Clinton's China Trip - June 1998
"And let me say something that will perhaps be unpopular with everyone. I have spent time with the Dalai Lama. I believe him to be an honest man. And I believe if he had a conversation with President Jiang, they would like each other very much."
--Bill clinton, News conference in Beijing June 27, 1998
Clinton at his finest! Clinton is best when he acts human and says what he thinks.
It's good to see him risk being unpopular - it will make him a better president.
Spare us the boring speeches.
President Jiang Zemin also did an excellent job at the news conference. Congratulations to both world leaders.
A major challenge Clinton faces is to keep Americans friendly toward China. There are many in the US who have an agenda of fostering hate toward China. Some want to make China a replacement for the Soviet Union to justify increased defense spending. Union leaders demonize China as a scapegoat for job loses.
Christians resent China for not supporting their efforts to convert the world to Christianity.
Republicans in congress appear to be looking for an issue with which to differentiate themselves from the Democrats. This is a real challenge for Clinton and I applaud his courage in defending his position ...
peace in the world in the 21st century may rest on it.
1,200 followers, or supporters, and their 900 tons of baggage...
Mr.Safire says that the tragic repression in Beijing in 1989 should be "more accurately called a massacre in Tiananmen Square." Since in fact no one was killed in the square itself, the phrase "more accurately" can only stand as a comparison, not to Mr. Clinton's phraseology but to Mr. Safire's own journalistic standards --shmage
See also:
Add Your Comments to this page.