohrabacher said–but when we braced him about it after his brief opening ceremony remarks, Mr. Long Beach was less than forthcoming with any promotional material–or even a website address for the thing.

So was his own website. So was Google, which was weird. Google’s usually at least as informative as a congressman.

Turns out it’s probably something called the Human Rights Torch Relay, which according to its website “is a global grassroots campaign to raise awareness of, and stop, the Chinese communist regime’s human rights crimes prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.”

There’s scant mention of Rohrabacher on its site; the most recent entry under “latest news” is a Friday promo for the May 11 torch stop in Durham, North Carolina. The congressman doesn’t turn up unless you actually search his name, and then you get a March 30 syndicated news column which mentions “two Olympic boycott proposals co-sponsored by Reps. Dana Rohrabacher and Maxine Waters” in its 16th paragraph. Dang.

“It fits right in here in Cambodia because it’s the Chinese government that keeps [Cambodian Prime Minister] Hun Sen in power,” Rohrabacher insisted when I buttonholed him immediately after his “Hello, I Must Be Going” bit on the mike. (I particularly liked the part where he smoked a big black cigar and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Not really.)

He also insisted–no suprise–that Long Beach’s Cambodian community occupies a prominent place in his heart, and noted that he heads the Tibetan Commission. This was another tough find on the Internet, but I think he means the Tibet Caucaus. Conservative Orange County blogger Matt Cunningham–normally bullish on conservative issues–was less than optimistic when he mentioned it April 1:

“The Olympic torch for the Beijing games is making its way around the world, but Rep. Dana Rohrabacher isn’t giving up on his quest to stop America’s participation in the games and draw attention to what he says is the “tyrannical” rule of Tibet by China.

“So today Rohrabacher joined forces with Rep. Neil Abercrombie–a Hawaii Democrat who is usually diametrically opposed to the Huntington Beach Republican’s views–to form the Tibet Caucus.

“As we’ve already reported, the congressman has introduced a resolution to boycott this summer’s Olympic games, a measure that so far hasn’t made any headway. And judging by the lack of support from leadership or at the White House, there’s little chance that it will go anywhere.”

Ouch! Frosty! Icebergs get warmer receptions. Oh, but wait–back to Long Beach. And Rohrabacher on Long Beach, and the Cambodian parade:

“I’ve been here the last two or three years,” the congressman said–backpedaling slightly as he went.

“I’ve given opening statements the last two or three years,” he continued. “But I’m giving a lot of time to fighting this dictatorship in Beijing.”

Wowee. If I were the Chinese, I’d be worried. Wait–make that not worried. If Rohrabacher devotes as much time to the China question as he does to Long Beach, they’ll be fine.

Tags: Beijing, cambodia, cambodians, China, chinese, Commies, Dana, human rights, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Olympic torch, olympics, politics, Rohrabacher, Tibet