Keith Koffler:
Michelle: Wife of Chinese Dictator is “Truly Inspiring”First Lady Michelle Obama, who has mostly refused to address China’s political oppression during her trip to the country, today upped the ante by actually praising Madame Peng, the wife of China’s president, for her “inspiring” commitment “to improving public health in her country and around the world.”
One assumes Mrs. Obama is not referring to the health of Madame Peng’s political opponents, who are rotting in her jails.
From a Q&A Mrs. Obama had today with CaixanOnline, a China-focused news site.
Question: You were unable to meet with Peng Liyuan, President Xi Jinping’s wife, last year in California, but I believe you two have kept in touch. Might you be able to speak to what you two have discussed?
Michelle: Madame Peng and I have a number of things in common. We have both worked hard to balance our roles as mothers and professionals, and we both have the great honor of representing our countries when we travel, showcasing the unique cultures and history of the United States and China all around the world. We have also both chosen to work on issues we care about, and Madame Peng’s commitment to improving public health in her country and around the world is truly inspiring.
That good ‘ole Madame Peng, just another working mother trying to balance work and gettin’ the kids to kung fu practice. This is certainly PR gold for the Chinese kleptocrats.
This woman and her husband stepped on lots of corpses to achieve their current position.
We have to meet with these people. But we don’t have to pretend they’re about the betterment of mankind. Rather, we should be making it clear that they’re not.
In a question that may well have been planted, Caixan conveniently set Michelle up to promote the White House line that Mrs. Obama’s decision to bring her daughters and her mother on the trip is some kind of cultural outreach thing. The question is right out of the White House talking points:
Question: Your mother, Mrs. Marian Robinson, and daughters, Malia and Sasha, are traveling with you. This represents three different generations of Americans. What kind of message or image do you want to convey to China?
Michelle: Like many Chinese families, at our house, we have three generations under one roof. When my husband was elected president back in 2008, one of the first things I did was ask my mother to come live with us in the White House and help raise our daughters, and I am grateful every day for her presence in our lives.
That’s pretty funny. We too have three generations under one roof! Except the White House roof is about a hundred and seventy four times the size of roofs of Chinese families with little choice other than to live in all in one shack.
And Mrs. Robinson ain’t exactly the wizened figure in the corner of the bedroom/living room darning socks for the children.
Anyhoo, Mrs. Obama had a full day of tourism today, with less pretense than usual that this trip is about something else. ...
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