Leading Chinese Christian dissidents blasted the Obama administration Thursday, saying it had done virtually nothing to advance the cause of religious freedom.
“For the past two years, in public it’s been almost dead silence,” said Bob Fu, founder and president of the China Aid Association, an international Chirstian human rights group.
He said private pleas to State Department officials to publicly mention names of jailed and “disappeared” Christian leaders had fallen on deaf ears.
“Although I see some similarities between this administration and the last one — of course, both put an emphasis on business and trade — at least President [George W.] Bush singled out religious freedom as a foreign policy priority. He was very vocal, he made lots of policy speeches, he was not ashamed to talk about it.”
Mr. Fu, whose organization has headquarters in Midland, Texas, was in Washington on Thursday to join a six-member delegation of Christian leaders from China at the National Prayer Breakfast. Chinese authorities barred three of the six from leaving the country.
Religious freedom in China has been a growing international issue in recent years as the nation’s Christian population has mushroomed. Though the Chinese government has given space to tightly controlled state-sanctioned churches, the vast majority of the country’s Christian population — more than 100 million, by some estimates — prefer to join independent “house churches,” which remain heavily persecuted.
Zheng Leguo, a prominent evangelist from Zhejiang province, said that house-church Christians “prayed for the re-election of President Bush because he cared about the religious-freedom issue and they thought having him in office would keep them further from prison.”
“The Chinese-government-sanctioned church was praying for Mr. John Kerry,” he quipped, referring to the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee.
The article also notes that former ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, an Obama-appointee, hasn’t done anything for the Chinese Christians. He is also pro-amnesty, a believer in man-made global warming, and a supporter of same-sex civil unions. Apparently, he is running for the 2012 Republican nomination! What a laugh.
ANNOUNCER: We will now take you live to Beijing for the joint press conference already underway between U.S. President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao.
OBAMA: As I already said privately, I would like to thank President Jintao for his kind welcome and generous hospitality, and I hope that during this visit we can have a productive dialogue about the serious issues of concern that remain between our two countries — issues ranging from the unfair valuation of your currency to the trade imbalance, and most importantly, human rights. I believe there can be a great partnership between us but it will require compromise and understanding.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to add that I completely understand why you feel entitled to come here and lecture China on our shortcomings. After all, my country does owe the United States a great deal of money. Oh, wait. Hold on a moment. I believe I had that backwards. In fact, now that I think about it, it is your country that owes us a large sum of money. Is this correct?
OBAMA: Uh… yes.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Now, it’s coming back to me. I believe it’s $800 billion.
OBAMA: That is correct.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Such a large sum.
OBAMA: Yes, it is.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: And yet you haven’t even mentioned it. That’s so odd.
OBAMA: Uh, look, you’re going to get your money.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Are we? Are we going to get our money? Because from what I read your country is in the middle of a serious recession.
OBAMA: Uh, while this is true, there are signs that our bailout has steadied the financial markets and our stimulus package has been effective in fixing the job crisis.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: I’m curious. How many jobs has it created?
OBAMA: Uh, so far, none.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: I see.
OBAMA: But our health care reform plan, we’re confident, is going to lead to enormous savings.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: How exactly is extending health care coverage to 30 million people going to save you money?
OBAMA: I… don’t know.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: And this “Cash for Clunkers” program– I have read that you purchased many clunkers with our money.
OBAMA: Yes, we have.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: What does this word “clunkers” mean?
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
OBAMA: Well, a clunker is a car…
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: I know what a clunker is. And just so there is no misunderstanding, you are not allowed to pay us back in clunkers.
OBAMA:Of course not.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: You know, as I listen to you, I am noticing that each of your plans to save money involves spending even more money. This does not inspire confidence.
OBAMA: I assure you, you’re going to get your money.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Will you kiss me?
OBAMA: Sorry?
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Will you kiss me?
OBAMA: I don’t understand.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: I like to be kissed, (shouts) when someone is doing sex to me!
OBAMA: There’s no need for that.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: No? You know how many uninsured we have in China? One and a quarter billion, billion. But I’ll tell you this: We don’t owe anyone $800 billion.
OBAMA: Well, obviously, we take our debt to you very seriously.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: I suppose if I really wanted to get my money I could call and say I was a Wall Street banker who needs his bonus. But really, why should I have to stoop to that level?
OBAMA: You don’t have to stoop to any level.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Please understand if it were my $800 billion I wouldn’t care, but it belongs to my country. I feel like I should bring it up.
OBAMA: You’re going to get your money.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Say, while you’re here, are you at least going to treat me to dinner and a movie?
OBAMA: I’m sorry?
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: I think it’s the polite thing to do, (shouts) before doing sex to me!
OBAMA: Mr. President, please.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Very well.
OBAMA: I assure you that as soon we solve this economic crisis…
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Which one? The one that your country’s reckless real estate speculation caused? That one? I just want to make sure I know which one we’re talking about.
OBAMA: We are taking steps to make sure that what happened will never happen again.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: What steps?
OBAMA: Uh, reform of banking regulations.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Do I look like Mrs. Obama?
OBAMA: What?
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Do I look like Mrs. Obama?
OBAMA: Of course not.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Then why are you trying to (shouts) do sex to me like I was Mrs. Obama?
OBAMA: Now, now.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Just do it. Get it over with.
OBAMA: Mr. President!
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Don’t be a tease.
OBAMA: I just…
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: I can take it.
OBAMA: This is not the time or place.
(Hu Jintao “speaks.”)
INTERPRETER: Very well. In that case, I call this press conference to a close, and Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!
WINTERY KNIGHT 