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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Now Viral in China
TEA LEAF NATION
The White House Correspondents Dinner, Now Viral in China
Viewers there took President Obamas self-deprecating humor as a lesson in popular politics.
BY BETHANY ALLEN-EBRAHIMIANAPRIL 27, 2015BETHANY.ALLEN@BETHANYALLENEBRfacebooktwittergoogle-plusredditemail
On the evening of April 25, journalists, politicians, and celebrities gathered at an exclusive hotel in Washington, DC for what has become an annual ritual: a night of bipartisan roasts, self-congratulatory schmoozing, and a joke-filled presidential address at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. In what has become a popular feature of the dinner, President Barack Obama closed out the night with a speech laden with self-deprecating humor (I look so old that John Boehners already invited Netanyahu to speak at my funeral) and good-humored jabs at his own party (Today thanks to Obamacare, you no longer have to worry about losing your insurance if you lose your job. Youre welcome, Senate Democrats). Obamas comic address, while popular, is hardly novel in an American political culture rich with satire and a long history of rousing presidential engagement with both the press and the public.
But to another audience 8,000 miles away, the U.S. presidents comedy routine seemed refreshingly candid. After a video of the speech, complete with Chinese subtitles, appeared April 26 on Chinese social media platform Weibo, users shared it more than 45,000 times. Many took Obamas deadpan cracks and casual demeanor as a lesson in popular politics. Just think about how dry and boring our leaders annual new years speeches are, with such an air of superiority and a mouthful of meaningless talk, wrote one user in a popular comment. When we will be able to see [our own] leaders give speeches so full of humanity? The comparison to Chinas own leaders seemed to resonate, with another user writing, I like these kinds of American leaders who can make jokes and poke fun at themselves. Our countrys leaders
The user let the sentence trail off. Others seemed to admire the openness the zingers represented. A truly great nation, wrote one user, is one that doesnt freak out as soon as someone throws out an insulting phrase.
SNIP
This wasnt the first time Obamas casual demeanor and self-deprecating humor has gone viral in China. Netizens there marveled at the U.S. presidents cracks at his own low ratings during his Dec. 8 appearance on popular satire show The Colbert Report, which even made headline news in state news agency Xinhua. Speeches by First Lady Michelle Obama have proven popular in China as well. After watching an online video of her Sept. 2012 address to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, in which she shared details of the presidential couples humble origins, Chinese social media users expressed envy at having a First Lady so warmly engaged in public life. (Xis glamorous wife and former singer Peng Liyuan has since become the first Chinese First Lady to publicly embrace the spotlight.)
As China grows in power and global influence, many there continue to watch the United States, still the worlds primary superpower, with a combination of distrust and admiration. Some onlookers seemed to take American societys penchant for satire not just as a refreshing marker of political openness, but also a sign of American resilience. Daring to laugh at yourself, whether a nation or an individual, an assistant professor of international political economy wrote on Weibo in response to Obamas speech, just might be a manifestation of confidence.
Continued at Link:
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/27/obama-china-white-house-dinner-viral/
Egnever
(21,506 posts)It was an awesome smack down and I am surprised the right wing didn't scream like stuck pigs at the inhumanity of the president being mean to them.
ALBliberal
(2,342 posts)Like they can't appreciate nuance in political discourse. They think in black and white terms. They don't hear and digest the underlying "non~joke".
Egnever
(21,506 posts)You might be on to something there.
ALBliberal
(2,342 posts)Why? They can't relate to that smart humour. And the things they find funny .... just aren't. Do they have any comedian other than Dennis Miller? Or that woman from SNL that's gone a little bonkers? And part I think is that they just are intellectually lazy and "incurious" (didn't Hillary use that term for W?)
Adam Sandler is a card carrying republican.
ALBliberal
(2,342 posts)Cha
(297,261 posts)Cha
(297,261 posts)And, he brought "Bucket" into the lexicon.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)Pure awesome all the way through.
Cha
(297,261 posts)Egnever
(21,506 posts)Cha
(297,261 posts)mug.
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)never thought about how that would go over in a place like China.
Obama is truly a world leader, appreciated by .. billions!
Cha
(297,261 posts)weasel head.
China did go for the President's Environmental Proposal!
U.S. and China Reach Climate Accord After Months of Talks
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/12/world/asia/china-us-xi-obama-apec.html?_r=0
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Thought of you yesterday morning when I walked by a new establishment near me - the CHA SPA!
The CHA SPA!
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)Which is a good thing since so many of the Republicans here hate him so much.
Cha
(297,261 posts)stance. Imagine the Gay People like him, though.
Cha
(297,261 posts)Who wrote that line.. it's perfect!