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President Obama Tells Chinese Students Unrestricted Internet Access Makes the U.S. Stronger, Free Speech Makes Him a Better Leader
November 16, 2009 4:08 AM
From Jake Tapper/ Yunji de Nies/ Stephanie Smith/ Sunlen Miller/ Karen Travers/ Jon Garcia/ Ann Compton
SHANGHAI, CHINA -- At the Museum of Science and Technology Monday afternoon, President Obama took questions from a docile audience of more than 400 Chinese university students handpicked by officials of eight different Chinese universities.
Most of the questions were gushing and fairly unchallenging, but an interesting one came via the U.S. Embassy website, read by U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman.
"In a country with 350 million Internet users and 60 million bloggers, do you know of the firewall?" Huntsman asked. "And second, 'Should we be able to use Twitter freely?'"
Communist Censors prevent Chinese citizens from accessing many websites, including social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as news sites.
Whether or not the president had been expecting that precise question, he reacted like someone who had something he wanted to say.
"I have never used Twitter," the president said. "My thumbs are too clumsy to type in things on the phone. But I am a big believer in technology and I'm a big believer in openness when it comes to the flow of information. I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable. They can begin to think for themselves. That generates new ideas. It encourages creativity."
The president said he's "always been a strong supporter of open Internet use. I'm a big supporter of non-censorship. This is part of the tradition of the United States that I discussed before, and I recognize that different countries have different traditions. I can tell you that in the United States, the fact that we have...unrestricted Internet access is a source of strength, and I think should be encouraged."
Seemingly making an attempt at humor that didn't necessarily translate well into Mandarin, Mr. Obama said that "I should be honest, as President of the United States, there are times where I wish information didn't flow so freely because then I wouldn't have to listen to people criticizing me all the time."
He then turned to a more serious point, saying, "I think people naturally,...when they're in positions of power sometimes think, 'Oh, how could that person say that about me,' or 'That's irresponsible.'…But the truth is that because in the United States information is free, and I have a lot of critics in the United States who can say all kinds of things about me, I actually think that that makes our democracy stronger and it makes me a better leader because it forces me to hear opinions that I don't want to hear. It forces me to examine what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis to see, am I really doing the very best that I could be doing for the people of the United States."
November 16, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (139)
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"it makes me a better leader because it forces me to hear opinions that I don't want to hear"
Did Obama say that with a straight face?
Posted by: SFC MAC | Nov 18, 2009 6:33:39 PM
Ok, the story was about free internet access, not Faux News. We need to create free and neutral Internet access in this country where it is quickly becoming more expensive and slower than many third world countries. Freely distributed Internet access would create jobs and innovation desperately needed.
Posted by: Online Business Cookbook | Nov 18, 2009 5:25:33 PM
Isn't his assertion counter to what the FCC wants to do to regulate the internet?
Posted by: TX_MBell | Nov 17, 2009 5:48:36 PM
We all know Obama lies.
Posted by: John A | Nov 17, 2009 1:39:43 PM
---
Actually, we all don't know that at all. Many of us think it's special interests and Republicans who lie. A. lot.
Posted by: Serafina | Nov 17, 2009 2:10:27 PM
We all know Obama lies. That is a given. He won't interview with FOX because they will ask questions he doesn't like. Anyway, Dem & Rep citizens should not fight. It is our GOVERNMENT that is to blame. The president is just a small part - just more visible. FACE IT. The Democrats love huge government and higher taxes for more bureaucracy. The Reps used to like small government and lower taxes for economic growth. Bottom line, the government has not been responsible to the people for decades. That is what has to change.
Posted by: John A | Nov 17, 2009 1:39:43 PM
Liar ,Liar pants on FIRE! this guy can't even remember what he says to anyone.Why does he refuse to give up his Blackberry,Barry? You can tell he's liying?HIS LIPS MOVE!
Posted by: Runninbear | Nov 17, 2009 12:28:00 PM
Dollar in free fall again.
Posted by: Citizen X | Nov 17, 2009 11:15:42 AM
More hypocrisy from this president. Pfft!
He is so deluded he probably actually believes his lies! It's disgusting.
