Karen and Condi tap Michelle Kwan to promote U.S.

[Olney Blue]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/10/sports/skate.php

A new face for America
By Helene Cooper / The New York Times
Published: November 10, 2006

WASHINGTON: During the Cold War, the U.S. State Department called on the Harlem Globetrotters to travel as goodwill ambassadors to counter hostile images of America around the world. During the Cuban missile crisis, the New York City Ballet was sent to perform in Moscow, where they were received enthusiastically.

And during these troubled times? America's newest goodwill ambassador is the figure skater Michelle Kwan, who, in the words of her boss, Karen Hughes, under secretary of state for public diplomacy, "combines the power of sports diplomacy with the personal appeal of a unique American story."

On Thursday, flanked by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Hughes, Kwan, 26, addressed assembled reporters, giving the group a taste of what she will be telling the youth of the world.

Snip
One reporter asked Kwan how she planned to deal with the hostility that she might meet as the public face of the United States. Kwan quickly showed that she was already familiar with State Department policy, contained in a memorandum from Hughes that was recently disclosed by The Washington Post. The memo advised employees to make sure that while talking to the news media, they do not actually say anything.

[SouthernBelle82]

1. How interesting

So she is supposed to be making a better image of the United States to the Muslim world (good luck!) she can't really say anything? So what exactly is her job??? :shrug: And why can't Karen Hughes do it?

[Olney Blue]

2. The article says she will go to Beijing.

And whatever KH is doing herself- it's not working!

[petronius]

12. How many vaunted Chinese skaters has Kwan beaten over the years?

I'm not sure this Beijing visit is going to tap into a big reservoir of goodwill for the American wunderkind... :rofl:

[NewJeffCT]

3. Kwan is a very recognizable person

nobody outside of politics knows Karen Hughes.

And, Kwan is much younger & more attractive.

Why they didn't get a Muslim, I don't know? But, not many have accused the Bush White House of being loaded with deep thinkers.

[pinto]

4. Karen was doing a heck of a job there for a while.

............:eyes:

Well, actually Karen was performing a political dance for American public consumption paid for by American taxpayer dollars. It was all bs. But that's not breaking news around here, I'm sure.

[Raster]

15. They tried trotting Karen Hughes out to do the Cover Our Asses Tour1 and 2

Problem was, not only was the message unpopular, so was the messenger. Texas-folksiana wetnurse to the beast just did not cut it. She was so out of touch with the people around the world she met and spoke with that the "deer in the headlights" became her trademark foreign photo.

[Bluebear]

5. VIDEO: Condi's competence illustrated in a figure skating move

http://oasis.dit.upm.es/~jantonio/personal/patinaje/images/crash1.avi

[Olney Blue]

8. Ouch!

[Bluebear]

9. (She was OK by the way :)

[madrchsod]

6. how can anyone be as stupid as these people?

condo and karen have no clue what so ever about the youth of the world. just what the hell is kwan supposed to do?
the youth of the world already have their opinions and nancy isn`t going to change anything...

[Bluebear]

10. I LOVE Nancy Kwan!

[madrchsod]

21. not nancy...

[Bluebear]

22. YOU said nancy :)

[deminks]

7. One of my favorite pics of the Chimperor

was at that luncheon with Michelle Kwan

[Olney Blue]

11. The true meaning of "beauty and the beast"

:scared:

[tabasco]

13. The douchebag is trying to be sly & debonair.

I don't know whether to laugh or puke.

[KingFlorez]

20. He can't control making stupid faces

He must have Stupidfaceitis

[pinkpops]

14. Let them eat skates

[sandrakae]

16. I am a huge Michelle Kwan fan. It breaks my heart she is a Republican.

[Bluebear]

17. I felt the same about Janet Lynn

:cry:

[FARAFIELD]

18. why should that SURPRISE YOU

She is a rich fuck (or richie)

[mondo joe]

19. Is she as rich as Ted Kennedy?

Or George Soros?