Two presidents, zero questions

April 20, 2006

[tag]China[/tag]’s [tag]Hu Jintao[/tag] will receive a warm welcome at the Bush White House today, complete with a 21-gun salute the on the South lawn. [tag]Bush[/tag] and [tag]Hu[/tag] will then discuss international affairs, followed by the traditional news conference that always accompanies meetings between the U.S. presidents and foreign leaders.

Actually, never mind that last part.

Contrary to the standard protocol for visiting heads of state, there will be no news conference at which American and [tag]Chinese[/tag] [tag]journalists[/tag] can ask unscripted [tag]questions[/tag].

The [tag]White House[/tag]’s acquiescence to a Chinese demand that Mr. Hu not be subjected to possibly embarrassing queries about political prisoners, religious freedom or censorship of the Internet symbolizes a major element of Mr. Bush’s policy — his willingness to relegate China’s worsening performance on political freedom and human rights to a back burner.

I guess Hu isn’t exactly taking a “when in Rome” attitude.

The WaPo slams Bush’s decision to go along with this press-squelching policy and notes the pressing questions that the Chinese leader should face. But then again, I question whether Bush really has the standing and credibility to raise the point. After all, Hu avoids unscripted questions for fear of embarrassment and to avoid uncomfortable subjects. Doesn’t that sound a little familiar?

Clinton was sure impressive when he went to China and took unscripted questions from commie plants in the late 90s.

  • C.B.- a “worm welcome” is an apt phrase.
    Any welcome from Bush is an experience of slime and revulsion.

  • C.B.- a “worm welcome” is an apt phrase.

    That’s funny, but this was, of course, a typo. It’s fixed.

  • What I find so amusing about this is the real snub Mr. Hu delivered to the White House; he didn’t come to Washington D.C. first, but to Washington state to visit the most powerful man in the US. I don’t think that anyone even noticed. The Chinese are real sticklers for protocol, and this wasn’t by accident. This is the regard in which they hold our boy-king.

  • “After all, Hu avoids unscripted questions for fear of embarrassment and to avoid uncomfortable subjects. Doesn’t that sound a little familiar?” – C.B.

    So then perhaps Hu is taking a “when in Rome” attitude?

  • “This is the regard in which [the Chinese] hold our boy-king.” – yam

    Well, lenders are often dismissive of borrowers. Used to be a time when America could strike that pose, but not since dear old Ronald Reagan.

    As a debtor nation, we need to learn to assume an attitude of appropriate humility. I just hope that W. behaved himself 😉

  • These guys are birds of a feather: squelching dissent, only tolerating one-party rule, imprisoning people on the basis of their religious beliefs without trial or due process. If Hu thought he was given power as an act of God, I’d say they were twins separated at birth.

    Lets just hope the heckler isn’t a victim of extraordinary rendition to China.

  • re questions about “political prisoners, religious freedom or censorship of the Internet,” it’s probably bush who wants to avoid these.

    i wonder if he’ll see hu’s soul, just like he saw putin’s?

  • Did Hu really snub Bush by meeting Gates first? Or did he just not want to fly across the continent twice? maybe it was just logistics. Hell, maybe it was Bus– Rove’s idea to see Gates first.

  • “If Hu thought he was given power as an act of God, I’d say they were twins separated at birth.” – petorado

    In China (or the Middle Kingdom between Heaven and Earth) the proper phrase is “having the Mandate of Heaven”. And believe me, Hu thinks he has it.

    Basically, it doesn’t matter what the Chinese government does or what its form might be, as long as things are going well, they have the Mandate. When things are going badly, they have lost it.

    It’s a doctrine that Bush would be wise NOT to adopt, no matter how well he thinks things are going in America.

  • Definition: CNN—“Conditional News Network.”

    So, CNN now adopts a policy of not covering things deemed controversial. They turn off the camera-feed, seek to physically impede free speech, and conduct their own on-air heckling of a single protestor. Sounds to me as if CNN is trying out for Stonewall’s old job….

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