Posted by: Sunnyr | Nov 17, 2009 5:29:56 AM
Not really, it was the Republicans who perfected the 'swift boating' techniques and the fear and smear campaigns - and that's what we see being used today STILL by the right wing.
Posted by: tierra |
Non-partisan Democrats also see it being used today STILL by the Democrat Party.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Nov 17, 2009 1:37:22 AM
tierra,how do you explain the 9th congressional district of Arizona?Is that in one of the 57 states?
Posted by: Nephron | Nov 17, 2009 12:10:24 AM
I simply pointed out that left wingers smeared the former President for years by spewing crud. But you need to change the subject...which is no surprise.
____________________________________
Not really, it was the Republicans who perfected the 'swift boating' techniques and the fear and smear campaigns - and that's what we see being used today STILL by the right wing.
The right wing are slowly sinking themselves in their own filth. Just watch it on this site.
President Bush hit a disapproval rate among Americans of very close to 70% (Cheney even lower) - it wasn't just the left who called down that administration.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 16, 2009 11:55:42 PM
Posted by: tierra | Nov 16, 2009 10:43:58 PM
_____________________
You were talking about those "right wingers" who try to smear the President by spewing crud. See your post at Nov 16, 2009 6:53:40 PM.
I simply pointed out that left wingers smeared the former President for years by spewing crud. But you need to change the subject...which is no surprise.
Posted by: Jen | Nov 16, 2009 11:09:59 PM
Forty-seven percent (47%) of voters now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. With the exception of bounces following nationally televised presidential appeals, that’s the highest level of support measured for the legislative effort all year.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% are opposed to the plan.
Intensity is still stronger among those who oppose the push to change the nation’s health care system: 25% Strongly Favor the plan while 39% are Strongly Opposed.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Nov 16, 2009 11:09:40 PM
Well, since you brought it up: Left wingers spewed crud for years to smear the former President.
________________________________
Not really, it was the Republicans who perfected the 'swift boating' techniques and the fear and smear campaigns - and that's what we see being used today STILL by the right wing.
The right wing are slowly sinking themselves in their own filth. Just watch it on this site.
President Bush hit a disapproval rate among Americans of very close to 70% (Cheney even lower) - it wasn't just the left who called down that administration.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 16, 2009 10:43:58 PM
“Obama, ye kinna take away our FREEDOM!”
"Go back to Chicago and tell them there that America's daughters and her sons are yours no more. Tell them America is free."
Posted by: William Wallace | Nov 16, 2009 10:30:50 PM
Right wingers will spew any kind of crud to try to smear the President.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 16, 2009 6:53:40 PM
____________________
Well, since you brought it up: Left wingers spewed crud for years to smear the former President.
Posted by: Jen | Nov 16, 2009 10:15:17 PM
58% Funds Awarded
13% Received
Jobs Created/Saved as Reported by Recipients
640,329
10/30/2009
WOW! It's like they're actually counting!
At this rate, I have no doubt Obama will reach his goal of 3.5 million!
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | Nov 16, 2009 8:10:17 PM
“He's taking away our freedom ...”
__________________________________
Right wingers will spew any kind of crud to try to smear the President.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 16, 2009 6:53:40 PM
But don't worry, they'll do healthcare just right:
“GM’s Chief Executive Fritz Henderson recently announced that the bailed-out automaker might use its U.S. funds to help restructure its European unit Opel, noting that the financing agreements with the Treasury for the $34 billion of bailout funds already spent allow GM to spend any subsequently earned funds as its executives see fit. Some $16 billion remaining after its bankruptcy has strings attached. In a world where funds are fungible, where GM has yet to repay the $50 billion bailout, and where GM only remains in existence because of those bailout dollars, critics argue sending these funds to Europe is essentially the same as sending taxpayer dollars overseas.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Nov 16, 2009 6:50:21 PM
That blog claims there's a FEC statement about Geller. Yet no one else mentions it, anywhere in google-verse. The only reference to FEC and Geller is her filing a complaint to the FEC about Obama taking campaign contributions from Hamas.
Posted by: Huh? | Nov 16, 2009 6:46:41 PM
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