Search This Blog

Friday, April 21, 2006

Boo Hu Mr. Milbank

Dana Milbank, Keith Olbermann's trusty sidekick, is upset at the treatment Chinese President Hu received at the White House. Writing in today's Washington Post, Milbank was dismayed that Wang Wenyi of the Falun Gong publication Epoch Times received press credentials for the ceremony. After all, it was five years ago that the same activist heckled Hu's predecessor, Jiang Zemin, in Malta.

What was the group at the White House thinking? How dare they allow someone to speak freely about the torture and murder by the Chinese government. Funny but I don't recall Milbank being disturbed by Rep. Lynne Woolsey giving Cindy Sheehan a ticket to the State of the Union Speech. Milbanks' computer was silent about the numerous protocol breaches against President Bush and other Republicans via the mouths of Medea Benjamin and her comrades at Code Pink.

Milbank was also concerned that President Bush did not welcome Hu to the White House with full state honors befitting such an esteemed Head of State. How dare we only offer a luncheon instead of fancy state dinner. No black tie affair oozing with the cream of Washington DC society?

What does Milbank expect? Should we roll out the red carpet and 100 piece orchestra for the President of a Communist country that sided with Iraq at the UN in 2003? A country that has one of the worst records on human rights? Treat the President of a country that has worked to undermine our economy like visiting royalty? I don't think so. The Bush Administration was right to not go whole hog for the visit. What did Milbank want the White House to do? Present Chinese President Hu with keys to the city? Too late - Clinton already did that.

No comments: