Chris Ariens at TV Newser reports that CNN reporter Emily Chang was detained for two hours today in Shanghai for holding up a T-shirt depicting Barack Obama wearing a Red Army uniform. "Chang bought the T-shirt at a basement souvenir shop in Beijing and brought it with her to Shanghai as she covers President Obama's visit to the city."
The front of the t-shirt says "Serve the People" in Chinese. On the back, it reads "Oba Mao" in English. The shirts have been seen in Chinese shops for months, but were "banned" ahead of Obama's trip.
When Chang held up the shirt up for a live shot outside a Shanghai metro stop, she was approached by two security guards. She recounted the scene in her In The Field blog:
Bad move? Maybe. But it ended up being great television.
Two security guards happened to pass by at the moment I announced to the camera: "This is the T-shirt everybody is talking about." And that was it. They scrambled towards us and tried to pry the shirt out of my hands. I didn't give in.
There was a bit of yelling and quite a scuffle. My producer Jo Kent emphatically stated our case. Photographer Miguel Castro kept his cool. By this point, we had everything on tape.
We ended up being detained for two hours in the cold, maze of a market. A crowd gathered round. More security and then police showed up. They wanted our press cards, our passports, but most of all, they wanted the shirt.
They weren't the only ones. What do we make of this?
The shirt got attention on the air and sparked buzz online. In fact, some members of the White House pool and a few colleagues in Atlanta actually tried to bribe me for it.
Chang says the Chinese also make wallets and trading cards featuring the "Communist Obama" image.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.





















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and this is a country that
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 13:43 ET by notonmywatchand this is a country that the US government holds as an acceptable, normal model for the future of the world?
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Anita Dunn has a vast
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 14:08 ET by d1carterAnita Dunn has a vast collection of Mao clothing and accessories.
And
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 16:06 ET by Thinking.ManDoes she like to dress up in them when she visits obama after hours?
I think my brain just imploded with the image that conjured up.
This should be very
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 14:19 ET by ForeverOnTheRightThis should be very revealing to those who still do not believe that Obama is a socialist. If the Chinese view him in this light, especially equating him with Mao, you can't deny he's a socialist without lying!
This can and should be used against Obama in 2010 and 2012, the mask must be ripped of the snake oil salesman!
Misunderstanding
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 14:25 ET by countmein5050China's government obviously doesn't understand how in-the-tank CNN is with China....or that Dunn is an extreme FAN. I'm sure they'll make a formal and public apology once they grasp the full extent of their error. It is totally ironic that liberal CNN would face the brunt of the very kind of suppression of freedom that they push for Obama here in the states with regard to networks who don't bow in submission to Obama (or should we take bowing now to mean we are actually superior but will blow sunshine up the hind quarters while we're down there to make you think differently). It is the highlight of the week.
Has Obama's biggest fan, the murdering commie Fidel Castro...
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 14:27 ET by R D Helm...gotten hisself one o' them nifty Oba Mao shirts yet?
LOL-I bet he has a whole closet full of 'em.
-Dave
Our elected representatives have failed us.
So much for the 'Universal
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 14:30 ET by FranksamSo much for the 'Universal Rights Agenda'. I'm still trying to find a Barry Guevara shirt, though, so if anyone has a line on that, let me know.
China will be imploding before too long under the next People's Revolution. There are a lot of poor peasants out in the countryside that have not benefitted from the wonderful 'change' that Mao promised. OMG, can you think of a another leader that has promised fundamental change that has not delivered?
The Chi-Coms are scared
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 14:35 ET by Ten7sThe Chi-Coms are scared 5h!tless of another peasant revolution. Tens of thousands of mass riots occur every year in the PRC.
incorrect spelling
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 15:02 ET by LEWIS IN COLORADObowrack heissovain obowmao
This just in:
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 15:15 ET by BarkerCNN has offered to reimburse two cents to the Chinese government for the cost of "eliminating" this embarrassing problem.
Chicoms
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 16:07 ET by Thinking.ManChicoms have great commiedar, they know one of their own when they see one.
Contributions? anyone...
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 21:51 ET by ShanghaiRayAs the name says, I live most of the time in China and if anyone want's to get an original Oba Mao t-shirt just send $6.66 + postage and I'll zip one out to you. All profits will go the the Repulican National Committee or the conservative candidate of my choice.
Btw, there is no such thing as something being banned in China. Perhaps temporarily, perhaps hard to get but if you look hard enough you can most definitely find it or have it produced.
"Race doesn't matter..liberals are only one color - YELLOW"
"Somewhere, deep in the jungles of Kenya, a village is missing its idiot."
ShanghaiRay,
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 22:05 ET by Barker...there is no such thing as something being banned in China.
Does that include a second child?
I hope your question is
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 22:37 ET by ShanghaiRayI hope your question is legitimate and that you're not trying to be sarcastic or something.
1. China does not "ban" children, however, there is a monetary penalty imposed on families having additional children. Also, the family might not be able to gain legal recognition of the child's birth (i.e., birth certificate, family register inclusion etc.).
2. The Shanghai government has lifted the one-child rule for bonafide Shanghai residents and in fact are promoting a 2-child policy here due to a dwindling "local" population.
Also, you should be thankful for China's one child policy because there are 1.4 billion Chinese here. If the government lifted the rule and let people do as they please then that number would increase exponentially and cause a lot more problem than hurting someone's feelings about having an only child.
I believe most Americans have been brainwashed one way or the other about China. Some people believe it's a socialist utopia with streets paved in gold others believe "Big Brother" is standing over you, watching every move you make with a gun to your head. Both are completely wrong.
China cannot be stopped. All the wishful thinking in the world won't stop Chinese from becoming a greater economic, political and military force in the world. However, the continued introduciton of capitalism will be and has been the single greatest force for positive change in China's political and social landscape.
I also suspect this CNN reporter is lying through her teeth about this incident. First, I don't have a clue as to what she means by "security guards". The only security guards I know about are the one's that hang out at shopping mall organizing bicycles, the one's sleeping at the gates to residential compounds and the one's that mill around banks. I suspect she was in a place/location that filming was not allowed or hindered pedestrian traffic and was asked to leave and being the arrogant shit that CNN reporters are known to be refused to go. Also, there is no such thing as being "detained" on the street for two hours. She's sensationalizing a mere encounter with authorities that took two hours to resolve. This can be often seen in bar street fights an traffic accidents, when all the parties stand around and argue for hours. You certainly don't call this "being detained". Her report is highly suspect and perhaps CNN saw an opportunity to make it look like the Oba Mao t-shirt is not accepted in China.
"Race doesn't matter..liberals are only one color - YELLOW"
"Somewhere, deep in the jungles of Kenya, a village is missing its idiot."
First of all, ShanghaiRay....
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 22:51 ET by BarkerIs your answer legitimate?
Keep thinking that it may
Tue, 11/17/2009 - 00:00 ET by RR GOPKeep thinking that it may be that way over here if you dare display the Gadsen Flag design somehow...or a Ron Paul sticker, or a copy of the Constitution...
But, that won't happen until they figure they're losing control of their Marxist agenda and it doesn't look like that's happening right now.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
My President went to China but
Tue, 11/17/2009 - 08:57 ET by Agnosticall I got was a lousy T-shirt.
How about questions and accusations like President Bush faced over his China visit:
Are the protesters are embarrassment to the US president?
Why didn't Obama attack China over Human Rights issues?
Tibet? - Cause de jour
Has US spending made US financially vulnerable? (it was spending on the war under Bush)
Anything on greenhouse gases? Kyoto? Is China’s CO2 emissions still the fault of American consumerism?
I'm sure the media remember: Where is the door?
The only thing lower than Obama's bow in Japan is the lack of media integrity. Obama and the media in a ethical limbo contest results in a world wide America degrading apology tour covered by utopian wanna-be college students playing journalist.
A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections